Part 409 (1/2)

24:25. They that rebuke him shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.

24:26. He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.

24:27. Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.

24:28. Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.

24:29. Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.

24:30. I pa.s.sed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:

24:31. And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.

24:32. Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.

24:33. Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest.

24:34. And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.

Proverbs Chapter 25

25:1. These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias, king of Juda, copied out.

25:2. It is the glory of G.o.d to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.

25:3. The heaven above and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

25:4. Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:

25:5. Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.

25:6. Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.

25:7. For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.

25:8. The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.

25:9. Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:

25:10. Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friends.h.i.+p deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.

25:11. To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

25:12. As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.

25:13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.

25:14. As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises.

25:15. By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.