22 habit of injustice as to fell his integrity for a dinner. He that hafteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye, he envies every one that gets more than himself, and grudges every. penny he parts with, especially in charity, and confidereth not that poverty fhall come upon him: this is a paradox; one would think that the covetous man would confider moftof all the best way to thrive, yet in fact he does not, because he doth not fecure the bleffing of heaven by generous and 3 charitable actions. He that rebuketh a man, tho' he may difpleafe him at first, afterwards fhall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue; we ought to con24 fider how men will look upon us at last. Whofo robbeth his father or his mother, and faith, [It is] no tranfgreffion; the fame [is] the companion of a deftroyer; he is as bad as any other robber. Children fhould be content with what their parents allow them; and parents who have it in their power should allow their children fome spending money, that they may be under no temptation to steal. Let us all remember that it is not our perfuading our felves an action is lawful that will make it fo: it is our duty to examine and confider. 25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up ftrife: but he that putteth his truft in the LORD shall be made fat, that is, fhall live comfortably; while nothing makes a man's life more miferable than ftrife, and living in contention with his 26 neighbours and relations. He that trufteth in his own heart, who relies entirely on his own judgment, is a fool: but whofo walketh wifely, who takes and follows good 27 advice, he fhall be delivered. He that giveth unto the poor, fhall not lack; he procures the bleffing of God upon his fubftance: but he that hideth his eyes, who does not defire to know thofe in diftrefs left he should be obliged to relieve them, fhall have many a curfe; men will cenfure 28 him, and God will punish him. When the wicked rife to power and dignity, men hide themselves, that they may not fuffer injury by them: but when they perifh, the righteous increase; they openly show themselves, and their numbers increase by their mutual example and encouragement. We here fee how much need good men have to Strengthen and countenance one another, and how earnestly we should pray that all who are in authority may be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord. CHAP. I HE CHAP. XXIX. E that being often reproved by good men, perhaps corrected by God himself, but obftinately goes on in his former wicked courfes, and hardeneth [his] neck, fhall fuddenly be deftroyed, and that without remedy. 2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn; groan under their oppression, not daring perhaps to 3 speak aloud. Whofo loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father, who is fincerely defirous of his welfare: but he that keepeth company with harlots fpendeth [his] fubftance, and 4 grieveth his friends. The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts to pervert judgment, 5 overthroweth it, tho' it was well established before. A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for 6 his feet; leads him into mischief. In the tranfgreffion of an evil man [there is] a fnare; he finds himself undone by the means whereby he thought to ruin others: but the righteous doth fing and rejoice under the protection of God. 7 The righteous confidereth the caufe of the poor, that he may do him justice: [but] the wicked regardeth not to know [it;] he expects no advantage from it, and therefore 8 will not give himself the trouble to enquire into it. Scornful men bring a city into a fnare: but wife [men] turn away wrath; they divert the fury of men, which the fcorner 9 enrageth. [If] a wife man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, [there is] no reft; whether he difpute a matter with him, or feek to reclaim him, whether he taketh it well or ill, be pleafed or difpleafed, it hath no good effect; the best way is to keep at a dif10 tance from fuch perfons. The blood thirsty hate the upright: but the juft feek his foul, do him all the good 11 offices he can. A fool uttereth all hfs mind; tells every thing he knows, without confidering time or perfons: but a wife [man] keepeth it in till afterwards; chooses the most convenient time and circumstances, and thinks before he Speaks: a maxim which young people in particular should 12 attend to. If a ruler hearken to lies, all his fervants [are] wicked; they will arm themselves with his authority 13 to injure others. The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. The poor, as oppofed to deceitful, may fignify perfons of great fimplicity; and the deceitful may mean great politicians and cunning men: now whatever knowledge and fagacity they have God gives it them; hè can enlighten the poor to guard against the fnares of the artful, and humble the deceitful. 14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne fhall be established for ever by the affections of his peo15 ple, and the blessing of a righteous God. The rod and reproof give wifdom; they should be used together; correction without reproof is very abfurd: but a child left [to himfelf] bringeth his mother to fhame, who by her impru16 dent fondness has probably done moft to spoil him. When the wicked are multiplied, tranfgreffion increaseth: but 17 the righteous fhall fee their fall. Correct thy fon, and he fhall give thee reft; yea, he fhall give delight unto 18 thy foul, to fee him reclaimed from his evil courfes. Where [there is] no vifion, no publick instruction, no knowledge of religion, the people perifh; grow licentious and wicked, and fo are deftroyed: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he; he ball remain in a profperous, peaceful condition. 19 A fervant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer: a fervant that will not bear a reproof, or take a hint of advice, but is of a con20 ceited, fullen fpirit, is a wretched character. Seeft thou a man [that is] hafty in his words, who is rash and conceited, and will not take advice nor fubmit to direction? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him; better employ a man that has scarce common fenfe, if he will be ruled. 21 He that delicately bringeth up his fervant from a child shall have him become [his] fon at the length; he who treats fervants with too much familiarity and indulgence, will often find them become infolent and faucy, and expect as much as children. Where fervants are treated with kindness, it fhould be their care not to abuse it, but to be so much the 22 more folicitous to please. An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in tranfgreffion against God and man; therefore we fhould take great care to com23 mand our paffions. A man's pride fhall bring him low; fball fhall make him the contempt and derifion of all: but honour fhall uphold the humble in fpirit; an obliging difpofition 24 will win upon others and gain many friends. Whofo is partner with a thief hateth his own foul; endangers both his life and everlasting falvation: he heareth curfing, and bewrayeth [it] not, that is, he hears the adjuration, yet does not difcover the truth; alluding to a law that appointed the oath of the Lord to be given to a perfon fufpet25 ed of theft. The fear of man bringeth a fnare; cowardice and exceffive complaifance lead men to do wicked things: but whofo putteth his truft in the LORD fhall be fafe; Shall find fecurity in the greatest dangers, tho' men should be difpleafed with him for not complying with them. It is of 26 more importance to please God than men. Many feek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment [cometh] from the LORD, therefore it is of more importance to fecure his favour than their's, fince final judgment comes from him, 27 as well as worldly profperity. An unjuft man, tho' ever fo great and powerful, [is] an abomination to the just, and ought not to be courted or countenanced: and [he that is] upright in the way, tho' ever fo excellent and useful, [is] abomination to the wicked, yet he is highly esteemed of the Lord. Therefore let us fecure an intereft in the friendfhip of God, for his judgment is always according to truth. I TH CHAP. XXX. HE words of Agur' the fon of Jakeh, [even] the prophecy: the man fpake unto Ithiel, even 2 unto Ithiel and Ucal, Surely I [am] more brutish than [any] man, and have not the understanding of a man; 3 an expreffion of great modefty and humility. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy; I have no great natural abilities or acquired learning, but will Who this Agur was it is impoffible to fay. Some antient verfions do not read it as a proper name, and fuppofe the chapter to be part of Solomon's writings; others fuppofe he was a perfon of eminent wifdom and piety, who lived in Hezekiah's time, and that these were his inftructions to his pupils, or answers to fome questions that they proposed to him. will plainly inftruct you in the precepts of a pious life. 4 Being asked, What is God? he answers, Who hath afcended up into heaven, or defcended? who hath gathered the wind in his fifts? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his fon's name, if thou canft tell? Who hath afcended and defcended to learn his mind and declare it? Who can explain his nature and operations? 5 Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him; rather, have a regard to his revealed will, and trust in him; then you will 6 be guided and protected. Add thou not unto his words, left he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar, left he take vengeance on thee as a deceiver. 7 Two [things] have I required of thee, deny me [them] not before I die: they enquired, What is a happy 8 life, and what they should pray for? Remove far from me vanity and lies; immoderate defires after the world, and deceitful methods of feeking and gaining it: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me; fix me in the middle condition of life, and if I should be Jo vain as to think riches will be no fnare to me, disappoint 9 my expectations: Left I be full, and deny [thee,] and fay, Who [is]. the LORD? left I become ungodly and irreligious or left I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain;] forfwear myself to cover the theft. 10 Accufe not a fervant unto his mafter, left he curfe thee, and thou be found guilty; make not any one unneceffarily your enemy, no not the meaneft. It is kind to tell a mafter a fervant's faults, if he does not know them; but we are not to flander him, or accuse him falfely, left he call upon God for justice, and he punish us accordingly. They then afk, What company fhall we choofe? He anfwers, [There is] a generation [that] curfeth their father, and doth not blefs their mother; avoid the company of 12 difobedient, undutiful children. [There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness; who are exact in external II forms, |