Various observations of moral virtues and their contrary vices.
1. 1THROUGH adesire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2. A bfool hath no delight in understanding, but cthat his heart may discover itself.
3. dWhen the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4. The ewords of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5. It is fnot good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6. A gfool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7. A hfool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8. The iwords of a 2talebearer are 3as wounds, and they go down into the 4innermost parts of the belly.
9. He jalso that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
10. The kname of the LORD is la strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and 5is safe.
11. The mrich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own *conceit.
12. Before ndestruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13. He othat 6answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14. The pspirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but qa wounded spirit who can bear?
15. The rheart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16. A sman's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17. He that is tfirst in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18. The ulot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19. A vbrother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20. A wman's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21. xDeath and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall yeat the fruit thereof.
22. Whoso zfindeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23. The apoor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth broughly.
24. A cman that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
THROUGH desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.