8:23. I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made.
8:24. The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out.
8:25. The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been established: before the hills, I was brought forth:
8:26. He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
8:27. When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law, and compa.s.s, he enclosed the depths:
8:28. When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
8:29. When he compa.s.sed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pa.s.s their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;
8:30. I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
8:31. Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
8:32. Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways.
8:33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
8:34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
8:35. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.
8:36. But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
Proverbs Chapter 9
Wisdom invites all to her feast. Folly calls another way.
9:1. Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.
9:2. She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her table.
9:3. She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city:
9:4. Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:
9:5. Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you.
9:6. Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence.
9:7. He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself; and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot.
9:8. Rebuke not a scorner, lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9:9. Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him.
Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it.
9:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence.
9:11. For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
9:12. If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, thou alone shalt bear the evil.
9:13. A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all,
9:14. Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the city,
9:15. To call them that pa.s.s by the way, and go on their journey:
9:16. He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she said:
9:17. Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant.
9:18. And he did not know that giants are there, and that her guests are in the depths of h.e.l.l.
Proverbs Chapter 10
In the twenty following chapters are contained many wise sayings and axioms, relating to wisdom and folly, virtue and vice.
10:1. A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.
10:2. Treasures of wickedness shall profit nothing: but justice shall deliver from death.
10:3. The Lord will not afflict the soul of the just with famine, and he will disappoint the deceitful practices of the wicked.
10:4. The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: but the hand of the industrious getteth riches. He that trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: and the same runneth after birds, that fly away.
10:5. He that gathereth in the harvest, is a wise son: but he that snorteth in the summer, is the son of confusion.
10:6. The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but iniquity covereth the mouth of the wicked.
10:7. The memory of the just is with praises: and the name of the wicked shall rot.
10:8. The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips.
10:9. He that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently: but he that perverteth his ways, shall be manifest.
10:10. He that winketh with the eye, shall cause sorrow: and the foolish in lips shall be beaten.
10:11. The mouth of the just is a vein of life: and the mouth of the wicked covereth iniquity.
10:12. Hatred stirreth up strifes: and charity covereth all sins.
10:13. In the lips of the wise is wisdom found: and a rod on the back of him that wanteth sense.
10:14. Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is next to confusion.