SELECTIONS FROM THE PROVERBS PROVERBS OF SOLOMON The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To discern the words of understanding; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion: That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; counsels: To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck. My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee. Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man. Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase: For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth, Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be com pared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths were broken up, My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh : For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken. My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest preserve discretion, For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol; So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knoweth it not. Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And come not nigh the door of her house: Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And not for strangers with thee. And rejoice in the wife of thy youth. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise: Overseer, or ruler, Provideth her bread in the summer, Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice? At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud: And my voice is to the sons of men. O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart. And the opening of my lips shall be right things. And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. And knowledge rather than choice gold. And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it. I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge and discretion. The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil : And princess decree justice. By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; |