Part 6 (1/2)

All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him!

He pursueth them with words, but they are gone.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapour driven to and fro; They that seek them seek death.

As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, And as vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

Wrath is cruel, And anger is outrageous: But who is able to stand before jealousy?

The fining pot is for silver, And the furnace for gold: And a man is tried by his praise.

Transitoriness of Riches

An Epigram

Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom; Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?

For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.

Hospitality of the Evil Eye

An Epigram

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties; For as one that reckoneth within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy sweet words.

A Maxim

My son, if thou comest to serve the Lord, Prepare thy soul for temptation.

Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of calamity. Cleave unto him, and depart not, that thou mayest be increased at thy latter end. Accept whatsoever is brought upon thee, and be longsuffering when thou pa.s.sest into humiliation. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Put thy trust in him, and he will help thee: order thy ways aright, and set thy hope on him.

Three Temperance Maxims