Part 4
But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is inglorious in riches, how much more in poverty?
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=11= The wisdom of the lowly shall lift up his head, and make him to sit in the midst of great men.
Commend not a man for his beauty; and abhor not a man for his outward appearance.
The bee is little among such as fly; and her fruit is the chief of sweetmeats.
Glory not in the putting on of raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour; for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works are hidden among men.
Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn a diadem.
Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and men of renown have been delivered into other men’s hands.
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Blame not before thou hast examined: understand first, and then rebuke.
Answer not before thou hast heard; and interrupt not in the midst of speech.
Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and where sinners judge, sit not thou with them.
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My son, be not busy about many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be unpunished; and if thou pursue, thou shalt not overtake; and thou shalt not escape by fleeing.
There is one that toileth, and laboureth, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.
There is one that is sluggish, and hath need of help, lacking in strength, and that aboundeth in poverty; and the eyes of the Lord looked upon him for good, and he set him up from his low estate,
And lifted up his head; and many marvelled at him.
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Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the Lord.
The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his good pleasure shall prosper for ever.
There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:
When he saith, I have found rest, and now will I eat of my goods; yet he knoweth not what time shall pass, and he shall leave them to others, and die.
Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.
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Marvel not at the works of a sinner; but trust the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord swiftly on the sudden to make a poor man rich.
The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly; and in an hour that cometh swiftly he maketh his blessing to flourish.
Say not, What use is there of me? and what from henceforth shall my good things be?
Say not, I have sufficient, and from henceforth what harm shall happen unto me?
In the day of good things there is a forgetfulness of evil things; and in the day of evil things a man will not remember things that are good.
For it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to reward a man in the day of death according to his ways.
The affliction of an hour causeth forgetfulness of delight; and in the last end of a man is the revelation of his deeds.
Call no man blessed before his death; and a man shall be known in his children.
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Bring not every man into thine house; for many are the plots of the deceitful man.
As a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the heart of a proud man; and as one that is a spy, he looketh upon thy falling.
For he lieth in wait to turn things that are good into evil; and in things that are praiseworthy he will lay blame.
From a spark of fire a heap of many coals is kindled; and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.
Take heed of an evil-doer, for he contriveth wicked things; lest haply he bring upon thee blame for ever.
Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will distract thee with brawls, and estrange thee from thine own.
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=13= He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled; and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall become like unto him.
Take not up a burden above thy strength; and have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than thyself. What fellowship shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? This shall smite, and that shall be dashed in pieces.
The rich man doeth a wrong, and he threateneth withal: the poor is wronged, and he shall intreat withal.
If thou be profitable, he will make merchandise of thee; and if thou be in want, he will forsake thee.
If thou have substance, he will live with thee; and he will make thee bare, and will not be sorry.
Hath he had need of thee? then he will deceive thee, and smile upon thee, and give thee hope: he will speak thee fair, and say, What needest thou?
And he will shame thee by his meats, until he have made thee bare twice or thrice, and at the last he will laugh thee to scorn; afterward will he see thee, and will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
Beware that thou be not deceived, and brought low in thy mirth.
If a mighty man invite thee, be retiring, and so much the more will he invite thee.
Press not upon him, lest thou be thrust back; and stand not far off, lest thou be forgotten.
Affect not to speak with him as an equal, and believe not his many words: for with much talk will he try thee, and in a smiling manner will search thee out.
He that keepeth not to himself words spoken is unmerciful; and he will not spare to hurt and to bind.
Keep them to thyself, and take earnest heed, for thou walkest in peril of thy falling.
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Every living creature loveth his like, and every man loveth his neighbour.
All flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will cleave to his like.
What fellowship shall the wolf have with the lamb? So is the sinner unto the godly.
What peace is there between the hyena and the dog? and what peace between the rich man and the poor?
Wild asses are the prey of lions in the wilderness; so poor men are pasture for the rich.
Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; so a poor man is an abomination to the rich.
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A rich man when he is shaken is held up of his friends; but one of low degree being down is thrust away also by his friends.
When a rich man is fallen, there are many helpers; he speaketh things not to be spoken, and men justify him: a man of low degree falleth, and men rebuke him withal; he uttereth wisdom, and no place is allowed him.
A rich man speaketh, and all keep silence; and what he saith they extol to the clouds: a poor man speaketh, and they say, Who is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.
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Riches are good that have no sin; and poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly.
The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good or for evil.
A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; and the finding out of parables is a weariness of thinking.
=14= Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with sorrow for sins.
Blessed is he whose soul doth not condemn him, and who is not fallen from his hope.
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Riches are not comely for a niggard; and what should an envious man do with money?
He that gathereth by taking from his own soul gathereth for others; and others shall revel in his goods.
He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not rejoice in his possessions.
There is none more evil than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompense of his wickedness.
Even if he doeth good, he doeth it in forgetfulness; and at the last he sheweth forth his wickedness.
Evil is he that envieth with his eye, turning away the face, and despising the souls of men.
A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and wicked injustice drieth up his soul.
An evil eye is grudging of bread, and he is miserly at his table.
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My son, according as thou hast, do well unto thyself, and bring offerings unto the Lord worthily.
Remember that death will not tarry, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.
Do well unto thy friend before thou die; and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
Defraud not thyself of a good day; and let not the portion of a good desire pass thee by.
Shalt thou not leave thy labours unto another? and thy toils to be divided by lot?
Give, and take, and beguile thy soul; for there is no seeking of luxury in the grave.
All flesh waxeth old as a garment; for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.
As of the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheddeth, and some it maketh to grow; so also of the generations of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
Every work rotteth and falleth away, and the worker thereof shall depart with it.
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Blessed is the man that shall meditate in wisdom, and that shall discourse by his understanding.
He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have knowledge in her secrets.
Go forth after her as one that tracketh, and lie in wait in her ways.
He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
He that lodgeth close to her house shall also fasten a nail in her walls.
He shall pitch his tent nigh at hand to her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.
He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall rest under her branches.
By her he shall be covered from heat, and shall lodge in her glory.
=15= He that feareth the Lord will do this; and he that hath possession of the law shall obtain her.
And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married in her virginity.
With bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him water of wisdom to drink.
He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.
And she shall exalt him above his neighbours; and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.
He shall inherit joy, and a crown of gladness, and an everlasting name.
Foolish men shall not obtain her; and sinners shall not see her.
She is far from pride; and liars shall not remember her.
Praise is not comely in the mouth of a sinner; for it was not sent him from the Lord.
For praise shall be spoken in wisdom; and the Lord will prosper it.
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Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away; for thou shalt not do the things that he hateth.
Say not thou, It is he that caused me to err; for he hath no need of a sinful man.
The Lord hateth every abomination; and they that fear him love it not.
He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.
If thou wilt, thou shalt keep the commandments; and to perform faithfulness is of thine own good pleasure.
He hath set fire and water before thee: thou shalt stretch forth thy hand unto whichsoever thou wilt.
Before man is life and death; and whichsoever he liketh, it shall be given him.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord: he is mighty in power, and beholdeth all things;
And his eyes are upon them that fear him; and he will take knowledge of every work of man.
He hath not commanded any man to be ungodly; and he hath not given any man licence to sin.
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=16= Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.
If they multiply, delight not in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them.
Trust not thou in their life, neither rely on their condition: for one is better than a thousand; and to die childless than to have ungodly children.
For from one that hath understanding shall a city be peopled; but a race of wicked men shall be made desolate.
Many such things have I seen with mine eyes; and mine ear hath heard mightier things than these.
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In the congregation of sinners shall a fire be kindled; and in a disobedient nation wrath is kindled.
He was not pacified toward the giants of old time, who revolted in their strength.
He spared not those with whom Lot sojourned, whom he abhorred for their pride.
He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins.
And in like manner the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.
Even if there be one stiffnecked person, it is marvel if he shall be unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive, and he poureth out wrath.
As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works.
The sinner shall not escape with his plunder; and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.
He will make room for every work of mercy; each man shall find according to his works.
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Say not thou, I shall be hidden from the Lord; and who shall remember me from on high? I shall not be known among so many people; for what is my soul in a boundless creation?
Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, shall be moved when he shall visit.
The mountains and the foundations of the earth together are shaken with trembling, when he looketh upon them.
And no heart shall think upon these things: and who shall conceive his ways?
And there is a tempest which no man shall see; yea, the more part of his works are hid.
Who shall declare the works of his righteousness? or who shall endure them? For his covenant is afar off.
He that is wanting in understanding thinketh upon these things; and an unwise and erring man thinketh follies.
My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and give heed to my words with thy heart.
I will shew forth instruction by weight, and declare knowledge exactly.
In the judgement of the Lord are his works from the beginning; and from the making of them he disposed the parts thereof.
He garnished his works for ever, and the beginnings of them unto their generations: they neither hunger, nor are weary, and they cease not from their works.
No one thrusteth aside his neighbour; and they shall never disobey his word.
After this also the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.
All manner of living things covered the face thereof; and into it is their return.
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=17= The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him back unto it again.
He gave them days by number, and a set time, and gave them authority over the things that are thereon.
He endued them with strength proper to them; and made them according to his own image.
He put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him to have dominion over beasts and fowls.
Counsel, and tongue, and eyes, ears, and heart, gave he them to understand withal.
He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom, and shewed them good and evil.
He set his eye upon their hearts, to shew them the majesty of his works.
And they shall praise the name of his holiness, that they may declare the majesty of his works.
He added unto them knowledge, and gave them a law of life for a heritage.
He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgements.
Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory; and their ear heard the glory of his voice.
And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbour.
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Their ways are ever before him; they shall not be hid from his eyes.
For every nation he appointed a ruler; and Israel is the Lord’s portion.
All their works are as the sun before him; and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
Their iniquities are not hid from him; and all their sins are before the Lord.
With him the alms of a man is as a signet; and he will keep the bounty of a man as the apple of the eye.
Afterwards he will rise up and recompense them, and render their recompense upon their head.
Howbeit unto them that repent he granteth a return; and he comforteth them that are losing patience.
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Return unto the Lord, and forsake sins: make thy prayer before his face, and lessen the offence.
Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity; and greatly hate the abominable thing.
Who shall give praise to the Most High in the grave, instead of them which live and return thanks?
Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: he that is in life and health shall praise the Lord.
How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness unto them that turn unto him!
For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.
What is brighter than the sun? yet this faileth: and an evil man will think on flesh and blood.
He looketh upon the power of the height of heaven: and all men are earth and ashes.
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=18= He that liveth for ever created all things in common.
The Lord alone shall be justified.
To none hath he given power to declare his works: and who shall trace out his mighty deeds?
Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his mercies?
As for the wondrous works of the Lord, it is not possible to take from them nor add to them, neither is it possible to track them out.
When a man hath finished, then he is but at the beginning; and when he ceaseth, then shall he be in perplexity.
What is man, and whereto serveth he? What is his good, and what is his evil?
The number of man’s days at the most are a hundred years.
As a drop of water from the sea, and a pebble from the sand; so are a few years in the day of eternity.
For this cause the Lord was longsuffering over them, and poured out his mercy upon them.
He saw and perceived their end, that it is evil; therefore he multiplied his forgiveness.
The mercy of a man is upon his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh; reproving, and chastening, and teaching, and bringing again, as a shepherd doth his flock.
He hath mercy on them that accept chastening, and that diligently seek after his judgements.
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My son, to thy good deeds add no blemish; and no grief of words in any of thy giving.
Shall not the dew assuage the scorching heat? So is a word better than a gift.
Lo, is not a word better than a gift? And both are with a gracious man.
A fool will upbraid ungraciously; and the gift of an envious man consumeth the eyes.
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Learn before thou speak; and have a care of thy health or ever thou be sick.
Before judgement examine thyself; and in the hour of visitation thou shalt find forgiveness.
Humble thyself before thou be sick; and in the time of sins shew repentance.
Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time; and wait not until death to be justified.
Before thou makest a vow, prepare thyself; and be not as a man that tempteth the Lord.
Think upon the wrath that shall be in the days of the end, and the time of vengeance, when he turneth away his face.
In the days of fulness remember the time of hunger, and poverty and want in the days of wealth.
From morning until evening the time changeth; and all things are speedy before the Lord.
A wise man will fear in everything; and in days of sinning he will beware of offence.
Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom; and he will give thanks unto him that found her.
They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth apt proverbs.
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Go not after thy lusts; and refrain thyself from thine appetites.
If thou give fully to thy soul the delight of her desire, she will make thee the laughing-stock of thine enemies.
Make not merry in much luxury; neither be tied to the expense thereof.
Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse.
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=19= A workman that is a drunkard shall not become rich: he that despiseth small things shall fall by little and little.
Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will be the more reckless.
Moths and worms shall have him to heritage: and a reckless soul shall be taken away.
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He that is hasty to trust is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.
He that maketh merry in his heart shall be condemned:
And he that hateth talk hath the less wickedness.
Never repeat what is told thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.
Whether it be of friend or foe, tell it not; and unless it is a sin to thee, reveal it not.
For he hath heard thee, and observed thee, and when the time cometh he will hate thee.
Hast thou heard a word? let it die with thee: be of good courage, it will not burst thee.
A fool will travail in pain with a word, as a woman in labour with a child.
As an arrow that sticketh in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word in a fool’s belly.
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Reprove a friend; it may be he did it not: and if he did something, that he may do it no more.
Reprove thy neighbour; it may be he said it not: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again.
Reprove a friend; for many times there is slander: and trust not every word.
There is one that slippeth, and not from the heart: and who is he that hath not sinned with his tongue?
Reprove thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and give place to the law of the Most High.
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All wisdom is the fear of the Lord; and in all wisdom is the doing of the law.
And the knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom; and the prudence of sinners is not counsel.
There is a wickedness, and the same is abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.
Better is one that hath small understanding, and feareth, than one that hath much prudence, and transgresseth the law.
There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that perverteth favour to gain a judgement.
There is one that doeth wickedly, that hangeth down his head with mourning; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
Bowing down his face, and making as if he were deaf of one ear: where he is not known, he will be beforehand with thee.
And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, if he find opportunity, he will do mischief.
A man shall be known by his look, and one that hath understanding shall be known by his face, when thou meetest him.
A man’s attire, and grinning laughter, and gait, shew what he is.
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=20= * * * There is a prosperity that a man findeth in misfortunes; and there is a gain that turneth to loss.
There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompense is double.
There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that hath lifted up his head from a low estate.
There is that buyeth much for a little, and payeth for it again sevenfold.
He that is wise in words shall make himself beloved; but the pleasantries of fools shall be wasted.
The gift of a fool shall not profit thee; for his eyes are many instead of one.
He will give little, and upbraid much; and he will open his mouth like a crier: to-day he will lend and to-morrow he will ask it again: such an one is a hateful man.
The fool will say, I have no friend, and I have no thanks for my good deeds; they that eat my bread are of evil tongue.
How oft, and of how many, shall he be laughed to scorn!
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A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue; so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
A man without grace is as a tale out of season; it will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.
A wise sentence from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; for he will not speak it in its season.
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