Apocrypha. and if he fwear in vain, he fhall not be innocent, but his houfe thall be full of calamities. 12 There is a word that is clothed about with death: God grant that it be not found in the heritage of Jacob; for all fuch things fhall be far from the godly, and they fhall not wallow in their fins. 13 Ufe not thy mouth to intemperate fwearing, for therein is the word of fin. 14 Remember thy father and thy mo 26 And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it will|ther, when thou fitteft among great men. beware of him. 27 Who fhall fet a watch before my mouth, and a feal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not fuddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy me not. CHAP. XXIII. A prayer for grace to flee fin. 23 The adulterous wife finneth many ways. LORD, Father and Governor of all my whole life, leave me not to their counfels, and let me not fall by them. 2 Who will fet fcourges over my thoughts, and the difcipline of wifdom over mine heart? that they fpare me not for mine ignorances, and it pass not by my fins: 3 Left mine ignorances increafe, and my fins abound to my deftruction, and I fall before mine adverfaries, and mine enemy rejoice over me, whofe hope is far from thy mercy. 4 O Lord, Father and God of my life, give me not proud look, but turn away from thy fervants always a haughty mind. 5 Turn away from me vain hopes and concupifcence, and thou fhalt hold him up that is defirous always to ferve thee. 6 Let not the greedinefs of the belly, nor luft of the flesh take hold of me: and give not over me thy fervant unto an impudent mind. 7 Hear, O ye children, the difcipline of the mouth: he that keepeth it fhall never be taken in his lips. Be not forgetful before them, and fo thou by thy cuftom become a fool, and wifh that thou hadft not been born, and curse the day of thy nativity. 15 The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words will never be reformed all the days of his life. 16 Two forts of men multiply fin, and the third will bring wrath; a hot mind is as a burning fire, it will never be quenched till it be confumed: a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never ceafe till he hath kindled a fire. 17 All bread is fweet to a whoremonger, he will not leave off till he die. 18 A man that breaketh wedlock, faying thus in his heart, Who feeth me? I am compaffed about with darkness, the walls cover me, and nobody feeth me; what need I to fear? the most High will not remember my fins: 19 Such a man only feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the fun, beholding all the ways of men, and confidering the most fecret parts. 20 He knew all things ere ever they were created; fo alfo after they were perfected he looked upon them all. 21 This man fhall be punished in the ftreets of the city, and where he fufpecteth not he thall be taken. 22 Thus fhall it go alfo with the wife that leaveth her husband, and bringeth 8 The finner fhall be left in his foolish-in an heir by another. nefs: both the evil speaker and the proud fhall fall thereby. 9 Accuftom not thy mouth to fwearing; neither ufe thyfelf to the naming of the Holy One. 10 For as a fervant that is continually beaten fhall not be without a blue mark: fo he that sweareth and nameth God continually fhall not be faultless. II A man that ufeth much fwearing fhall be filled with iniquity, and the plague fhall never depart from his houfe, if he thall offend, his fin fhall be upon him and if he acknowledge not his fin, he maketh a double offence: 23 For firft, the hath difobeyed the law of the most High; and fecondly, the hath trefpaffed againft her own husband; and thirdly, the hath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man. 24 She fhall be brought out into the congregation, and inquifition fhall be made of her children. 25 Her children fhall not take root, and her branches fhall bring forth no fruit. 26 She fhall leave her memory to be curfed, and her reproach fhall not be blotted out. 27. And they that remain fhall know *G4 that Apocrypha. ECCLESIASTICUS. Apocrypha. that there is nothing better than the fear | therefore, being eternal, am given to all of the Lord, and that there is nothing my children which are named of him. fweeter than to take heed to the commandments of the Lord. 28 It is great glory to follow the Lord, and to be received of him is long life. CHAP. XXIV. 2 Wisdom doth praise herself, fheweth her beginning, 4 her dwelling, 13 her glory, 17 her fruit, 26 her increafe and perfection. 19 Come unto me, all ye that be defirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits. 20 For my memorial is fweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb. 21 They that eat me fhall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be WISDOM fhall praise herself, and thirsty. people. fhall glory in the midft of her 2 ¶ In the congregation of the most High fhall fhe open her mouth and triumph before his power. 3 I came out of the mouth of the moft High, and covered the earth as a cloud. 4 TI dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar. 5 I alone compaffed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep. 6 In the waves of the fea, and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I got a poffeffion. 7 With all these I fought reft: and in whose inheritance fhall I abide? 8 So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to reft, and faid, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Ifrael. 9 He created me from the beginning before the world, and I fhall never fail. Io In the holy tabernacle I ferved before him; and fo was I established in Sion. II Likewise in the beloved city he gave me reft, and in Jerufalem was my power. 12 And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord's inheritance. 13 I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon. 14 I was exalted like a palm tree in Engaddi, and as a rofe plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a plane tree by the water. 15 I gave a fweet fmell like cinnamon and afpalathus, and I yielded a pleafant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and fweet ftorax, and as the fume of frankincenfe in the tabernacle. 16 As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace. 17¶ As the vine brought I forth plea fant favour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. 18 I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I 22 He that obeyeth me fhall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do amiss. 23 All these things are the book of the covenant of the moft high God, even the law which Mofes commanded for an heritage unto the congregations of Jacob. 24 Faint not to be ftrong in the Lord; that he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and befide him there is no other Saviour. 25 He filleth all things with his wif dom, as Phifon and as Tigris in the time of the new fruits. 26 ¶ He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as Jordan in the time of the harvest. 27 He maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of vintage. 28 The first man knew her not perfectly: no more fhall the last find her out. 29 For her thoughts are more than the fea, and her counfels profounder than the great deep. 30 I alfo came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden. 31 I faid, I will water my beft garden, and will water abundantly my garden bed: and, lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a fea. 32 I will yet make doctrine to fhine as the morning, and will fend forth her light afar off. 33 I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all ages for ever. 34 Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that feek wifdom. CHAP. XXV. 1 What things are beautiful, and what hateful. 13 Nothing is worse than a wicked woman. three things I was beautified, and and men: the unity of brethen, the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together. 2 Three forts of men my foul hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that doateth. Apocrypha. 4 O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counfel! 5 O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counfel to men of honour! 6 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory. 7 There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue; A man that hath joy of his children; and he that liveth to fee the fall of his enemy: 8 Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not flipped with his tongue, and that hath not ferved a man more unworthy than himself: 9 Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear: IO O how great is he that findeth wifdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord. II But the love of the Lord paffeth all things for illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto fhall he be likened? 12 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him. 13 ¶ [Give me] any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickednefs, but the wickeunefs of a woman: 14 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies. 15 There is no head above the head of a ferpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy. 16 I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman. 17 The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her countenance like fackcloth. 18 Her husband fhall fit among his neighbours; and when he heareth it fhall figh bitterly. 19 All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a finner fall upon her. 20 As the climbing up a fandy way is to the feet of the aged, fo is a wife full of words to a quiet man. 21 Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and defire her not for pleafure. 22 A woman, if the maintain her hufband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach. 23 A wicked woman abateth the con Apocrypha. rage, maketh an heavy countenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in diftress maketh weak hands and feeble knees. 24 Of the woman came the beginning of fin, and through her we all die. 25 Give the water no paffage, neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad. 26 If the go not as thou wouldeft have her, cut her off from thy flefh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go. CHAP. XXVI. Of good and bad women. LESSED is the man that hath a vir Blous wife, for the number of his days fhall be double. 2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her hufband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace. 3 A good wife is a good portion, which fhall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord. 4 Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the Lord, he fhall at all times rejoice with a cheerful countenance. 5 There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was fore afraid : the flander of a city, the gathering together of an unruly multitude, and a falfe accufation: all these are worfe than death. 6 But a grief of heart and forrow is a woman that is jealous over another woman, and a fcourge of the tongue which communicateth with all. 7 An evil wife is a yoke fhaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her is as though he held a scorpion. 8 A drunken woman and a gadder abroad caufeth great anger, and the will not cover her own fhame. 9 The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids. ro If thy daughter be fhameless, keep her in ftraitly, left fhe abuse herself through overmuch liberty. I Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if fhe trefpafs against thee. 12 She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath found a fountain, and drink of every water near her: by every hedge will the fit down, and open her quiver against every arrow. 13 The grace of a wife delighteth her hufband, and her difcretion will fatten his bones. 14 A filent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing fo much worth as a mind well inftructed. 15 A fhamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her continent 16 As mind cannot be valued. 16 As the fun when it arifeth in the high heaven fo is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house. 17 As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; fo is the beauty of the face in ripe age. 18 As the golden pillars are upon the fockets of filver; fo are the fair feet with a conftant heart. 19 My fon, keep the flower of thine age found; and give not thy ftrength to ftrangers. 20 When thou haft gotten a fruitful poffeffion through all the field, fow it with thine own feed, trufting in the goodness of thy stock. 21 So thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified, having the confidence of their good defcent. 22 An harlot fhall be accounted as fpittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband. 23 A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord. 24 A difhoneft woman contemneth fhame but an honeft woman will reverence her husband. : 25 A fhameless woman fhall be counted as a dog: but fhe that is fhamefaced will fear the Lord. 26 A woman that honoureth her hufband fhall be judged wife of all; but the that difhonoureth him in her pride fhall be counted ungodly of all. 27 A loud crying woman and a fcold fhall be fought out to drive away the enemies. 28 There be two things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me angry: a man of war that fuffereth poverty; and men of understanding that are not fet by; and one that returneth from righteoufnefs to fin; the Lord prepareth fuch an one for the fword. 29 A merchant fhall hardly keep himfelf from doing wrong; and an huckster fhall not be freed from fin. CHAP. XXVII. Аростурка, 5 The furnace proveth the potter's veffels; fo the trial of man is in his reafoning. 6 The fruit declareth if the tree have been dreffed; fo is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man. 7 Praise no man before thou hearest him fpeak; for this is the trial of men. 8 If thou followeft righteoufnefs thou shalt obtain her, and put her on as a glo rious long robe. 9 The birds will refort unto their like; fo will truth return unto them who practife in her. 10 As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; fo fin for them that work iniquity. II The difcourfe of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon. 12 If thou be among the indifcreet, obferve the time; but be continually a mong men of understanding. 13 The difcourfe of fools is irkfome, and their fport is the wantonnefs of fin. 14 The talk of him that fweareth much maketh the hair ftand upright; and their brawls make one ftop his ears. 15 The ftrife of the proud is bloodfhedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear. 16 Whofo difcoyereth fecrets lofeth his credit, and thall never find a friend to his mind. 17 Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou bewrayeft his fecrets, follow no more after him. 18 For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; fo haft thou loft the love of thy neighbour. 19 As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, fo haft thou let thy neighbour go, and fhall not get him again. 20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the fnare. 21 As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that bewrayeth secrets is without hope. 22 He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from him. Offins in felling and buying: 25 he that diggeth a pit fall fall into it. 23 When thou art prefent, he will ANY have finned for a small mat- fpeak fweetly, and will admire thy ter; and he that feeketh for abun-words: but at laft he will writhe his dance will turn his eyes away. mouth, and flander thy fayings. MA 2 As a nail fticketh faft between the joinings of the ftones; fo doth fin ftick clofe between buying and felling. 3 Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his houfe fhall foon be overthrown. 4 A's when one fifteth with a fieve, the refufe remaineth; fo the filth of man in his talk, 24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him. 25 Whofo cafteth a ftone on high cafteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds. 26 Whofo diggeth a pit fhall fall therein: and he that fetteth a trap shall be taken therein. 27 He Apocrypha. Chap. xxviii, xix. Apocrypha. 27 He that worketh mischief, it shall 15 ¶ A backbiting tongue hath caft out fall upon him, and he shall not know virtuous women, and deprived them of whence it cometh. their labours. 28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, fhall lie in wait for them. 29 They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous fhall be taken in the fnare; and anguifh fhall confume them before they die. 30 Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the finful man shall have them both. CHAP. XXVIII. 1 Against revenge, 8 quarrelling, 10 anger, 15 and backbiting, HE that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will furely keep his fin [in remembrance.] 2 Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, fo fhall thy fins alfo be forgiven when thou prayeft. 3 One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he feek pardon from the Lord? 4 He fheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himfelf: and doth he afk forgiveness of his own fins? 5 If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will entreat for pardon of his fins? 6 Remember thy end, and let enmity ceafe; [remember] corruption and death, and abide in the commandments. 7 Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour: [remember] the covenant of the Higheft, and wink at ignorance. 8 Abftain from ftrife, and thou fhalt diminish thy fins: for a furious man will kindle ftrife. 16 Whofo hearkeneth unto it fhall never find reft, and never dwell quietly. 17 The ftroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones. 18 Many have fallen by the edge of the fword but not fo many as have fallen by the tongue. 19 Well is he that is defended from it, and hath not paffed through the venom thereof; who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands, 20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass. 21 The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it. 22 It fhall not have rule over them that fear God, neither fhall they be burned with the flame thereof. 23 Such as forfake the Lord fhall fall into it; and it fhall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be fent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard. 24 Look that thou hedge thy poffeffion about with thorns, and bind up thy filver and gold. 25 And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth, 26 Beware thou flide not by it, left thou fall before him that lieth in wait, CHAP. XXIX. I We must fhew mercy, and lend: 4 but the borrower must not defraud the lender. 9 of giving alms. 94 finful man difquieteth friends, HE that is merciful will lend un and maketh debate among them that be at peace. IOTAs the matter of the fire is, so it burneth and as a man's ftrength is, fo is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger rifeth; and the ftronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed. II An hafty contention kindleth a fire and an hafty fighting theddeth blood. 12 If thou blow the fpark, it shall burn if thou fpit upon it, it fhall be quenched; and both these come out of thy mouth, to his neighbour; and he that ftrengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments. 2 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season. 3 Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou fhalt always find the thing that is neceffary for thee. 4 Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them. 5 Till he hath received, he will kifs a man's. hand; and for his neighbour's money he will fpeak fubmiffively: but when he should repay, he will prolong 13 Curfe the whisperer and double-the time, and return words of grief, and tongued for fuch have destroyed many complain of the time. that were at peace. 6 If he prevail, he fhall hardly receive the half, and he will count as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him 14 A backbiting tongue hath difquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: ftrong cities hath it pull-of his money, and he hath gotten him ed down, and overthrown the houfes of an enemy without caufe: he payeth him great men, with *G4 |