THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
3:19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
3:20. By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
3:21. My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
3:22. And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
3:23. Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
3:24. If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
3:25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
3:26. For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
3:27. Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
3:28. Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and to morrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
3:29. Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
3:30. Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
3:31. Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways.
3:32. For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
3:33. Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
3:34. He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
3:35. The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.
Proverbs Chapter 4
A further exhortation to seek after wisdom.
4:1. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend, that you may know prudence.
4:2. I will give you a good gift, forsake not my law.
4:3. For I also was my father's son, tender, and as an only son in the sight of my mother:
4:4. And he taught me, and said: Let thy heart receive my words, keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.
4:5. Get wisdom, get prudence: forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.
4:6. Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee: love her, and she shall preserve thee.
4:7. The beginning of wisdom, get wisdom, and with all thy possession purchase prudence.
4:8. Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her.
4:9. She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee with a noble crown.
4:10. Hear, O my son, and receive my words, that years of life may be multiplied to thee.
4:11. I will shew thee the way of wisdom, I will lead thee by the paths of equity:
4:12. Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not meet a stumblingblock.
4:13. Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is thy life.
4:14. Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way of evil men please thee.
4:15. Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it.
4:16. For they sleep not, except they have done evil: and their sleep is taken away unless they have made some to fall.
4:17. They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity.
4:18. But the path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forwards, and increaseth even to perfect day.
4:19. The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall.
4:20. My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings.
4:21. Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart: