For the way of the wicked is as darkness;
They know not at what they stumble:

But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light,

That shineth more and more unto the perfect

I, Wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge:
I am understanding; I have might.
By me kings reign,

And princes decree justice.

By me princes rule,

And nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me;

And those that seek me diligently shall find me. Riches and honour are with me;

Yea, durable wealth and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;
And my increase than choice silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice;

That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance,

And that I may fill their treasuries.

The Lord formed me in the beginning of his

way,

Before his works of old.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

Or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought

forth;

When there were no fountains abounding with

water.

Before the mountains were settled,

Before the hills was I brought forth;

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,

Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, When he made firm the skies above,

When the fountains of the deep became strong, When he gave to the sea its bound,

That the waters should not transgress his commandment,

When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

Then I was by him, as a master workman;
And I was daily his delight,
Rejoicing always before him,
Joying in his habitable earth;

And my delight was with the sons of men.

Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me;
For blessed are they that keep my ways.
Hear instruction, and be wise,

And refuse it not.

For he that sinneth against me wrongeth his

own soul;

All that hate me love death:

But whoso findeth me findeth life.

PROVERBS XX, XXIII, XXXI
Isaiah v. Habakkuk ii

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning,

That they may follow strong drink!

That sit late into the night,

Wine inflaming them!

And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe,
And wine, are in their feasts:

But they regard not the work of the Lord,
Neither consider the operation of his hands.

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, Mixing therewith thy wrath, and makest him drunken also,

That thou mayest behold their shame!

Thou art filled with shame, and not with glory: Yea, foul shame shall be upon thee.

For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, And the destruction of the beasts shall terrify thee,

Because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land,

To the city and to all that dwell therein.

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow?

Who hath contentions? who hath babbling?

Who hath wounds without cause?

Who hath redness of eyes?

They that tarry long at the wine:

They that go to seek mixt wine.

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,

When it giveth its colour in the cup,
When it goeth down smoothly.

At the last it biteth like a serpent,
And stingeth like an adder.

Thine eyes shall behold strange things,
And thy lips shall utter perverse words.

Hear thou, my son, and be wise,
And guide thine heart in the way.
Be not amongst winebibbers;

Amongst gluttonous eaters of flesh:

For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty,

And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

It is not for young men to drink wine;
Nor for old men to desire strong drink:
Lest they drink, and forget the law,
And pervert the cause of the afflicted.

For wine is a mocker; strong drink, a brawler:
And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

PROVERBS XXXI

How beyond all price is the virtuous woman!
Yea, her value is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband trusteth in her,
And he shall have no need of spoil.

She doeth him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

She seeketh wool and flax,

And worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchant-ships;

She bringeth her bread from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night,

And giveth food to her household,
And their task to her maidens.

She looketh well to the ways of her household,
And eateth not the bread of idleness.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it;
With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vine-
yard.

She girdeth herself with strength,
And maketh strong her arms.

She layeth her hands to the distaff,
And her hands hold the spindle.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household;
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
As for her, strength and dignity are her cloth-
ing;

And she laugheth at the time to come.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Her children rise up, and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:
Many daughters have done worthily,

But thou excellest them all.

Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;

But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall

be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands;

And let her works praise her in the gates.