of the Lord are ten thousand | the Lord, and that there is times brighter than the fun, nothing sweeter than to take beholding all the ways of heed unto the commandmen, and confidering the most secret parts. 20 He knew all things ere ever they were created: so also after they were perfected, he looked upon them all. 21 This man shall be punished in the streets of the city; and where he suspecteth not, he shall be taken. 22 Thus shall it go also with the wife that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another. 23 For first, she hath difobeyed the law of the most High; and secondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man. 24 She shall be brought out into the congregation, and inquifition shall be made of her children. 25 Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit. 26 She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her reproach shall not be blotted out. ments of the Lord. 28 It is great glory to follow the Lord, and to be received of him is long life. CHAP. XXIV. WISDO ISDOM shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people. 2 In the congregation of the most High shall she open her mouth, and triumph before his power. 3 I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud. 4 I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar. 5 I alone compafled the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep. 6 In the waves of the fea, and in all the earth, and in every people, and nation, I got a poffeffion. 27 And they that remain shall know that there is no-and faid, Let thy dwelling be thing better than the fear of in Jacob, and thine inheri 7 With all these I fought reft: and in whose inheritance shall I abide? 8 So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, tance tance in Ifrael. 9 He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail. 10 In the holy tabernacle 1 served before him: and so was I established in Sion. II Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerufalem was my power. 12 And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord's inheritance. 13 I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress-tree upon the mountains of Hermon. 14 I was exalted like a palm-tree in Engaddi, and as a rose-plant in Jericho, as a fair olive-tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a planetree by the water. 15 I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle. 16 As the turpentine-tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace. 17 As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. 18 I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope; I therefore being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him. 19 Come unto me, all ye that be defirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits. 20 For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb. 21 They that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be thirsty. 22 He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do amiss. 23 All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, even the law which Mofes commanded for an heritage unto the congregations of Jacob. 24 Faint not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and befides him there is no other Saviour. 25 He filleth all things with his wifdom, as Phison, and as Tigris in the time of the new fruits. 26 He maketh the under- the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together. standing to abound like Euphrates, and as Jordan in the time of the harvest. 27 He maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of vintage. 28 The first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the last find her out. 29 For her thoughts are more than the sea, and her counsels profounder than the great deep. 30 I also came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden. 31 I faid, I will water my best garden, and will water abundantly my garden-bed: and lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a fea. 32 I will yet make doctrine to shine as the morning, and will fend forth her light afar off. 33 I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all ages for ever. 34 Behold, that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that seek wisdom. 2 Three forts of men my foul hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that doteth. 3 If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canft thou find any thing in thine age? 4 Oh, how comely a thing is judgment for grey hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel! 5 Oh, how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honour! 6 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory. 7 There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that hath joy of his children, and he that liveth to fee the fall of his enemy. 8 Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not flipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man more unworthy than himself: 9 Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh speaketh in the ears of them that will hear: 10 Oh, how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord. II But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination; he that hold eth it, whereto shall he be likened? 12 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him. 13 [Give me] any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wo man: bitterly. 19 All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a finner fall upon her. 20 As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man. 21 Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and defire her not for pleasure. 22 A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach. 23 A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart: a woman 14 And any affliction, but that will not comfort her the affliction from them that husband in distress, makhate me: and any revenge, eth weak hands and feeble but the revenge of ene-knees. mies. 24 Of the woman came the beginning of fin, and through her we all die. 25 Give the water no passage: neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad. 26 If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go. wife, for the number of his days shall be double. 2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace. lids. 10 If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through over-much liberty. II Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if 3 A good wife is a good portion, which shall be giv-she trespass against thee. en in the portion of them that fear the Lord. 4 Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the Lord, he shall at times rejoice with a cheerful countenance. 5 There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was fore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering together of an unruly multitude, and a false accufation: all these are worfe than death. 6 But a grief of heart and forrow is a woman that is jealous over another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all. 7 An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her, is as though he held a scorpion. anger, and the will not cover her own shame. 13 The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her difcretion will fatten his bones. 14 A filent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord: and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed. 15 A shame-faced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued. 16 As the fun when it ariseth in the high heavens; fo is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house. 17 As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so is the beauty of the face in ripe age. 18 As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of filver; so are the fair feet with a conftant heart. 8 A drunken woman, and 19 My fon, keep the flowa gadder abroad, causeth great er of thine age found; and give not thy strength to strangers. 9 The whoredom of a 20 When thou hast gotwoman may be known in ten fruitful possesion her haughty looks, and eye-through all the field, fow it with a Nn |