11 Surely a rebellious man seeketh evil;

But a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good,

Evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water;

Therefore before contention be meddled with dismiss it.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just,

Even both of them are an abomination to Jehovah.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool, Seeing he hath no heart to get wisdom?

17 A friend loveth at all times;

And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding joineth hands; And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife;

And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good ; And he that hath a double tongue falleth into evil. 21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a vicious son hath no joy.

22 A merry heart maketh a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth the bones.

G

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.

24 Wisdom is present with him that hath understanding;

But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,

And bitterness to her that bare him.

26 Surely to punish the just is not good; Nor to strike princes for equity.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words;

And he that is of a forbearing spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, while he is silent, is counted wise; And he that shutteth his lips is counted prudent.

CHAPTER XVIII.

1 HE that separateth himself seeketh his desire; He dealeth in all sound wisdom.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding; But rather in discovering his heart.

3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh contempt; And with ignominy cometh reproach.

4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; And the fountain of wisdom as a flowing brook.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, To overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool's lips enter into contention; And his mouth provoketh blows.

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction;

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds; And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

9 He also that is slothful in his work

Is brother to him that is a great waster.

10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city;

And as an high wall in his own imagination.

12 Before calamity the heart of man is haughty; But before honour is humility.

13 He that answereth before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity ; But a wounded spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man's gift maketh room for him,

And bringeth him before great men.

17 He seemeth just that first pleadeth his cause; But his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease;

And divideth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a

strong city;

And their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;

With the produce of his lips shall he be filled: 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue;

And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing; And obtaineth favour from Jehovah.

23 The poor useth entreaties;

But the rich answereth roughly.

24 The man that hath many friends is ready to be ruined;

But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

CHAPTER XIX.

1 BETTER is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse with his lips, though he be rich.

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not

good;

And he that hasteth with his feet erreth.

3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way; And his heart murmureth against Jehovah.

4 Wealth maketh many friends;

But the poor is separated from his neighbour.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

6 Many will entreat the favour of the prince; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him;

How much more do his friends go far from him?

He pursueth them with words; they are not to be found.

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth himself;

He that keepeth understanding shall find good.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that speaketh lies shall perish.

10 Delight is not seemly for a fool;

Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favour is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

14 House and riches are a paternal inheritance; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And an idle soul shall suffer hunger.