21:23. He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.
21:24. The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride.
21:25. Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all.
21:26. He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will not cease.
21:27. The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness.
21:28. A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of victory.
21:29. The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his way.
21:30. There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord.
21:31. The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth safety.
Proverbs Chapter 22
22:1. A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
22:2. The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
22:3. The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple pa.s.sed on, and suffered loss.
22:4. The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
22:5. Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul, departeth far from them.
22:6. It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
22:7. The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
22:8. He that soweth iniquity, shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
22:9. He that is inclined to mercy, shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents, shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
22:10. Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
22:11. He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
22:12. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
22:13. The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
22:14. The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
22:15. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
22:16. He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
22:17. Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
22:18. Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
22:19. That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
22:20. Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
22:21. That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22:22. Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
22:23. Because the Lord will judge his cause: and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
22:24. Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
22:25. Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
22:26. Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
22:27. For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there that he should take the covering from thy bed?
22:28. Pa.s.s not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
22:29. Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
Proverbs Chapter 23
23:1. When thou shalt sit to eat with a prince, consider diligently what is set before thy face:
23:2. And put a knife to thy throat, if it be so that thou have thy soul in thy own power.
23:3. Be not desirous of his meats, in which is the bread of deceit.
23:4. Labour not to be rich: but set bounds to thy prudence.
23:5. Lift not up thy eyes to riches which thou canst not have: because they shall make themselves wings like those of an eagle, and shall fly towards heaven.
23:6. Eat not with an envious man, and desire not his meats:
23:7. Because, like a soothsayer, and diviner, he thinketh that which he knoweth not. Eat and drink, will he say to thee: and his mind is not with thee.
23:8. The meats which thou hadst eaten, thou shalt vomit up: and shalt lose thy beantiful words.
23:9. Speak not in the ears of fools: because they will despise the instruction of thy speech.
23:10. Touch not the bounds of little ones: and enter not into the field of the fatherless: