12 The Just One acts wisely towards the house of

the wicked,

Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry himself, and shall not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger;

And a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment;

But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding,

Shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man;

And he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18 The wicked is cut off instead of the righteous; And the transgressor instead of the upright.

19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness,

Than with a contentious and angry woman.

20 Desirable treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise;

But the foolish man squandereth them away.

21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy, Shall find life, righteousness, and honour.

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,

And casteth down the strength in which they confide.

23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, Keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, Who dealeth in the wrath of pride.

25 The desire of the slothful man killeth him; For his hands refuse to labour:

26 He coveteth eagerly all the day long;

But the righteous giveth, and spareth not.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more when he bringeth it with a wicked purpose?

28 A false witness shall perish;

But the man who heard speaketh convincingly.

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face;

But as for the upright, he directeth his way.

30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel against Jehovah.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle; · But safety is from Jehovah.

CHAPTER XXII.

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches;

And favour is better than silver and gold.

2 The rich and poor meet together;

Jehovah is the maker of them all.

3 The prudent man seeth the evil, and avoids it; But the simple pass on, and are punished.

4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah, Are riches, and honour, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; But he that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich ruleth over the poor;

And the borrower is servant to the lender..

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap affliction; / And the rod of his anger shall be broken.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; Yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He that loveth purity of heart,

His lips are kindness, and the king is his friend.

12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve the wise;

But he overthroweth the affairs of the transgressor. 13 The slothful man saith, "There is a lion without, 66 I shall be slain in the streets."

14 The mouth of harlots is a deep pit;

He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to magnify himself, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to

want.

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thine heart to my instructions: /

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within

thee;

They shall withal be ready on thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah,

I have taught thee this day, even thee. 20 Have I not written to thee excellent things, In counsels, and in knowledge,

21 That I might teach thee the certainty of the words of truth,

And that thou mightest answer words of truth to them that send unto thee?

22 Rob not the poor because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For Jehovah will plead their cause,

And spoil the soul of those that spoil them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; And go not with a furious man;

25 Lest thou learn his ways,

And get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be not thou one of them that join hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts; 27 Lest, if thou have nothing to pay with, Thy bed be taken away from under thee.

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings;

He shall not stand before mean men.

CHAPTER XXIII.

1 WHEN thou sittest down to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before thee;

2 And put a knife to thy throat,

If thou be a man given to appetite : 3 Be not desirous of his dainties; For they are deceitful meat.

4 Labour not to be rich;

Cease from this thy prudence.

5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon a transient thing; For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away as an eagle towards heaven.

6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil

eye;

Neither desire thou his dainty meats:

7 For as he is vile in his soul, so is he ; "Eat and drink," saith he to thee;

But his heart is not with thee.

8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou

vomit up;

And thou shalt rescind thy sweet words.

9 Speak not in the ears of a fool;

For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10 Remove not the ancient landmark;

And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

11 For their Avenger is mighty:

He will plead their cause with thee.

12 Apply thine heart unto instruction;

And thine ears to the words of knowledge.