Part 450 (1/2)

26:19. A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace.

26:20. And no price is worthy of a continent soul.

26:21. As the sun when it riseth to the world in the high places of G.o.d, so is the beauty of a good wife for the ornament of her house.

26:22. As the lamp s.h.i.+ning upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty of the face in a ripe age,

26:23. As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet upon the soles of a steady woman.

26:24. As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the commandments of G.o.d in the heart of a holy woman.

26:25. At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth anger upon me.

26:26. A man of war fainting through poverty, and a man of sense despised:

26:27. And he that pa.s.seth over from justice to sin, G.o.d hath prepared such an one for the sword.

26:28. Two sorts of callings have appeared to me hard and dangerous: a merchant is hardly free from negligence: and a huckster shall not be justified from the sins of the lips.

From negligence... That is, from the neglect of the service of G.o.d: because the eager pursuit of the mammon of this world, is apt to make men of that calling forget the great duties of loving G.o.d above all things, and their neighbours as themselves.-Ibid. A huckster... Or, a retailer of wine. Men of that profession are both greatly exposed to danger of sin themselves, and are too often accessary to the sins of others.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 27

Dangers of sin from several heads: the fear of G.o.d is the best preservative. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it.

27:1. Through poverty many have sinned: and he that seeketh to be enriched, turneth away his eye.

27:2. As a stake sticketh fast in the midst of the joining of stones, so also in the midst of selling and buying, sin shall stick fast.

27:3. Sin shall be destroyed with the sinner.

27:4. Unless thou hold thyself diligently in the fear of the Lord, thy house shall quickly be overthrown.

27:5. As when one sifteth with a sieve, the dust will remain: so will the perplexity of a man in his thoughts.

27:6. The furnace trieth the potter's vessels, and the trial of affliction just men.

27:7. As the dressing of a tree sheweth the fruit thereof, so a word out of the thought of the heart of man.

27:8. Praise not a man before he speaketh, for this is the trial of men.

27:9. If thou followest justice, thou shalt obtain her: and shalt put her on as a long robe of honour, and thou shalt dwell with her: and she shall protect thee for ever, and in the day of acknowledgment thou shalt find a strong foundation.

27:10. Birds resort unto their like: so truth will return to them that practise her.

27:11. The lion always lieth in wait for prey: so do sins for them that work iniquities.

27:12. A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is changed as the moon.

27:13. In the midst of the unwise keep in the word till its time: but be continually among men that think.