mm. •f-iy-SMsSiii THE HOLY SCRIPTURES OLD COVENANT. VOLUME in. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD COVENANT, A REVISED TIIANSL.ATION, THE LATE REV. CHARLES WELLBELOVED, THE REV. GEORGE VANCE SMITH, B.A., THE REV. JOHN SCOTT PORTER. VOLUME III. CONTAINING The books of PROVERBS and ECCLESIASTES. by the LATE Rev. CHARLES WELLBELOVED; The books of ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, and the LAMENTA- TIONS, BY THE Rev. G. VANCE SMITH, B.A. ; The books of EZEKIEL and D.\:NIEL, by the Rev. J. SCOTT PORTER; The MINOR PROPHETS, by the late Rev. CHARLES WELL- BELOVED. LONDON: LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS, PATERNOSTER ROW. M.DCCC.LXII. It is proper to inform the readers of tliis volume, that the late Rev. Charles Wellbeloved had made a memorandum at the end of liis Translation of the jNIinor Prophets, that he considered it to be in various points susceptible of imj)rovement, and that he hoped, if it were ever published, it would undergo revision. The editor has not scrupled to act upon the author's suggestion, wherever it appeared to him that the laboiu-s of subsequent critics had tlirown new light on tliis portion of the sacred writings. J. K. THE BOOK OF PROVERBS SECT. I. CHAP. I. — The Proverbs of Solomon^ son of David, King of Israel ; For knowing wisdom and instruction ; For discerning the words of discretion ; For receiving the instruction of wisdom, Of righteousness, and judgment, and uprightness ; For giving prudence to the simple. To the young man knowledge and consideration. A wise man will hear and will learn more; And an intelligent man will gain counsel; So as to understand a proverb" and an obscure word. The words of the wise and their dark sayings. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge : Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father. And forsake not the law of thy mother ; For a graceful wreath will they be to thy head, And chains about thy neck. My son, if sinners entice thee. Consent thou not. H' they say, •' Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, Let VIS lay snares for those who are innocent in vain ; Let us swallow them up alive, as the grave. And whole, as those who go down to the pit ; All precious wealth we shall find; We shall fill our houses with spoil; VOL. III. B PROVERBS I. Thou shalt cast in thy lot with us; 14 We will all have one purse : '' My son walk not in the way with them ; 15 Keep back thy foot from their paths : Por their feet run to evil, 16 And they make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread 17 In the sight of any bird ; But these lie in wait for their own blood ; is They lay snares for their own lives. Such are the ways of every one greedy of gain ; 19 The life of those addicted to it, it taketh away. "Wisdom crieth aloud in the street ; ' ^ 20 In the open places, she uttereth her voice ; In the chief place of concourse she proclaimeth, 21 At the opening of the gates : In the city she uttereth her words ; *' How long ye simple, will ye love simplicity, 22 And scorners delight in their scorning. And fools hate knowledge ? Turn ye at my reproof; 23 Lo, 1 will pour forth my mind to you, I will make known my words to you. Because I called, and ye refused ; 24 I stretched out my hand, and no one hearkened ; But ye rejected all my counsel, 25 And were not willing to have my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity ; 26 I will mock when your terror cometh ; When your terror cometh like desolation, 27 And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; 23 They will earnestly seek me, but shall not find me. Because they hated knowledge, 29 And chose not the fear of Jehovah. They would not have my counsel ; 30 They despised all my reproof. Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, ;n And from their own counsel they shall be filled. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, 32 And the carelessness of fools shall destroy them. PROVERBS II. S 33 But he who heareth me shall dwell safely. And be quiet without fear of evil/' 1 CHAP. II. — My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my precepts with thee, 2 So as to apply thine ear to wisdom, And incline thy heart to understanding; 3 If indeed thou wilt call upon discernment. And raise thy voice to understanding; 4 If thou wilt seek her as silver. And search for her as for hidden treasure ; 5 Then wilt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom : From his mouth proceed knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up safety for the righteous : A shield is he to those who walk sincerely ; 8 Guarding the ways of justice; And the way of his holy ones he preserveth. 9 Then thou wilt discern righteousness, and judgment, and uprightness ; Every good path. 10 Truly wisdom shall enter into thy heart. And knowledge shall be pleasant to thy soul : 11 Consideration shall watch over thee. And understanding shall guard thee; 12 Delivering thee from the way of the evil man, From the man who speaketh perverse things; 13 Fr'om those who forsake right paths. To walk in the ways of darkness ; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, Who exult in the perversities of the evil incm ; 15 Whose steps are crooked, And who are indirect in their paths ; 10 Delivering thee from the strange woman. From the foreign woman, who ilattereth with her words; 17 Who forsaketh the guide of her youth, And forgettcth the covenant of her God. IS (Surely her house declineth unto death. And her paths unto the dead ; 19 None who go to her return, iN'or do they reach to the ways of life :) B 2 PROVERBS III. That thou mayst walk in the way of the good, 20 And keep in the steps of the righteous. For the upright shall dwell in the land, 21 And the perfect shall remain in it; But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, 22 And transgressors shall be rooted out of it. CHAP. III. — My son, forget not my law; 1 But let thy heart keep my precepts ; * For length of days, and years of life, 2. And prosperity, they will add to thee. Let not kindness and truth forsake thee ; 3 Bind them about thy neck, "Write them upon the tablet of thy heart : Then shalt thou find favour and good esteem 4 In the sight of God and man. Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, 5 And lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, 6 And he will direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes : 7 Fear Jehovah, and turn away from evil. It shall be medicine to thy muscles, 8 And moisture to thy bones. Honour Jehovah with thy wealth, 9 And with the tirst-fruits of all thy produce : So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, 10 And with new wine thy vats shall overflow. The chastening of Jehovah, my son, despise not; n Nor be thou impatient of his reproof : For him whom Jehovah loveth he reproyeth, 12 And maketh sorrowful the son in whom he delighteth. Happy the man who findeth wisdom ; i,"? And the man who obtaineth understanding ! For the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize u of silver. And the gain of it than line gold. More precious is it than pearls, 15 And all thou canst desire is not ecpial to it. Length of days is in her right hand; 16 In her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 17 PROVERBS IV. - 5 And all her paths peace. IS A tree of life is she to those who take hold of her, Aud happy is every one who retaineth her. 19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth ; He established the heavens by understanding. 20 By his knowledge the depths burst forth, And the clouds drop down dew. 21 My son, let not these things depart from tliine eyes ; Keep wholesome knoivledge and consideration. 22 For they will be life to thy soul. And grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou Avalk securely in thy way. And thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid. But thou shalt lie down, and sweet shall be thy sleep. 25 Be not afraid of sudden terror. Nor of the desolation of the wicked when it conieth ; 26 For Jehovah shall be thy confidence. And shall keep thy foot from being caught in the snare. 27 Withhold not good from those to whom it is due. When it is in the power of thy hand to do it. 2S Say not to thy neighbour, ' Go, aud come again. And to-morrow I will give :' when thou hast it. 2!) Devise not evil against thy neighbour, When he dwelleth in confidence by thee. 30 Contend not with any one without cause. When he hath done thee no harm. n Be not envious of the violent man, And choose none of his ways ; 32 For the transgressor is the abomination of Jehovah ; But witli the upright is his covmcil. 33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked man, But the habitation of the just he blesseth. 34 Though he scorneth the scorners, Yet to the lowly he giveth grace. 35 The wise shall possess honour ; But disgrace lifteth the foolish on high. 1 CHAP. IV. — Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father. And attend to the knowledge of understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine : Forsake ye not my law. PROVERBS IV. For I was a son dear to my father, 3 And singularly beloved in the sight of my mother. And he taught me, and said to me, 4 " Let thy heart retain my words ; Keep my precepts that thou mayest live. Get wisdom, get understanding ; s Forget not, nor decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee: 6 Love her and she will guard thee. Wisdom is the chief thing ; get wisdom ; 7 Even with all thy possessions get understanding. Exalt her, and she will lift thee on high ; s She will make thee honourable when thou embracest her. She will give to thy head a graceful wreath ; 9 A crown of beauty she will bestow on thee." Hear, my son, and receive my words; 10 And the years of thy life shall be many. In the way of wisdom I instruct thee ; u I guide thee in straight paths. When thou walkest, thy steps shall not be straitened; 12 And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction ; loose not thy hand : 13 Guard her, for she is thy life. Go not in the path of wicked men, 14 And walk not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not along it, 15 Turn away from it, and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil ; 16 And their sleep is taken from them, unless they have caused some to stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness, 17 And they drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, is Shining more and more until the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness ; 19 They know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words ; 20 Incline thine ear to my sayings ; Let them not depart from thine eyes ; 21 Keep them within thy lieart ; For they are life to those who find them, 22 And healing medicine to all their llcsh. Guard thy heart with all watchfulness ; 33 PROVERBS V. 1 For out of it are the springs of life. 24 Remove from thee perverseness of mouth, And depravity of lipvS put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look directly forwards. And thine eye-lids be directed straight before thee. 56 Ponder the path of thy feet ; So shall all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left : Remove thy foot from evil. 1 CHAP. V. — My son, attend to my v/isdom ; Incline thine eai', to my understanding, 2 That thou mayest keep discretion. And that thy lips may guard knowledge. 3 Though the lips of a strange woman drop with honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil, 4 Yet in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death ; Her steps lay hold on the grave. c Lest thou shouldest ponder the way of life, Her ways are changeable ; thou canst not know them. 7 Now therefore, ye sons, hear me. And. turn not aside from the words of my mouth, s Keep thy way far from her. And come not near to the door of her house ; 9 Lest thou give thine honour to others. And thy years to the cruel one. 10 Lest strangers be filled with thy v/ealth. And thy labours be in the house of a stranger ; 11 And thou loudly lament in the end. When thy flesh and thy body are wasting away ; 12 And thou say, " How have 1 hated instruction, And how hath my heart despised reproof, 13 So that I obeyed not the voice of my instructors. And inclined not mine ear to my teachers ! 14 I have nearly been in all evil. In the midst of the congregation and the assembly." 15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern. And flowing waters out of thine own well. ic Thy fountains will flow abroad. Streams of water through the open places. 17 They shall be for thyself alone. PROVERBS VI. And not for strangers with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed ; is And rejoice with the wife of thy youth, A lovely antelope, and a graceful mountain-roe ; 19 Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times ; Be thou continually transported with her love. Por why, my son, shouldest thou be transported with a 20 strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a stranger ? Por the ways of a man are before the eyes of Jehovah, 21 And he pondereth all his goings. His ovv'n iniquities shall entrap the wicked man, 22 And by the cords of his sins he shall be holden. He shall die through neglect of instruction, 33 And through the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. CHAP. VI. — My son, if thou have become surety for thy 1 neighbour. If thou have stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art ensnared by the words of thy mouth, 2 Thou art entrapped by the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, 3 Since thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour; Go, make haste, and urge thy neighbour : Give not sleep to thine eyes, 4 Nor slumber to thine eye-lids : , , Deliver thyself, as the antelope from the hunter, 5 And as the bird from the hand of* the fowler. Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; , '-^Kl- ■ ^ Consider her ways, and be wise; Which, having no leader, 7 No inspector, or ruler, Providcth her food in the summer, 8 Collecteth her meat in the harvest. How long, 0 sluggard, wilt thou lie ? 9 When wilt thou arise from thy sleep ? A little sleep, a little slumber, 10 A little folding of the hands to rest ; So shall thy poverty come like one who travclJeth, n And thy want like an armed man. A wortliless person, an unjust man, 12 Walketh with perverseness of mouth ; Winking with his eyes, 13 PROVERBS Vr. 9 Speaking with his feet^ Teaching with his fingers : 14 Treacheries ai'e in his heart : he deviseth evil : For ever he is spreading dissension. 15 Therefore suddenly shall his calamity come ; On a sudden shall he be crushed without remedy. 16 These six things Jehovah hateth, Yea, seven are an abomination to him : 17 Lofty eyes, a lying tongue. And hands shedding innocent blood, 18 A heart devising schemes of iniquity. Feet hastening to run to evil, 19 A false witness breathing forth lies. And one spreading dissension among brethren. 20 My son, guard the commandment of thy father. And forsake not the law of thy mother : 21 Bind them upon thy heart continually ; Tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou walkest about, it will lead thee ; When thou best down, it will watch over thee ; And when thou art wakeful, it will talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is a light. And the reproofs of admonition are a way of life; 24 To keep thee from the evil woman. From the flattery of the tongue of the strange woman. 25 Desire not her beauty in thy heart. And be not taken by her eye-lids ; 26 For by means of a harlot a man is brought to a morsel of bread. And the wife of another man hunteth the precious life. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his garments not be burned ? 2S Can a man walk upon fire-brands, And his feet not be scorched ? Q9 So he who goeth in to his neighbour's wife : No one who toucheth her can be guiltless. ■M) A thief is not disregarded, when he hath stolen To satisfy his appetite, when he was hungry ; :u But if he be found he must restore sevenfold. And all the wealth of his house he must give. 32 He who committeth adultery with a woman, is devoid of understanding ; At the loss of bis life, he doeth it. 10 PROVERBS VII.. Wound and dishonour he shall find, 33 And his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the fierce anger of a husband ; 34 And he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will pay no regard to any ransom ; 35 Neither will he be content, though thou offer a large gift. CHAP. VII. — My son, keep my words, 1 And lay up my precepts with thee. Keep my precepts and live ; 2 And my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingei's; 3 Write them upon the tablet of thy heart. Say to Wisdom, ' Thou art my sister;^ 4 And call Understanding, kinswoman ; That they may keep thee from the strange woman, 5 From the foreign woman, who flattereth with her words. When, at the window of my house, 6 I was looking through my lattice, I then saw among the simple, I discerned among the 7 youths, A young man void of understanding. Passing in the street near the corner ; 8 And towards her house he directed his steps, In the twilight, in the evening of the day, 9 In the darkness and gloom of the night; When lo, the woman met him, 10 In the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart. Restless is she, and impatient of restraint; 11 Her feet abide not in her house. Now in the street, now in the open places ; 12 And near every corner she lietli in wait. So she caught him, and kissed hira, 13 She hardened her face and said to him, " The sacrifices of peace-offerings are in my house ; 1 1 This day I have performed my vows ; Therefore came I forth to meet thee, 15 Diligently to seek thy face; and I have found thee. With coverings of tapestry I have adorned my couch, i5 With embroidered linen of Fgypt. I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, 17 With lign-aloes and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning, 13 PROVERBS VIII. a Let us delight ourselves with much love : 19 For my husband is not at home ; He is gone upon a long journey : 20 A bundle of silver he hath taken in his hand ; At the day of full moon he will come horae.'^ 21 She seduced him by the multitude of her allurements^ By the flattery of her lips she drew him on. 22 He goeth after her immediately. As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as a hart boundeth into the toils. Till a dart strike through his liver; 23 As a bird hasteneth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is set against his life. 21: Now therefore, my sons, hear ye me, And attend to the words of my mouth : 25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, And wander not iu her paths : 26 For many are the mighty whom she hath cast down ; And strong men, all slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to the grave ; Going down to the chambers of death. 1 CHAP. VIIL— Doth not Wisdom cry, And Understanding utter her voice ? 2 At the top of high places by the way. At the place of paths she taketh her station. 3 At the side of the gates, at the entrance of the city. At the entrance of the doors she crieth aloud. 4 "To you, 0 men, I cry; And my voice is to the sons of men. 5 O ye simple, imderstand prudence ; And ye foolish, understand wisdom. 6 Hear ye, for I speak excellent things ; And the opening of my lips is of right things. 7 For my mouth speaketh truth ; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 Righteous are all the words of my mouth ; In them is nothing crooked or perverse. 9 They are all clear to him that understandeth, And right to those who find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver. And knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than pearls; 12 PROVERBS VIII. And all that can be desired is not equal to her. I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence ; 12 And I find out the knowledge of wise counsels. The fear of Jehovah is the hatred of evil : 13 Pride and arrogance, and the way of evil, And the mouth of perverseness, I hate. J. have counsel and safety ; u I have understanding ; I have might. By me kings reign, 15 And counsellors decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles; 16 All the judges of the earth. I love those who love me, 17 And they who diligently seek me shall find mc. Riches and honour are with me; is Durable and righteous wealth. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; 19 And my produce than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, 20 In the midst of paths of justice ; To cause those who love me to inherit substance ; 21 And their treasuries I will fill. Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way ; 22 Before his works, from of old. From eternity I was formed, • 23 From the beginning, before the earth. When there were no deep waters I was brought forth ; 24 When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were fixed, 25 Before the hills, I was brought forth : When he had not made the earth and the plains, 26 And the highest part of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there ; 27 When he drew a circle upon the face of the deep ; When he made firm the clouds above ; 2s When he made strong the fountains of the deep ; When he gave to the sea his decree, 29 That the waters should not pass over their coast ; When he appointed the foundations of the earth ; Then was I near him ; brought up by him ; ;^o Then was I daily his delight, Playing always before him. Playing in the habitable part of his earth; 31 PROVERBS IX. 13 And my delight was with the sons of men. Now therefore, my sons, hear ye me ; Since happy are they who keep my ways. Hear ye instruction, and be wise, And reject it not. Happy the man who heareth me, Watching daily at my doors, Attending at the posts of my gates ! For he who findeth me, findeth life, And obtaineth favour from Jehovah. But he who wandereth from me doeth violence to his own soul : All who hate me love death." CHAP. IX. — Wisdom hath built her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars ; She hath slain her victims ; She hath mingled her wine ; She hath also set out her table ; She hath sent forth her maidens; She proclaimeth upon the highest places of the city ; " Whoever is simple let him turn in hither :'' To him who is devoid of understanding she saith, "Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled. Porsake the foolish and live ; And go on in the way of understanding. He who instructeth a scorner bringelh upon himself disgrace ; And he who reproveth a wicked man cloth it to his own dishonour. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee : Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee. Teach a wise man, and he will yet be wiser ; Inform a righteous man, and he will increase learning. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Most Holy is understanding. Por by me thy days shall be multiplied. And years of life shall be added to thee. If thou be wise, thou wilt be wise for thyself; And if thou scornest thou alone shalt bear it.'' The foolish woman is restless. Simple, and knoweth not anything. 14 PROVERBS X. Slie also sitteth at the door of her house, u On a seat, in the high places of the city, To invite those who are passing on in the way ; 15 Who are proceeding straight in their course. ''Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither." is And to him w^ho is devoid of understanding, she saith, " Stolen waters are sweet, 17 And bread of secresy is pleasant.^' But he knoweth not that the dead are there : is Her guests are in the depths of the grave. SECT. II. CHAP. X.— The Proverbs of Solomon. 1 A wise son causeth joy to his father ; But a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother. Treasures of wickedness profit not ; 2 But righteousness delivereth from death. Jehovah will not suffer the righteous man to be famished ; 3 But the desires of the wicked he will drive away. Poor will he be who acteth v*'ith a slack hand ; 4 But the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He who gathereth in summer is a wise son ; 5 He who sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Blessings are on the head of the righteous ; 6 But the mouth of the wicked covereth violence. The memory of the righteous is blessed ; 7 But the name of the wicked shall rot. The wise of heart will receive precepts ; 8 But a foolish talker shall fall headlong. He who walketh in integrity walketh secm'ely ; 9 But he who perverteth his ways shall be known. He who winketh with the eye causeth sorrow ; lo And a foolish talker shall fall headlong. The mouth of a righteous man is a fountain of life; 11 But the mouth of the wicked covereth violence. Hatred cxciteth contentions; 12 But love covereth all transgressions. In the lips of the intelligent wisdom is found; 1:; But a rod is for the back of one void of understanding. Wise men treasure up knowledge ; i* PROVERBS XI. 15 But the mouth of a fool is an approaching destruction. 15 The wealth of a rich man is his strong city : The destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The reward of a righteous man is life : The gain of the wicked is punishment. 17 He who observeth instruction is a way to life; But he who forsaketh reproof, causeth to err. IS He who concealeth hatred hath lips of falsehood^ And he who uttereth slander is a fool. 19 In a multitude of words, transgression failetli not ; But he who restraineth his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of a just man is choice silver : The heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of a just man feed many ; But fools die through want of understanding. 22 The blessing of Jehovah, that maketh rich ; And he addeth no trouble with it. 23 It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness ; But a man of understanding hath wisdom. 24 The dread of the wicked, it shall come upon him ; But the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 The whirlwind passeth, so the wicked is no more ; But the righteous man hath an everlasting foundation. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes. So is the slothful messenger to those who send him. 27 The fear of Jehovah addeth days ; But the years of the wicked are shortened. 23 The hope of the righteous is joy; But the expectation of the wicked perisheth. 29 The way of Jehovah is strength to the perfect, But terror to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous man shall never be moved ; But wicked men shall not inhabit the land, 31 The mouth of the righteous man putteth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous man know what is acceptable ; But the mouth of wicked men, pcrverseuess. 1 CHAP. XI. — A false balance is an abomination to Je- hovah ; But a full weight is acceptable to him. 2 When pride couieth, then cometh disgrace; But with the modest is wisdom. 16 PROVERBS XL The integrity of the upright guideth them ; s But the malice of transgressors destroyeth them. Riches profit not in a day of wrath ; 4 But righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect maketh straight his 5 way ; But the wicked man falleth by his wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them ; 6 But transgressors shall be ensnared by their own de- sires. When a wicked man dieth, Ins expectation perisheth, 7 And the hope of the unrighteous perisheth. The righteous man is rescued from trouble, 8 And the wicked man cometh into his place. By the mouth a profane person destroyeth his neigh- 9 hour ; But by knowledge the righteous are rescued. In the prosperity of the righteous a city exulteth, 10 And when the wicked perish there is joyful shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted ; n But by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. He who despiseth his neighbour is void of under- 12 standing ; But an intelligent man will be silent. He wdio goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; i:: But he Viho is faithful of spirit concealeth a matter. Where there are no counsels, a people falleth; 11 But in a multitude of counsellors is safety. He shall suffer great evil who is surety for a stranger ; 15 But he who hatcth suretyship is secure. A gracious woman retaincth honour, 16 And ■|)Owerful men retain riches. A kind man docth good to himself ; 17 But a cruel man troubleth his own flesh. The wicked man workcth for deceitful wages ; is But he who soweth righteousness hath a sure reward. Surely righteousness tendeth to life; vj But he who ])ursueth evil, pursueth it to his owni death. The perverse of heart arc an abomination to Jehovah ; 20 But the perfect in the w'ay are acceptable to him. Though hand join to hand, the wicked man shall not 21 be unpunished ; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. PROVERBS XII. 17 22 As a ring of gold in the nose of a swine Is a beautiful woman who turneth aside from propriety. 23 The desire of the righteous is only good : The expectation of the wicked is wrath. 24 There is who scattereth and still increaseth, And also who withholdeth himself from what is right_, only to poverty. or, The benevolent soul shall be enriched, And he who watereth, shall himself be watered. 2i; Him who withholdeth corn, the people will curse; But blessing will be on the head of him who selleth it. 27 He who diligently searcheth for good, endeavoureth to find favour ; But he who seeketh evil, it shall come upon himself. ■iH He who trusteth in his riches shall fall ; But the righteous shall flourish like a leaf. 29 He who troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind ; And the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of a righteous man is a tree of life. And he who winneth souls is a wise man. ;u Lo, a righteous man shall be recompensed in the earth : Much more the wicked man, and the sinner. 1 CHAP. XII. — He who loveth admonition loveth know- ledge ; But he who hateth reproof is brutish. 2 A good man obtaineth favour from Jehovah ; But a man of evil desires he will condemn. 3 A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the just shall not be moved. 4 A virtuous wife is a crown to her husband; But as rottenness in his bones is one who causeth shame. 5 The purposes of the righteous are just ; But the counsels'of the wicked are deceitful. c. The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood ; But the mouth of the upright delivereth them. 7 The wicked are utterly ovei-thrown, and are not ; But the house of the just shall stand. 8 According to his skill will a man be praised ; But he who is perverse of heart will be despised. 9 Better is he who is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, VOL. 111. C 18 PROVERBS XII. Than he who honoureth himself, and is without bread. A righteous man taketh care of the life of his beast j lo But the compassion of the wicked is cruel. He who tilleth his land shall have abundance of bread; u But he who pursueth empty things is void of under- standing. A wicked man desirteh the stronghold of evil men ; 12 But the root of the righteous will yield /n«7. By the transgression of his lips a wicked man is ensnared ; 13 But the righteous man escapeth from ti'ouble. By the fruit of his mouth a man shall be satisfied ; 14 And the recompense of a man's hajids shall be rendered unto him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes ; 15 But a wise man heareth counsel. The fool straightway maketh known his indignation ; 16 But a prudent man covereth shame. He uttereth truth wlio declareth what is right; 17 But he will be a false witness vho declareth deceit. There is who rashly uttereth as the piercings of a is sword ; But the tongue of the wise is healing medicine. The lip of truth shall be established for ever ; 19 But a false tongue is only for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who contrive evil; 20 But the counsellors of peace have joy. No iniquity approacheth the just man; 21 But the wicked are full of evil. Lips of falsehood are an abomination to Jehovah ; 22 But they who act faithfully are acceptable to him. A prudent man concealeth knowledge; 23 But the heart of the fool proclaimeth folly. ' The hand of the diligent shall rule ; 24 But the idle hand shall be under tribute. Grief in the heart of a man casteth it dow^n ; 25 But a good word causcth it to rejoice. The righteous man exploreth his ways more than his 26 neighbour; But tlic way of the wicked causeth them to wander. The slothful man will not snare his prey ; 27 But diligence is the precious wealth of a man. In the way of righteousness is life ; 28 But the way of the bye-path leadeih to death. PROVERBS XIII. 19 1 CHAP. XIII. — A wise son heareth the instruction of his father ; But a scorner heareth not rebuke. 2 From the fruit of the mouth a man shall eat good; But the soul of transgressors sJiall eat violence. 3 He who guardeth his mouth keepeth his life : He who openeth wide his lips hasteneth destruction, 4 The soul of the slothful man desireth and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be richly supplied. 5 A righteous man hateth a word of falsehood ; . But a wicked man makcth himself loathsome^ and cometh to shame. 6 Righteousness guardeth him who is perfect in the way ; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner. 7 There is who maketh himself rich, yet hath not any thing : There is who maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth. 8 A ransom for a man's life is his riches; But the poor man heareth not rebuke. 9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth ; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. 10 A foolish man by pride causeth strife ; But with those who receive counsel is wisdom. 11 Wealth is diminished by vanity ; But he who collecteth with labour shall increase it. 12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But desire obtained is a tree of life. 13 He who despiseth the word shall be punished; But he who revereth the commandment shall be rewarded. 14 The law of a wise man is a fountain of life, To avoid the snares of death. 15 Good understanding bringeth favour; But the way of transgressors is rovigh. 16 Every prudent man acteth with knowledge; But a foolish man spreadt^th abroad his folly. 17 A wicked messenger causeth 7nen to fall into evil; But a faithful ambassador is a healing medicine. 18 Poverty and disgrace befall him who rcjecteth instruction ; But he who rcgardeth reproof shall be honoured. 19 Desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to decline from evil. 20 He who walketh with wise men shall be wise ; But the companion of fools shall suffer evil. c 2 20 PROVERBS XIV. Evil pursueth sinners; 21 But good shall recompense the righteous. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his sons' sons ; 22 But the wealth of the sinner is treasured up for the righteous. Much food is py-oduced hy the tillage of the poor ; 23 But substance is wasted by want of judgment. He who spareth his rod hateth his son ; 24 But he who loveth him correcteth him betimes. A righteous man eateth till his soul is satisfied ; 25 But the belly of the wdcked shall be destitute. CHAP. XIV. — Every wise woman buildeth her house ; 1 But a foolish woman overthroweth her house with her own hands. He who walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah ; 2 But he who is perverse in his ways despiseth him. In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride ; 3 But the lips of the wise preserve them. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean ; 4 But much increase is by the strength of the ox. A faithful witness will not lie ; 5 But a false witness uttereth lies. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth none ; 6 But knowledge is an easy thing to a man of understand- ing. Go away from a foolish man, 7 And him in wdiom thou perceivest not the lips of know- ledge. The wisdom of the prudent man is to understand his way ; s But the folly of the foolish is deceit. Guilt joineth together fools ; 9 But between the upright is favour. The heart knoweth its own bitterness, 10 And a stranger partaketh not in its joy. The house of the wicked shall be destroyed ; 11 But the tent of the upright shall flourish. There is a way that seemcth right to a man ; 12 But the end of it are ways of death. Even in laughter the heart may grieve ; 13 And the end of joy may be sorrow. He who turneth back his heart shall be satisfied from his 14 own ways. PROVERBS XIV. 21 As a good man is from himself. 15 A simple man Delieveth every word; But a prudent man looketli well to his going. If) A wise man feareth, and turneth away from evil; ' But a fool rusheth on, and is confident. 17 He who is easily provoked acteth foolishly; But a man of evil devices is hated. IS The simple inherit folly ; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 Evil men bow down before the good, And wicked inen at the gates of the righteous. 10 Even to his neighbour is a poor man hateful ; But many are the friends of a rich man. 21 He who despiseth his neighbour sinneth : But he who is kind to the poor, happy is he ! 22 Do not they err who devise evil ? But they have kindness and truth who devise good. 23 In all labour there is profit ; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to want. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches : The folly of fools is still folly. 25 A true witness delivercth lives ; But a deceitful wifiiess uttereth lies. 20 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence ; And to his children he will be a refuge. 27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, To turn away from the snares of death. 28 In the multitude of a people is the honour of a king ; But the failing of a people is the destruction of a ruler, 29 He who is slow to anger is of great discretion ; But he who is easily provoked exalteth folly. .■50 A healthful heart is the life of the flesh ; But jealousy is rottenness of the bones. 31 Pie who oppresseth a poor man reproachcth his Maker ; But he honoureth him who showeth favour to the needy. 32 B}^ his evil deeds a wicked man is driven away; But a righteous man hath confidence in his death. 33 AYisdom resteth in the heart of the prudent man ; But that which is in fools is made known. 31 Righteousness exalteth a nation ; But sin is a disgrace to any people. 35 The favour of a king is shoivn to a wise minister ; But his wrath is against one who causeth shame. 22 PROVERBS XV. CHAP. XV. — A gentle answer turneth away wrath ; i But a grievous word stirreth up anger. The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge pleasant ; 2 But the mouth of fools poui-eth forth folly. The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, 3 Beholding the evil and the good. A healing tongue is a tree of life ; 4 But the perverseness of it breaketh down the spirit. A fool despiseth the instruction of his father ; 5 But he who regardeth reproof will become prudent. In the house of a righteous man is much treasure ; 6 But the produce of the wicked is troubled. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge ; 7 But the heart of fools doth not so. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah ; s But the prayer of the upright is his delight. The way of a wicked man is an abomination to Jehovah ; 9 But he loveth him who followeth after righteousness. Admonition is evil to him who forsaketh the way; 10 But he who hateth reproof shall die. The Grave and Destruction are before Jehovah; u How much more the hearts of the sons of men ! A scorner loveth not one who reproveth him; 12 Therefore to the wise he goeth not. A joyful heart maketh the face cheerful; 13 But by grief of heart the spirit is made sad. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh know- u ledge; But the mouth of fools fcedeth on folly. All the days of the afflicted are evil ; is But he who is cheerful of heart hath a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, iG Than great treasure and terror therewith. Better is a meal of herbs, if love be there, 17 Than a fatted ox and hatred therewith. A wrathful man stirreth up strife ; is But he who is slow to anger appeascth contention. The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns; ij) But the way of the upright is a high-way. A wise son maketh a father glad ; 2a But a foolish man despiseth his mother. Folly is joy to one destitute of understanding ; ai But an intelligent man maketh straight his going. PROVERBS XVI. 23 22 Where there is no counsel purposes are made void; But by a multitude of counsellers they are confirmed. 23 A man hath joy from the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good it is ! 24 The way of life is upward to the wise, So as to turn away from the grave beneath. 29 The house of the proud, Jehovah will destroy; But he will establish the boundary of the widow. 26 Purposes of wickedness are an abomination to Jehovah ; But words of pleasantness are pure in his sight. 27 He who is greedy of gain troubleth his own house ; But he who hateth gifts shall cause it to live. 25 The heart of the righteous man considereth well an answer ; But the mouth of the vvicked poureth forth evil things. •29 Jehovah is far from the wicked ; But the prayer of the righteous he heareth. 30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart ; And a good report maketh fat the bones. 31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise. 32 He who rcjccteth. instruction despiseth his soul ; But he who heareth reproof acquireth understanding. 33 The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honour is humility. 1 CHAP. XVI. — To man belong the plans of the heart ; But from Jehovah is the answer of the tongue. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth spirits. 3 Commit thy deeds to Jehovah ; So shall thy purposes be established. 4 Jehovah maketh every thing suited to its purpose ; So even the wicked man to the day of evil. 5 An abomination to Jehovah, is every one lofty of heart; Though hand join to hand he shall not be unpunished. 6 By kindness and truth iniquity is covered; And by the fear of Jehovah men turn away from evil. 1 When the ways of a man are pleasing to Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues, with injustice. 9 The heart of man may devise his way ; 24 PROVERBS XVI. But Jeliovali establislieth his steps. An oracle is on the lips of a king : lo In judgment his mouth will not go wrong. A just weight and balance are of Jehovah : ^ ii All the weights of the bag are his work. To commit wickedness is an abomination to kings; 12 For by righteousness is the throne established. Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; i?. And he loveth him who speaketh uprightly. The wrath of a king is as the messengers of death; u But a wise man will appease if. In the light of a king's countenance is life ; 15 And his favour is as the cloud of the latter rain. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold; ifl And to get understanding to be chosen rather than silver ! The high-way of the upright is to turn aside from 17 evil: He preserveth his life, who guardeth his way. Pride is before destruction, is And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a lowly spirit with the meek, 19 Than to share spoil with the proud. He who is skilful in a matter findeth good ; 20 But he who confideth in Jehovah, happy is he ! The wise in heart shall be called intelligent ; 21 And the sweetness of the lips addeth learning. Understanding is a fountain of life to those who -22 possess it ; But the snare of fools is folly. The heart of a wise man giveth understanding to his 1^ mouth ; And addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, 24 Sweet to the taste, and healthful to the bones. There is a way that seemeth right to a man, 25 But the end of it are ways of death. The appetite of a labouring man laboureth for itself, 26 For his mouth layeth a burden upon him. A worthless man prepareth evil; 27 And on his lips is a burning tire. A perverse man casteth abroad strife; 2s And a whisperer separateth familiar friends. PROVERBS XVII. 25 29 A malicious man seduceth liis neighbour, And leadetli him into a way which is not good; 30 Shutting his eyes to devise perverse things; Moving his lips, he accomplisheth evil. 31 The hoary head is a crown of beauty, When it is found in the way of righteousness, 32 Eetter is he who is slow to anger than a mighty man ; And he who rulcth his own spirit than he who talceth a city. 33 The lot is cast into the bosom; But its whole decision is from Jehovah. 1 CHAP. XVII. — Better is a dry morsel, with quietness, Than a house full of sacrifices of contention. •2 A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have a portion of the inheritance together with brothers. 3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth hearts. 4 An evil man hearkeneth to the lip of iniquity ; A liar listeneth to a mischievous tongue. 5 He who mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He who rejoiceth at his calamity shall not be guiltless. f. The crown of old men are children's children ; And the ornament of children are their fathers. 7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool ; Much less a prince the lip of falsehood. 8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who pos- sesseth it : On whatever side he turneth himself, he prospereth. 9 He who concealeth a transgression seeketh love ; Ikit he who repeateth the mention of it separateth familiar friends, u) A rebuke descendeth deeper into a man of understand- Than the smiting of a fool a hundred times. 1 1 Surely a rebellious man seeketh evil. And a cruel messenger shall be sent to him. 12 Let a bear, robbed of her cubs, meet a man, And not a fool in his folly. v.i He who returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. 26 PROVERBS XVIII. The beginning of strife is tlie letting out of water ; u Therefore desist from contention before rage is manifested. He who acquitteth a wicked man, and he who con- 15 demneth a righteous man, Are both an abomination to Jehovah. To what purpose is this, a price in the hand of a fool 16 To purchase wisdom, when he hath no understanding ? A friend loveth in every season, 17 And a bi'other is born for adversity. A man void of understanding striketh hands, is Becoming surety in the presence of his friend. He loveth transgression who loveth strife : 19 He who maketh high his gate, seeketh destruction. He who is perverse of heart findeth not good, 20 And a prevaricator falleth into evil. He who begetteth a fool, it is to his sorrow, 21 And the father of a fool rejoiceth not. A joyful heai't bringeth healing; 22 But a wounded spirit drieth the bones. A wicked man will take a gift from the bosom, 23 To turn aside the ways of justice. In the presence of a man of understanding is wisdom; 24 ^ But the eyes of a fool are at the end of the earth. A foolish son is vexation to his father, 25 And bitterness to her who bare him. Surely to punish a righteous man is not good; 26 Or to smite men of high degree for that which is right. He who spareth his words hath knowledge : 27 A man of understanding is of a grave spirit. Even a fool when he is silent is accounted a wise man ; 2s He who closeth his lips, a man of understanding. CHAP. XVIII. — The unsociable man seeketh his own 1 desire : All wisdom he treateth with contempt. A foolish man hath no delight in understanding, 2 But rather in his heart revealing itself. When a wicked man cometh, contempt also cometh, 3 And with ignominy, reproach. The words of a man^s mouth arc deep waters ; 4 A fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream. To accept the person of a wicked man is not good, 5 PROVERBS XVIII. 27 To turn aside a righteous man in judgment. 6 The lips of a fool enter into contention^ And his mouth iuviteth bruises. 7 The mouth of a fool is destruction to him. And his lips are a snare for his soul. 8 The words of a tale-bearer are dainties : They also go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 9 He who is slothful in his vvfork Is a brother to him who is addicted to wasting. 10 The name of Jehovah is a tower of strength : The righteous man runneth into it, and is safe. 11 The rich man's wealth is the city of his strength : And as a lofty wall, in his own imagination. 12 Before destruction the heart of man exaiteth itself; But before honour ig meekness. 13 He who answereth before he hath heard. To him it is folly and shame. i-i Tlie spirit of a man may sustain his infirmity ; But a wounded spirit who can bear ? 15 An understanding heart Avili acquire knowledge; And the ear of the wise will seek knowledge. 16 The gift of a man openeth a wide space to him. And bringeth him into the presence of the great. 17 He who is first in his cause is righteous ; But his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18 The lot causeth contentious to cease. And separateth between the powerful. 19 A brother transgressed against is stronger than a forti- fied city ; And the contentions of brothers are like the bars of a citadel. 20 From the fruit of a man's mouth his belly shall be satisfied : With the produce of his lips he shall be satisfied. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And they who love it shall eat its fruit. 22 He who findeth a wife findeth good. And obtaineth favour fiom Jehovah. 2."5 The poor man uttereth supplications. And the rich man answereth harshly. 24 A man with many friends is about to bt; ruined; But one who loveth cleaveth closer than a brother. 28 PROVERBS XIX. CHAP. XIX. — Better is a poor man who walketh in his i integrity Than he who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Truly, where the soul is without knowledge, it is not 2 good; ^ And he who hasteth with his feet goeth astray. The folly of a man pcrverteth his way; 3 Yet against Jehovah is his heart indignant. Wealth addeth many friends ; 4 But the poor man is separated from his neigh])our. A false witness shall not be unpunished, 5 And he who uttereth lies shall not escape. Many will court the favour of a man of high degree ; 6 And every one is a friend to him who giveth gifts. All the brothers of a poor man hate him ; 7 Much more do his neighbours stand afar from him : He relieth upon words which are nothing. He who acquireth wisdom loveth his soul : 8 He who keepeth understanding findeth good. A false witness shall not be unpunished, 9 And he who uttereth lies shall perish. Delicate living is not becommg to a fool ; 10 Much less to a servant to have rule over princes. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger ; 11 And his glory is to pass over a transgression. The rage of a king is as the roar of a young lion ; 11 But as dew upon the herbage is his favour. A foolish son is a calamity to his father, 13 And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. A house and riches are an inheritance of fathers; u But a prudent wife is from Jehovah. Slotlifulness casteth into a deep sleep ; 15 And the soul that is remiss shall suffer hunger. He who keepeth the commandment keepeth his life; ii> He who despiseth his ways shall die. He who is kind to the poor lendeth to Jehovah ; 17 And his good deed shall be recompensed to him. Chastise thy son, while there is hope, is But let not thy soul desire to kill him. He who is of great wrath shall suffer punishment ; 19 For, though thou deliver him, thou must do it again. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, 20 PROVERBS XX. 29 That thou mayest be wise in thy future days. 21 Many are the purposes in the heart of a man ; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand. 22 The acceptableness of a man is his kindness ; And better is a poor man than a man of deceit. 23 The fear of Jehovah leadeth to life ; And he who is tilled with it shall abide ; he shall not be visited by evil. 24 The slothful man hideth his hand in the dish ; Even to his own mouth he will not bring it again. 2.5 Smite a scorner, and the simple man v/ill become prudent ; And reprove an intelligent man, he will discern know- ledge. 26 He who wasteth his father, and driveth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame, and bringetli reproach. 27 Cease, my son, from hearing instruction That would cause thee to stray from words of knowledge. 28 An unrighteous witness will scorn justice ; And the mouth of the wicked swallovveth iniquity. 29 Punishments are prepared for scorners. And bruises for the back of fools. 1 CHAP. XX. — Wine is a mocker, strong drink tumul- tuous ; And whosoever is led astray by it will not be wise. 2 The terror of a king is as the roar of a lion : He who provoketli him to anger sinueth against his own life. 3 It is an honour to a man to cease from contention ; But every fool will provoke to anger. 4 A slothful man will not plough on account of winter; He shall seek in harvest, but /i/?(/ nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters : But a man of understanding will draw it up. f) Many will proclaim each his own kindness ; But a trustworthy man, who can find ? 7 He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man : Happy are his children after him ! 8 A king, sitting on the throne of judgment, Scattereth by his eyes every evil thing. 9 Who will say, " I have made ray heart pure. 30 PROVERBS XX. I am pure from my sin ? " Different weights, different m.easures, lo An abomination to Jehovah are they both. Even a youth maketh himself known by his doings, ii Whether his deed will be pure, and whether it will be right. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, 12 Jehovah maketh even both of them. ' Love not sleep, lest thou be impoverished ; 13 Open thine eyes, thou shalt be satisfied with bread. " It is bad, it is bad,'^ saith the buyer ; 14 But when he hath gone away, then he boasteth. There is gold, and abundance of pearls ; 15 But a precious jewel are lips of knowledge. Take a man^s garm^ent when he has become surety for a is foreigner ; And when for strangers, take a pledge of him. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man, 17 But after it his mouth will be filled with gravel. Every purpose is established by counsel ; is Therefore by counsels make war. He who revealeth counsels goetli about as a tale-bearer; 19 Therefore with him who openeth his lips associate not. He who curseth his father and his mother, 20 His lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness. An inheritance may be hastily gotten at the first ; 21 But its end shall not be blessed. Say not, " I will repay evil : ^' 22 Wait for Jehovah and he will save thee. Different weights are an abomination to Jehovah, 23 And a deceitful balance is not good. The steps of a man are from Jehovah : S4 How then can a man understand his own way ? It is a snare to a man rashly to declare a thing boly, 25 And to inquire after making vows. A wise king scattereth the wicked, 26 And turncth the threshing-wheel over them. The spirit of a man is the lamp of Jehovah, 27 Searching into all the innermost parts of the belly. Kindness and truth guard a king; 28 And his throne is upheld by kindness. The beauty of young men is their strength ; 29 PROVERBS XXI. 31 And the honour of old men is grey hair. 30 The bruises of a wound purify a wicked man ; And stripes, the innermost parts of the belly. 1 CHAP. XXI. — The heart of a king is as streams of water in the hand of Jehovah : He turneth it upon whatever he pleaseth. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes ; But Jehovah pondereth hearts, 3 • To do righteousness and judgment Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice. 4 A lofty look and pride of heart, Though the lamp of the wicked, are sin. 5 The purposes of the careful tend surely to abundance ; But of every one who is hast}^, only to want. 6 The getting of treasures by a tongue of falsehood Is a fleeting vapour, the snares of death. 7 The destruction of the wicked shall hurry them away, Because they refuse to do justice. 8 Crooked is the way of a man laden with crime ; But the pure, his work is straight. 9 Better is it to dwell in the corner of a housetop. Than with a contentious wife in a spacious house. 10 The soul of the wicked man desireth evil : His neighbour hath no favour in his eyes, ir When the scorncr is punished, the simple become wise; But when the wise man is instructed, he receiveth know- ledge. 12 A righteous man wisely regardeth the house of a wicked man. When God causeth the wicked to fall into evil. 13 He who closeth his ears against the cry of the poor, lie also shall cry, but shall not be heard. 14 A gift in secret suppresseth anger ; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath. 15 To do justice is joy to a righteous man ; But destruction to the workers of iniquity. 16 The man who wandereth from the way of instruction Shall rest in the congregation of the dead. 17 The man who loveth jollity shall be poor; He who loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. IS The wicked man is a ransom for the righteous, And the transgressor for the upright. 32 PROVERBS XXII. It is better to dwell in a desert land, 19 Than with a contentious and angry wife. Desirable treasure and oil is iu the habitation of a wise 20 man; But a foolish man swalloweth it up. He who pursueth righteousness and kindness^ 21 Shall find life, righteousness, and honour. A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, 22 And bringeth down the strength of its confidence. He who keepeth his mouth and his tongue 23 Keepeth his soul from troubles. A scorner is the proud and haughty man called, 24 Who acteth with excess of pride. The desire of the slothful killeth him ; > 25 For his hands refuse to do any work. Greediness coveteth all the day ; 2G But the righteous man giveth and withholdeth not. The sacrihce of the wicked is abomination : 27 Much more when he bringeth it with a wicked purpose. A lying witness shall perish ; 2s But the man who hath heard speaketli truly. A man who is wicked hardeneth his face; 29 But the upright directeth his way. Wisdom is nothing, miderstandiug nothing, 30 Counsel nothing, against Jehovah. The horse is prepared for the day of battle ; 3i But safety is of Jehovah. CHAP. XXII. — A cjood name is to be chosen rather 1 than riches. And good favour rather than silver and gold. The rich and the poor meet together : 2 Jehovidi maketh them all. A prudent man foreseeth evil, and hideth himself; .'5 But the simple pass on, and are punished The reward of humilitj^, and of the fear of Jehovah, 4 Are riches, and honour, and life. Thorns and snares arc in the way of a perverse man : 5 He who would preserve his life will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go : 6 Even when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich man rulcth over the poor, 7 And he who borroweth is servant to him who lendclh. PROVERBS XXII. S3 « 8 lie wlio sowetli iniquity shall reap calamity. And the rod of his anger shall uttei-ly fail. 9 A bountiful man shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor. 10 Drive away a scorner, and contention will go out ; And strife and ignominy will cease. 11 He who loveth purity of heart Hath grace on his lips : the king shall be his friend. 12 The eyes of Jehovah guard knowledge ; But he overthrow^eth the words of the transgressor. 13 The slothful man saith, " A lion is in the street ; I shall be slain in the open places." 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit : He who is abhorred of Jehovah falleth therein. 15 Folly is bound in the heart of a jouth ; The rod of correction shall send it far from him. If) He who oppresseth a poor man, to enrich himself, Giveth to a rich man, only to impoverish him. SECT. III. 17 CHAP. XXII. — Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apfily thy heart to my knowledge : 18 For it will be a pleasant thing if thou keep them in thy breast ; If they be all of them ready on thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I this day teach thee, even thee. 20 Have I not written for thee thrice, Yv'ith much counsel and knowledge ; 21 To teach thee the certainty of the words of truth. That thou mayest answer words of truth to those who send to thee ? 22 Plunder not the poor, because he is poor, Keither crush the afflicted in the gate ; 23 For Jehovah will plead their cause. And rob of life those w^ho rob them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man. And with a wrathful man go not ; VOL. III. D 34 PROVERBS XXIII. Lest thou learn liis ways, 25 And get a snare to thy soul. Be not among those who strike hands, 26 Among those who are sureties for debts. If thou have nothing to pay, 27 Why should thy bed be taken from under thee ? Remove not the ancient land-mark 28 Wliich thy fathers set up. Seest thou a man diligent in his business — • 29 He shall stand before kings : He shall not stand before obscure men. CHAP. XXIII. — When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, 1 Consider well who is before thee; And put a knife to thy throat, 2 If thou art accustomed to indulge thine appetite. Desire not his dainties ; ' 3 For it is deceitful food. Weary not thyself to become rich ; 4 Cease thou from thine understanding. Wilt thou suffer thine eyes to fly towards that which g is not ? For it will certainly make for itself wings, As an eagle flieth in the heavens. Eat not the bread of him who hath an evil eye, g And desire not his dainties ; For, as he reckoneth within himself, so is he : 7 He will say to thee, " Eat and drink ;" But his heart is not with thee : The morsel thou hast eaten thou wilt cast up, s And thou wilt lose thy pleasant words. Speak not in the ears of a fool ; 9 For he will despise the wisdom of thy sayings. Remove not the ancient land-mark ; 10 And go not into the fields of the fatherless : For their Avenger is mighty ; 11 He will j)lcad their cause with thee. Bring thy heart to instruction, 12 And thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from a youth ; i3 For. if tiiou smite him with a rod, he will not die : With a rod thou shalt smite him, 14 And his soul thou wilt deliver from the grave. PROVERBS XXIIl. 35 15 My son^ if thy heart be wise, My heart will rejoice, even mine; 16 And my reins will exult, When thy lips speak upright things. 17 Let not thy heart be envious of sinners; But be in the fear of Jehovah all the day : 18 For there will surely be a reward, And thine expectation shall not be cut off. 19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way. 20 Be not among those who drink wine ; Among those who dishonour their body. 21 For a drunkard and a proHigate shall be impoverished ; And slumber shall clothe him w'ith rags. 22 Hearken unto thy father who begat thee. And despise not thy mother when she hath become old. 23 Buy truth, and sell it not ; Wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of a righteous man shall greatly exult ; And he who begetteth a wise son shall rejoice in him. 25 Let thy father and thy mother rejoice, And let her who bare thee exult. 26 My son, give me thy heart, And let thine eyes observe my ways. 27 For a harlot is a deep pit ; And a foreign woman is a narrow well. 2s Surely, like a robber, she lieth in wait, And increaseth transgressors among men. 29 Who hath woe ? who hath sorrow ? Who hath contentions ? who hath complaint ? Who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes ? 30 They who tarry over the wine. They who go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not on the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, AYhen it moveth itself aright : 32 In the end it bitcth like a serpent. And like a basilisk it diffuseth poison : 33 Thine eyes will look on strange women. And thy heart will speak perverse things : 34 And thou' wilt be as one lying in the heart of the sea ; Or as one lying on the top of a mast : D 2 36 PROVERBS XXIV. " They have smitten me, I felt not pain ; 35 They have beaten me, I knew it not : When I shall have awakened, I will seek it yet again." CHAP. XXIV. — Be not envious of evil men, i Neither desire to be with them; For tlieir heart meditateth destruction, 2 And their lips talk of trouble. By wisdom a house is builded, 3 And by understanding it is established ; And bv knowledge the inner chambers are filled 4 With all precious and pleasant wealth. More powerful is a wise man than a strong one ; 5 And a man of knowledge than he who is mighty in strength : For by counsels thou must make war, 6 And safety is in a multitude of counsellers. Wisdom is too high for a fool ; 7 In the gate he openeth not his mouth. He who deviseth to do evil 8 Shall be called a master of evil devices. The device of folly is sin ; 9 And a scorner is an abomination to men. Art thou faint in the day of trouble — 10 Thy strength is small. Deliver those who are taken away to death, n And who ai-e hurried on to be slain. If thou refrain, because thou sayest, 12 " Lo, wc know not this man ;" Shall not he who pondereth hearts discern ? And he who preserveth thy life know. And render to a man according to his wqrk ? Eat honey, my son, for it is good ; 13 And the honey-comb, for it is sweet to thy palate : So acquire thou the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul, u If thou find it, then thou wilt have a reward, And tiiine expectation will not be cut off. Lie not in wait, 0 wicked man, against the habitation 15 of the righteous ; Neither destroy his resting-place : For seven times may a righteous man fall, and rise 16 again ; But the wicked shall stumble by evil. PROVERBS XXIV. 37 17 When thine enemy falleth, rejoice not ; Nov, when be stumbleth, let thy heart exult; is Lest Jehovah see, and it be evil in his eyes. And he turn away his anger from him. 19 Fret not thyself because of evil men. Neither be jealous of the wicked: 20 For the evil man shall have no posterity : The lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished. 21 Fear Jehovahj my son, and the king; And join not thyself with those who would change: 22 For, suddenly shall their calamity arise, And the ruin of both, who can know ? SECT. IV. 23 CHAP. XXIV. — These also are sayings of wise men. To have respect to persons in judgment is not good. 24 He who saith to a wicked man, " Thou art righteous ;" Him peoples shall curse, him nations shall abhor ; 25 But to those who reprove him, it shall be pleasant. And the blessing of the good man shall come upon them. 2G The lips shall be kissed of him "Who giveth a right answer. 27 Establish thy work without. And make it ready for thyself in the field ; Then afterwards thou mayest build thy house. 23 Be not a witness without cause against thy neighbour ; Nor deceive with thy lips. 29 Say not, "As he hath done to me, so will I do to him ; I will render to a man according to his work.''^ 30 I passed by the field of the slothful man. And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding ; 31 And lo, it was all grown over with nettles ; Thorns had covered its face ; And its wall of stones was broken down. 32 And 1 looked, I considered it well; I saw, I received instruction : 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep ; 34 And thy poverty conieth as a traveller. And thy want as an armed man. 38 PROVERBS XXY. SECT. V. CHAP. XXV. — These also are Proverbs of Solomon, i which men employed by Hezekiah^ king of Judah, copied out. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; 2 But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter. The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, ?. And the heart of kings, are not to be searched out. Take away the dross from the silver, 1 And there will come forth a vessel for the silversmith : Take away a wicked man from before the king, 5 And his throne will be established by righteousness. Take not glory to thyself in the presence of a king ; c And stand not in the place of great men : For it is better that it should be said to thee, ' Come 7 up hither,' Than that thou shouldest be humbled in the presence of the prince "Whom thine eyes have seen. Go not forth to contention hastily ; s Consider what thou wilt do in the issue thereof. When thy neighbour shall have put thee to shame. Plead thy cause with thy neighbour himself, 9 And reveal not the secret of another ; Lest, hearing of it, he disgrace thee, 10 And thine infamy turn not away. Citrons of gold, in figured work of silver, n Is a word spoken in proper season. A ring of gold, an ornament of fine gold, 12 Is a wise reprover upon a listening ear. As the coldness of snow in a day of harvest, 13 Is a faithful messenger to those who send him ; For the soul of his master he refresheth. Clouds and wind without rain, u- Is a man who boastcth himself of a false gift. By forbearance a ruler is persuaded, is x\nd a soft tongue brcaketh the bone. Hast thou found honey — Eat what is sufficient for thee, 16 PROVERBS XXVr. 39 Lest thou be satiated with it, and cast it np. 17 Make thy foot imfrequent in the house of thy neigh- bour, Lest he be satiated with thee, and hate thee. 18 A mallet, a sword, and a pointed arrow, Is a man who beareth false witness against his neighbour. 19 A broken tooth, and a tottering foot. Is confidence in a faithless man in a day of trouble. 20 One taking away a garment in a day of cold. Or vinegar poured upon nitre, Is he who singeth songs to a troubled heart. 21 If he who hateth thee be hungry, give him bread to eat ; iVnd if he be thirsty, give him water to drink : 22 For brands of fire thou wilt heap upon his head. And Jehovah will recompense thee. 23 The north wind bringeth forth rain ; And a secret tongue angry countenances. 2i Better is it to dwell in the corner of a housetop. Than with a contentious wife in a spacious house. 25 Cold water to a weary soul, Is a good report from a distant land. 2S A troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, Is a righteous man swerving before a wicked man. 2r To eat honey to excess is not good ; So the contempt of glory arises from glory. 2s A city broken into, without walls, Is a man who hath no restraint over his ov/n spirit. 1 CHAP. XXVI. — As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest. So honour becometh not a fool. 2 As the sparrow in wandering, as the swallow in flying. So a curse without cause shall not take effect. ^^ A whip for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of a fool. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly. Lest thou also be like to him : 5 Answer a fool according to his folly. Lest he be wise in his own eyes. 6 He cutteth off his own feet, he drinketh damage, Who sendeth a message by a fool. 7 A proverb in the mouth of fools, Is the lifting up of the legs of a lame man. 8 As one who bindeth a stone in a sling, 40 PROVERBS XXVI. So is lie who givetli honour to a fool. As a thorn brandished by the hand of a drunken man, 9 So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. A contentious man disturbeth all things ; 10 Por he hireth a fool, he hireth filso those who are passing As a dog returneth to his vomit, 11 So a fool repeateth his folly. Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes — 12 There is hope of a fool rather than of him. The slothful man saith, "A roaring lion is in the way, 13 A lion in the open places." A door turneth on its hinge, 14 And the slothful man on his bed. The slothful man hideth his hand in the dish ; 15 He is loath to bring it again to his mouth. Wiser is a slothful man in his own eyes, 16 Than seven men who return a prudent answer. He who mcddleth with a cause that concerneth him not, 17 Taketh by the ears a dog that is passing by. As a mndman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, is Is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, 19 And saith, " Am I not in sport ? " "V^Ticn wood faileth, the fire goeth out ; 20 So, where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth. As charcoal for burning, and wood for fire, 21 So is a contentious man for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are dainties ; 22 They also descend into the innermost parts of the belly. Im])ure silver spread over a potsherd, 23 Are glowing lips, and an evil heart. One who hateth dissembleth with his lips, 24 "While within him he layeth up deceit. When he speaketh fair, believe him not ; 25 For seven abominations are in his heart. Hatred may be covered with deceit ; 26 His wickedness shall be revealed in the assembly. He who diggcth a pit shall fall therein, 27 And he who rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him- self. A lying tongue hateth those who are wounded by it; 28 And a flattering mouth worketh ruin. PROVERBS XXVir. 41 1 CHAP. XXVII.— Boast not thyself of the morrow j For thou knowest not what a day may brmg forth. 2 Let another praise thee, not thine own mouth ; A stranger, and not thine own lips. 3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty ; But the indignation of a fool is heavier than both these. 4 W^rath is very cruel, and anger is an overwhelming flood ; But who can stand before jealousy ? 5 Better is reproof that revealeth a fault, Than love that concealeth if. 6 Faithful are the wounds of one who loveth ; But deceitful are the kisses of one who hateth, 7 The satisfied appetite loatheth the honey-comb ; But to the hungry appetite every bitter thing is sweet, 8 As a bird wandering from its uest. So is a man wandering from his home. 9 Ointment and incense rejoice the heart ; But sweeter is a friend than fragrant wood. 10 Thine own friend, and thy father^s fi'iend, forsake not; And go not into thy brother^s house in the day of thy calamity : Better is one who dwcllcth near, than a brother afar off. 11 Be wise, my son, that my heart may rejoice ; So shall I answer him who reproacheth ine. 12 A prudent man seeth evil, and hideth himself: But the simple pass on, and arc punished. 13 Take a man^s garment when he hath become surety for a foreigner ; And when for strangers, take a pledge of him. 14 He who blesseth a friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, A curse shall it be accounted to him. 15 Continual is the dropping in a rainy (.lay, And a contentious wife is like unto it : 16 He who hideth her might hide the wind. And hold fast oil in his right hand. 17 Iron is sharpened by iron ; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 18 He w'ho guardeth a fig-tree shall eat its fruit ; And he who observeth his lord shall be honoured. 19 As water sheweth the face to the face, So the heart, the man to man. 20 The Grave and Destruction are never satisfied ; 42 . PROVERBS XXVIII. So the eyes of man are never satisfied. The melting-pot for silver, and the furnace for gold ; 21 And a man for the mouth of him who praiseth him. If thou pound a fool in a mortar, 22 Among corn with a pestle, Thou wilt not remove his folly from him. Know well 'the face of thy flock, 23 And consider well the herds ; For wealth is not for ever : 2i And doth the ci'own endure to many generations ? The grass appeareth, and the herbage is seen, 25 And the herbs of the mountains are gathered : The lambs are for thy clothing, 26 And the goats are the purchase of a field ; And there will be enough of the milk of the she-goats, 27 For thine own food, for the food of thy household. And for the sustenance of thy maid-servants. CHAP. XXVIII. — The wicked man fleeth when no one 1 pursueth ; But the righteous are confident as the lion. In the rebellion of a land its princes are many ; 2 But by a man who is intelligent and knoweth what is right, it shall be prolonged. A man who hath been poor, and oppresseth the weak, 3 Is a rain which sweepeth away, so that there is no food. They who forsake the law praise a wicked man; 4 But they who keep the law contend against them. Evil men discern not justice ; 5 But they who seek Jehovah discern everything. Better is the poor man walking in his integrity, 6 Than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. He who keepeth the law is an intelligent son ; 7 But he who is a companion of profligates causeth shame to his father. He who increaseth his wealth by interest and increase, s He shall gather it for one who will be gracious to the poor. He who turneth away his car from hearing the law, 9 Even his prayer shall be an abomination. He who causeth the upright to wander in an evil way, 10 Shall himself fall into his own pit ; But the perfect shall inherit good. PROVERBS XXVIII. 43 11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor man who hath discernment searcheth him. 12 When the righteous exult, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men retire. 13 He who covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; But he who confesseth, and forsaketh them, shall obtain mercy. 14 Happy the man who feareth always ! But he who hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil. 15 A roaring lion, and a prowling bear. Is a wicked ruler over a poor people. 16 The prince who is void of understanding is also a great oppressor : He who hateth gain shall prolong Ms days. 17 A man oppressed by the blood of any one Will fly to the pit, lest they should lay hold on him. 13 He who walketh uprightly shall be safe ; But he who is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. 19 He who tilleth bis ground shall be satisfied with bread ; But he who followeth vain persons shall be satisfied with poverty. 20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he who hasteneth to be rich shall not be guiltless. 21 To have respect to persons is not good : Even for a morsel of bread will such a man trans- gress. 22 A man of an evil eye hasteneth after wealth. And considereth not that want will come upon him. 23 He who reproveth a man, shall afterwards find more favour Than he who flattereth with his tongue. 24 He who plundcreth his father or his mother. And saith, " It is no transgression,^' He is a companion of a robber. 25 He who is insatiable in his desires stirreth up strife ; But he who confidcth in Jehovah shall be enriched. 26 He who trusteth in his own understanding is a fool ; But he who walketh in wisdom shall be delivered. 27 To him that giveth to the poor there shall be no want ; But he who hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. 23 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase. 44 PROVERBS XXIX. CHAP. XXIX. — He who, being often reproved, hard- i eneth his neck. Shall suddenly be crushed, without remedy. When the righteous increase, the people rejoice ; 2 But when a wicked man ruleth, the people groan, A man who loveth wisdom causeth joy to his father; 3 But a companion of harlots destroyeth his substance. The king by justice establisheth the land ; 4 But he who receiveth gifts overthroweth it. A man who flattereth his neighbour 5 Sprcadeth a net for his feet. In the transgression of an evil man is a snare ; 6 But a righteous man singeth aloud, and rejoiceth. A righteous man knoweth the cause of the poor : 7 A wicked man will not discern the knowledge of it. Scorners raise a flame in a city ; s But wise men turn away anger. A wise man contending with a foolish man, 9 Whether he rage or laugh, hath yet no rest. Men of blood hate a perfect man ; 10 But the upright care for his life. A fool will utter all his mind; 11 But a wise man keepeth it back. When a niler hearkeneth to falsehood, 12 All his servants are wicked. The poor man and the oppressor meet together : 13 Jehovah giveth light to the eyes of both. The king who judgeth the poor with faithfulness, u His throne shall be established for ever. The rod and reproof give wisdom; 15 But a child left to himself bringcth his mother to shame. When the wicked increase, transgression prevaileth ; 16 But the righteous shall see their fall. Instruct thy son, and he will give thee rest ; n And he will give great delight to thy soul. AVliere there is no vision, a people is lawless ; is But they who kee}) the law, happy are they ! By words alone a servant will not be corrected : vj For he will understand, but there will be no answer, Seest thou a man hasty in his words — 20 IMore hope is there of a fool than of him. PROVERBS XXX. 45 21 He who treateth liis servant delicately from a child, In the end he will be his son. 22 An angry man stirreth up contention, And a furious man aboundeth in transgression. 23 The pride of a man sliall bring him low ; But the lowly of spirit shall take hold on honour. 24 He who hath a portion with a thief hateth his life : He heareth adjuration, but informeth not. 25 The fear of man bringeth a snare ; But he who trusteth in Jehovah, shall be protected. 26 Many seek the countenance of a ruler ; But the right of a man cometJi from Jehovah. 27 An unrighteous man is an abomination to the righteous ; And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to a wicked man. SECT. VI. 1 CHAP. XXX.— The words of Agur the son of Jakeh ; the weighty sayings, which the man spake to Ithiel ; to Ithicl and Ucal. 2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, And I have not the understanding of a man ; 3 Neither have I learned wisdom. Nor do I know the knowledge of the Most Holy. 4 Who hath ascended the heavens, and descended ? "Who hath collected the wind, grasping it with his hand ? Who hath bound up the waters in a garment ? Who hath established all the ends of the earth ? What is his name, and what is the name of his son, If thou know^est ? 5 Every saying of God is pure : A shield is he to those who trust in him, 6 Add not to his words. Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 7 Two things I ask from Thee ; Keep them not from me before I die : 8 Vanity and the word of falsehood put far from me : Give me not poverty or riches : Feed me with my stated food ; 46 PROVERBS XXX. Lest I be full and deny Thee, 9 And say, ' Who is Jehovah ? ' Or lest I become poor and steal, And profane the name of my God. Slander not a servant to his master, lo Lest he curse thee, and thou be condemned. A generation there is that curseth its father, n- And blesseth not its mother : A generation clean in its own eyes, 12 Yet from its filthiness it is not washed. A generation — how lofty are its eyes ! .is And its eyelids — how are they raised ! A generation — its teeth are swords, 14 And its eye-teeth, knives, To devour the needy from the land. And the poor from among men. The leech hath two daughters, 15 — Give, Give. There are three things which are never satisfied; 16 Four, which say not, 'Enough.^ The grave, and the barren womb, The earth not filled with water, And fire, which saith not, ' Enough.^ The eye that mocketh a father, 17 And despiseth to be obedient to a mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it. Three things are there which are too wonderful for me, is And four which I know not : The trace of the eagle in the heavens; 19 The ti'ace of a serpent on a rock ; The trace of a ship in the midst of the sea ; And the trace of a man with a virgin. So is the way of a woman who is an adulteress : 20 She eateth and wipeth her mouth. And saith, " I have not done wickedness." By means of three things a land is disquieted, 21 And by means of four which it cannot bear; By means of a servant when he reigneth, 22 And of a fool when he is filled with food ; By means of a hateful woman, when she is married, 23 And of a handmaid when she hath dispossessed her mis- tress. PROVERBS XXXI. 47 24 Tour things are there which are the least of the earth. Yet are they wiser than the wise. 25 The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the suramei'. 26 The cavies are a people not strong, Yet on the rock they make their houses. 27 No king have the locusts. Yet they go forth all of them in bands. 23 The lizard taketh hold with his hands. And is in the palaces of a king. 29 Three things are there which have a comely step, And four which are comely in their going : 30 The lion, the mightiest of beasts, Which turneth not away from any one; 31 The war-horse, or the he-goat ; And a king in the assembly of his people. 32 If thou hast foolishly lifted thyself up, Or if thou hast purposed evil, jmt thy hand to thy mouth. 33 For the pressing of milk produceth butter. And the pressing of the nose produceth blood; And the pressing of anger produceth strife. SECT. VII. CHAP. XXXI. — The words of Lemuel, the king, The weighty sayings by which his mother instructedlhim. What, 0 my sou ! and what, 0 son of my womb ! And what, O son of my vows ! Give not thy strength to women. Nor thy ways to those who destroy kings. Not for kings, 0 Lemuel, not for kings, is it to drink wine. Nor for counsellors, strong drink ; Lest he drink and forget the commandment. And pervert the judgment of all the sons of affliction. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of spirit. Let such drink, and forget his poverty. And remember no more his trouble. Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all the sons of adversity. 48 PROVEUBS XXXI. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And establish the right of the afflicted and the needy. SECT. VIII. CHAP. XXXI. — A virtuous wife who can find ? lo For her price is far above pearls. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, u That he will not be in want of substance. She doeth good to him, and not evil, 12 All the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax, 13 And she worketh with the delight of her hands. She is like the ships of the merchants ; u Prom afar she bringeth her food. She even riseth while it is yet night, 15 And giveth meat to her household, and a stated task to her maidens. She setteth her mind on a field, and buyeth it ; le From the produce of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girded her loins with strength, 17 And maketh strong her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandize is good : is Her lamp is not extinguished by night. She applieth her hands to the distaff, 19 And her hands take hold of the spindle. She openeth wide her hand to the afflicted ; 20 And she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household ; 21 For all her household are clotlied with double garments. Coverings of tapestry she maketh for herself; 22 Fine linen and purple is her clothing. Her husband is known in the gates, 23 When he sittcth with the elders of the land. She maketh garments of fine linen, and scllcth them ; 24 And she delivercth girdles to the trafficker. Strength and honour arc her clothing; 25 And she laugheth at the future day. ller mouth she openeth with wisdom ; 26 And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watcheth the goings of her household; 27 PROVERBS XXXI. 49 And the bread of sloth she eateth not. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed ; Her husband riseth up and praiseth her : 29 " Many daughters have done virtuously, But thou excellest them all." 30 Comeliness is deceitful, and beauty is vain : A woman who feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised. 31 Give to her of the fruit of her hands. And let her works praise her in the gates. VOL. III. ECCLESIASTES; OE, THE PEEACHEE. CHAP. I. — The words of the Preacher, the sou of David, i king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities — saith the Preacher^ — 2 Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What gain hath Man from all his labour 3 Which he endureth under the sun ? One generation passeth away, and another generation 4 Cometh ; But the earth remaineth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, 5 And hasteth earnestly to the place where it arose. Going to the south, and turning to the north, 6 The wind continually turneth about ; And according to its circuits the wind returneth. All the rivers go to the sea ; 7 Yet the sea is not full : To the place whence the rivers come. Thither they return again. All things arc wearied; 8 Man is not able to tell it : The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Neither is the ear filled with hearing. That which hath been is that which shall be ; 9 And that which hath been done is that which shall be done : ECCLESIASTES 11. 51 So there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, '' See, this is new ? '^ In the ages which were before us it hath been already. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, And also as to things which are to be, They shall have no remembrance With those who shall be afterwards. 12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem; 13 And I applied my heart to search and to explore with wisdom All that is done under the sun : This grievous labour God hath given To the sons of man, to be grieved by it. 14 I have seen all the works which are done under the sun ; And lo, all is vanity, and a feeding on wind. 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; And that which is wanting cannot be reckoned. 16 I spake with my heart, saying, '■ Lo, I have greatly increased wisdom Above every one who has been before me in Jerusalem ; ^ And my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and know- ledge. 17 For I have applied my heart to know wisdom and knovv- ledge, Madness and folly : I knew that this also is a feeding on wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much vexation ; And he who increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. 1 CHAP. II. — I said in my heart, 'Come now, I will try thee with joy; and thou shalt see good : ' And lo, this also is vanity. 2 I said to Laughter, ' Thou art mad ; ^ And to Joy, ' What art thou doing ? ' 3 I sought in my heart to indulge my flesh with wir.e, (Yet conducting my heart in wisdom ;) And to take hold on folly, till I should see Where was that good for the sons of man, Which they might do under the heavens During all the days of their life. E 3 52 ECCLESIASTES II. I made my works great ; 4 I builded for myself houses ; I planted for myself vineyards ; I made for myself gardens and orchards, 5 And I planted in them trees of every kind of fruit. I made for myself pools of water^ 6 To water with them the orchard in which trees grew; I bought male and female slaves, 7 And had slaves born in my house ; I had also greater possessions of herds and flocks Than all who had been before me in Jerusalem. I collected for myself also silver and gold^ s And the precious treasure of kings and of provinces : I procured for myself men-singers and women-singers ; And the delight of the sons of man^ numerous females. So I was great, and increased more than all who had been 9 before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me, And nothing that my eyes required, kept I from them ; 10 I withheld not my heart from any joy ; For my heart rejoiced in all my labour ; And this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked upon all the works which my hands had 11 wrought. And on the labour which I had laboured to do ; And, lo, all was vanity, and a feeding on wind, And no gain was there under the sun. Then I turned myself to see wisdom, and madness, and 12 folly: For what can the man do that shall come after the king ? That which hath been already done. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, 13 As light excelleth darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head ; 14 But the fool walketh in darkness. Yet I knew, even I, that one event happeneth to them all. Then I said in my heart, 15 < As it happeneth to the fool, so to me also, to me it hap- peneth ; Why then have I been more wise ? ' So I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. Tor there is no remembrance of the wise man, or of the 16 fool, for ever; ECCLESIASTES III. 53 As it hatli been already, so in the days to come, all will be forgotten. And how doth the wise man die as the fool ! 17 Therefore I hated life ; For grievous to me was the work which is wrought under the sun; For all is vanity and a feeding on the wind. IS And I hated all my labour which I had endured under the sun, Because I must leave it to a man who shall come after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have power over all the labour in which I have laboured, And on which I have done wisely under the sun : This also is vanity. 20 Then I turned about to cause my heart to despair Concerning all the labour in which I had laboured under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, And with knowledge, and with success ; Yet to a man who hath not laboured on it. He leaveth it as his portion : This also is vanity, and a great evil. 22 F'or what hath a man of all his labour. And of the thought of his heart, with which he hath troubled himself under the sun ? 23 For all his days are sorrowful, and his travail grievous; Even in the night his heart resteth not : This also is vanity. 24 Nothing is better for a man than that he eat and drink, And cause his mind to see good in his labour. Even this I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, and who can enjoy pleasure more than I ? 26 For to a man who is good before Him, He giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy ; But to the sinner He giveth grievous travail, to collect and to gather together. That he may give to him who is good before God : This also is vanity and a feeding upon the wind. 1 CHAP. III. — For every thing there is a season, 54 ECCLESIASTES III. And a time for every purpose under the heavens : A time to be born, and a time to die : 2 A time to plant, and a time to dig up that which hath been planted : A time to kill, and a time to heal : 3 A time to break down, and a time to build : A time to weep, and a time to laugh : 4 A time to bewail, and a time to dance : A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones : 5 A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing : A time to seek, and a time to lose : 6 A time to keep, and a time to cast away : A time to rend, and a time to sew : 7 A time to be silent, and a time to speak : A time to love, and a time to hate : 8 A time of war, and a time of peace. What gain hath he who worketh 9 From that on which he laboureth ? I have seen the grievous travail which God hath given 10 To the sons of man to be grieved by it. Everything he hath made beautiful in its time ; 11 He hath also set eternity in their thoughts. Yet man is not able to find out the work which God doeth, Erom the beginning even to the end. I know that there is no good for them, 12 But to rejoice and to enjoy good each in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, 13 And enjoy the good of all his trouble : That is the gift of God. I know that all which God doeth, 14 It shall be for ever : To it no one can add any thing, and from it no one can take any thing away ; And God doeth it that men should fear before him. What hath been already, is now ; 15 And that which shall be, hath been already; And God bringeth back that which hath passed before. And again, I saw under the sun, 16 In the pUicc of judgment was wickedness; And in the place of righteousness was iniquity. I said in my heart, 17 ^The righteous man and the wicked man God will judge; For there is a tinie there for every purpose. ECCLESIASTES IV. 55 And for every work." 18 I said in my heart concerning the sons of man, ' God designeth to declare to them, and to make them see. That they themselves are brutes/ 19 For that which hefalleth the sons of man, befalleth the brutes ; Even one thing befalleth them both : As the one dieth, so dieth the other, And all have one breath ; So that man hath no excellence above the brute : For all is vanity. 20 All go to one place : All are from the dust, And all return to the dust. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man, which goeth upward. And the spirit of the brute, which goeth downward to the earth ? 22 Then I saw that nothing is better Than that a man should rejoice in his own works; For what is his portion ; For who can bring him back to see what shall be after him ? 1 CHAP. IV. — Then again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun ; And, lo, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no com- forter : For on the side of their oppressors there ivas power ; But they had no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead, More than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both these is he who hath not yet been. Who hath not seen the evil work Which is done under the sun. 4 I also saw all the labour, and all the success of a work, That it is the envy which a man hath towards his neigh- bour : This also is vanity and a feeding upon wind. 5 The fool foldeth his hands and eateth his own flesh, 6 Better is a handful with quiet, Than both hands full, with trouble and a feeding on wind. 7 Then again I looked upon a vanity under the sun ; 56 ECCLESIASTES V. There is one who hath none besides; 8 He hath indeed neither son nor brother ; Yet there is no end of all his labour. Neither is his eye satisfied with riches. Yet for whom do I labour and deprive myself of good ? This also is vanity, and a grievous labour. Two are better than one ; 9 Because they have a good reward of their labour. For if they fall, one will raise up his companion ; 10 But alas for him who falleth when there is not another to raise him up. Also, if two lie together, then they have warmth; 11 But how can one be warm ? And if one prevail over him who is alone, 12 The two can stand against him ; And the threefold cord cannot hastily be broken. Better is a child poor, but wise, ' 13 Than a king old, but foolish, Who knoweth not how to be any more admonished. For, from a prison-house he may come to reign, i Although indeed in his kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living walk under the sun, 15 With the second child, who standeth in his place : No end is there of all the people, 16 Of all of whom he is the leader : Yet they who come after will not rejoice in him. Surely also this is vanity, and a feeding on wind. CHAP. V. — Guard thy foot when thou goest into the i house of God ; And draw near in order to obey, Bather than to offer the sacrifice of fools ; For they know not that they are doing evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be 2 hasty To utter anything before God ; For God is in heaven, and thou art upon the earth ; Therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through an abundance of business ; 3 And the voice of a fool, through an abundance of words. When thou hast vowed a vow to God, 4 Delay not to perform it ; ECCLESIASTES V. 57 Por lie hath no pleasure in fools. What thou hast vowed, perform : 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, Than that thou shouldest vow and not perform. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin. And say not before the delegate of Jehovah, that it was an error. Why should God be angry on account of thy voice, And destroy the work of thy hands ? 7 For in an abundance of dreams there is much vanity; And in the multiplying of words ; But fear thou God. 8 If thou seest in a province the oppression of a poor man. And the violation of justice and equity. Wonder not at the matter; Por a high one above him who is high observeth, And there is the Highest above them. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all : The king is made to serve the field. 10 He who loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver ; And he who loveth wealth hath no produce : This also is vanity. 11 When property is increased, they are increased who con- sume it ; And what profit hath its possessor, but to see it with his eyes ? 12 Sweet is the sleep of a labouring man. Whether he eat little or much ; But the plenty of the rich man will not sufi'er him to sleep. 13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun; Biches kept for their possessor to his hurt. 14 But these riches perish amidst grievous labour ; And he begetteth a son, and nothing at all is in his hand. 15 As he came forth from his mother^s womb. Naked shall he again go as he came. And nothing shall he take of his labour, that he may carry in his hand. 16 And this also is a grievous evil, That, in every respect, as he came so he shall go : And what gain hath he that he hath laboured for the wind ? 17 That during all his days also he hath eaten in darkness ; And hath increased vexation, and pain, and auger ? 58 ECCLESIASTES YI. Lo ! what I have seen to be good and beautiful; is That a man should eat and drink, and see the good Of all his labour which he hath taken under the sun, According to the number of the days of his life which God giveth him ; For this is his portion. Every man also to whom God giveth riches and wealthy 19 And to whom he giveth power to eat of them, And to take his portion^ and to rejoice in his labour ; This is the gift of God. Eor then he will not much remember the days of his life ; 20 For God answereth by the joy of his heart. CHAP. VI. — There is an evil which T have seen under the i sun. And it falleth largely upon man : One to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, 2 So that his soul wanteth nothing of all he can desire, Yet God giveth him not power to eat of it ; But a stranger eateth it : This is vanity and a grievous evil. If a man beget a hundred cliildren and live many years, 3 And many be the days of his years; But his soul be not satisfied with good. And he have no burial ; I say, an untimely birth is better than he. For, in vanity it cometh, and in darkness it goeth, 4 And in darkness its name will be covered : It hath not either seen or known the sun. 5 More rest hath this than the other; Even if he had lived twice a thousand years, 6 Yet had not seen good. Are not all going to one place ? All the trouble of a man is for his mouth, 7 And yet the appetite is not filled. What advantage then hath the wise man more than the s fool ? What hath the ])oor man who knoweth how to walk before the living ? Better is that which is seen by the eyes than the wander- 9 ing of the desire : This also is vanity and a feeding on the wind. What is he whose name has formerly been celebrated, 10 ECCLESIASTES VII. 59 Yet is known as being hut a man, And who is not able to contend with one who is stronger than he ? n Since there are things in abundance that multiply vanity, What advantage remaineth to man ? 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in life, During the days of his vain life, which he spendeth as a shadow ? "Who is it that can tell a man what will be after him under the sun ? 1 CHAP. VII. — Better is a good name than precious oint- ment ; And the day of death, than the day of birth. 2 Better is it to go to the house of mourning, Than to go to the house of feasting ; Since that is the end of all men. And the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Better is grief than laughter ; For, by the sadness of the countenance, the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning ; But the heart of fools in the house of joy. 5 Better is it to hear the rebuke of a wise man. Than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For as the sound of thorns under the cauldron. So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity. 7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad ; And a gift corrupteth the heart. s Better is the end of a matter than the beginning ; And better is the patient man, than he who is haughty. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry ; For anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not, ' How is it that the former days were better than these V For thou dost not ask wasely concerning this. 11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; And an advantage to those who see the sun : 12 For wisdom is a defence ; silver is a defence ; But more excellent is knowledge. Wisdom giveth life to those who possess it. 13 See the work of God : 60 ECCLESIASTES VII. For who can straighten that which he hath made crooked ? In the day of prosperity, be joyful; 14 And in the day of evil observe this, That God hath made the one to be joined with the other. To the end that man might not find out any thing after him. All these things have I seen in the days of my vanity; is Here, a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, And there, a vv'icked man prolonging life in his wickedness. Be not righteous over much ; iG Neither be thou over wise : Why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not wicked overmuch ; 17 Neither be thou foolish : Why shouldest thou die before thy time ? It is good that thou shouldest take hold on this, is And also that from this thou shouldest not withhold thy hand ; For he who feareth God will come forth from them all. Wisdom strcngtheneth a wise man, 19 More than ten rulers who are in a city. Since there is no just man in the earth 20 Who doeth good, and sinneth not ; Therefore to all the words which are spoken, attend 21 not. Lest thou hear thy servant speaking lightly of thee. For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, 22 That thou also hast spoken lightly of others. All this have I tried by wisdom : 23 I said, ' I will be wise ;" but it hath been far from me : Far off; what is it? 24 And very deep ; who can find it ? I have turned my heart to know, 25 And to explore, and to search for wisdom and judgment; And to know foolish wickedness, and the great madness of folly: And I have found what is more bitter than death, 26 The woman whose heart is snares and nets; whose hands are chains : He who is pleasing to God shall be delivered from her; But he who sinneth shall be ensnared by her. See, this have I found (saith the Preacher), 27 Adding one to another, to find out the account, ECCLESIASTES VIII. 61 28 Which I am yet searching after,, but have not found : One man in a thousand I have found, 29 But a woman among all these I have not found. See, only this I have found. That God made man upright. But they have sought out many devices. 1 CHAP. VIII.— Who is like the wise man, And who knoweth the interpretation of a matter ? The wisdom of a man enlighteneth his countenance. And the fierceness of his countenance is changed. 2 Observe thou the command of the king, And that on account of the oath of God. 3 Be not in haste to go from his j)resence : Persist not in an evil matter ; For all that he desireth he can do : 4 Since the word of a king is powerful. And who shall say to him. What doest thou ? 5 He who keepeth the commandment, knoweth not an evil matter ; But the heart of a wise man knoweth time and judgment. 6 For to every purpose there is time and judgment j Although the evil of man be great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not what will be ; For how it will be, who can tell him ? 8 No man hath power over the spirit, so as to retain the spirit ; Nor hath any one power in the day of death ; Nor is there any discharge in that warfare ; Neither shall wickedness deliver those who arc addicted to it. 9 All this I have seen. And I have applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun : There is a time during which a man ruleth over man to his hurt. 10 So also I have seen the wicked buried, and go to the tomb : And from the holy place they have gone. And have been forgotten in the city, who had done rightly. This also is vanity. 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not excepted speedily, 6.2 - ECCLESIASTES IX. Therefore the heart of the sons of man withhi them is fully- set to do evil. Although a wicked man sin a hundred times, and prolong 12 his days, Yet I know that it will be well for those who fear God, For those who fear before him : But it will not be well for the wicked man, 13 Neither will he prolong his days : as a shadow will they be, Because he doth not fear before God, There is a vanity which is done upon the earth ; u For thei-e are righteous men to whom it happeneth accord- ing to the deed of the wicked ; And there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the deed of the righteous. T said that this also is vanity. Then I praised joy : 15 For man has no good under the sun. But to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful ; For that shall abide with him in the labour of the days of his life. Which God granteth to him under the sun. When I applied my heart to know wisdom, 16 And to see the painful business which is done under the sun ; For truly by day and by night he seeth not sleep with his eyes ; Then I saw all the work of God, 17 That a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun : However a man trouble himself to search, Yet he cannot find it : Even though a wise man may say that he knoweth it, Yet he cannot find it. CHAP. IX. — For all this I have considered, 1 Even that I might make all this clear ; That the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God ; • Whether love, whether hatred, no man knoweth : All are before them. All thin(js are alike to all : 2 There is one event to the righteous man and to the wicked man ; ECCLESIASTES IX. 63 To the good, and to the pure, and to the impure man; To him who sacrificeth, and to him who sacrificeth not : As is the good man, so is the sinner; He who sweareth, is as he who revereth an oath. 3 This evil is in every thing that is done under the sun, That there is one event to all ; And therefore the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, And madness is in their heart during their life; And, after that, they go to the dead. 4 But who would be joined to them ? To all the living there is hope : For a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they must die ; But the dead know nothing whatever. And they have no longer a reward; For their memory is forgotten. 6 Their love also and their hatred, and their envy, hath now perished. And they have no longer any portion for ever In all that is done under the sun. 7 Go, eat thy bread with joy. And drink thy wine with a merry heart ; For God now hath pleasure in thy works. 8 At all times let thy garments be white ; And let not oil upon thy head be wanting. 9 Fnjoy life with the wife whom thou lovest. All the days of the life of thy vanity. Which He hath given to thee under the sun. All the days of thy vanity : For this is thy portion in life, And in thy labour which thou endurest under the sun. io All that thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might ; For there is no work, nor design, nor knowledge, nor wisdom. In the grave whither thou art going, Ji Again, I saw under the sun, , That the race is not to the swift. Nor the battle to the mighty, Nor yet bread to the wise, Nor yet riches to men of understanding. Nor yet favour to men of skill ; For time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For truly man knoweth not his time. 64 ECCLESIASTES X. As fishes that are taken in an evil net, And as birds that are taken in a snare, Like these the sons of man are ensnared in an evil time. When it falleth upon them suddenly. This also I have seen, 13 Wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me. There was a little city, and the men in it were few; 14 And a great king came against it, and besieged it, And he built up great towers against it. And there was found in it a poor wise man, 15 And he delivered the city by his wisdom ; Yet men remembered not that poor man. Then I said. Wisdom is better than might ; 16 Though the wisdom of a poor man is despised. And his words are not heard. The words of the wise in quietness are heard, 17 More than the clamour of him who ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of contention ; But one who erreth destroyeth much good. CHAP. X. — Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer 1 to send forth a stinking savour : BiO doth a little folly him who is in reputation for wisdom and honour. The heart of a wise man is in his right hand ; 2 But the heart of a fool is in his left hand. Moreover, when he who is a fool walketh in the way, his 3 understanding is deficient, And he telleth every one that he is a fool. If the spirit of him who ruleth rise up against thee, 4 Leave not thy place; For yielding quieteth great offences. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, 5 An error which proceedeth from the ruler ; The fool is placed in great exaltation, 6 While rich men sit in a low condition. I have seen servants upon horses, 7 While princes were walking like servants upon the ground. He who diggeth a pit shall fall into it ; s And him who breaketh down a fence, a serpent shall bite. He wlio removeth stones shall be hurt by them; 9 And he who cleaveth trees shall be endangered by them. If the iron be blunt, and he sharpen not the edge, 10 ECCLESIASTES XL 65 Then he must use much more strength : But wisdom is profitable to direct, n If the serpent have bitten, from there being no enchant- ment. Then no advantage will the enchantment have. v2 The words of the mouth of a wise man are graceful; But the lips of a fool destroy him. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is great folly, And the end of the words of his mouth is mischievous madness : 14 The fool also multiplieth words. A man knoweth not what will be ; And what will be after him, who can tell him ? 15 The labour of a foolish man wearieth him. Like one who knoweth not how to go to a city. 16 Alas for thee, 0 land, whose king is a youth. And whose princes eat in the morning ! 17 Happy thou, 0 land, whose king is the son of nobles, And whose princes eat at the proper time. For strength and not for feasting ! IS Through great indolence the building decayeth. And through the hanging down of the hands, the house di'ippeth. la For laughter men make a feast. And wine rejoiceth the life, And money supplieth all things. 20 Even in thy thought curse not the king ; And in thine inner bed-chamber curse not a rich man ; Eor a bird of the heavens will convey the voice, And that which hath wings will relate the matter. 1 CHAP. XI. — Cast thy bread upon the waters ; For after many days thou shalt find it again. 2 Give a portion to seven, and even to eight ; For thou knowest not what evil will be u])on the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth ; And if the tree fall towards the south, or towards the north. In the place where the tree falleth, there it will be. 4 He who observeth the wind will not f^ov/; And he who rcgardcth the clouds will not reap. 5 As thou knowest not what is the v/ay of the wind ; How the bones arc in the womb of her that is with child ; VOL. III. 1' 66 ECCLESIASTES XII. So tliou knowest uot the works of God, Who maketh all things. In the morning sow thy seed, 6 And in the evening withhold not thy hand : For thou knowest not which will prosper, either this or that, Or whether both will be alike good. Truly the light is sweet, 7 And to see the sun, pleasant to the eyes : If a man live many years, in all of them let him rejoice; s But let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that Cometh will be vanity. Rejoice, 0 young man, in thy childhood, 9 And let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, And walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes ; But know, concerning all these things God will bring thee into judgment. E-emove therefore vexation from thy heart, lo And put away evil from thy flesh ; Eor childhood and the dawn are vanity. CHAP. XII. — But remember thy Creator in the days of i thy youth, While the days of evil come not. Nor the years arrive in which thou wilt say, 'I have no pleasure in them.^ (While the sun is not darkened, 2 Nor the light, nor the moon, nor the stars ; Nor the clouds return after the rain :) In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, 3 And the strong men bow themselves, And the grinders cease because they are few. And they who look from the windows are dai'kcued. And the doors in the street are shut, 4 When the sound of the grinding is low ; And he riseth at the voice of the bird. And all the daughters of song are brought low : Wheyi also they are afraid of what is high, 5 And terrors arc in the way ; And the almond-tree flourishcth, And the locust becometh a burden. ECCLESIASTES XII. 07 And desire is vain ; For man goetli to liis long home, And the mourners go about the streets : c While the silver cord is not removed. And the golden bowl broken, Or the pitcher broken in pieces at the fountain. Or the wheel broken at the well ; 7 And the dust returneth to the earth as it was. And the spirit returneth to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, — saith the Preacher, — All is vanity. 9 Now as the Preacher was the more wise, The more he taught the people knowledge ; And he weighed, and searched, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find desirable words; And what hath been written is right, words of truth ; 1 1 Words of the wise, which are as goads. And as nails made fast. Words of masters of collections. Which are given by one shepherd to another. 12 And as to more than these, my son, be admonished : To the making of many books there is no end ; And much meditation is a wearying of the body. 13 Let us hear the sum of the whole matter : Fear God and keep his commandments ; For this is the duty of all men. 14 For, every deed God will bring into judgment, With every secret tiling, whether good, or evil. F 3 SOLOMON'S SONG. CHAP. I.— The song of soDgs, wliicli is Solomon^s. i Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth ! 2 For thy love is better than wine. Like the fragrance of thine own perfumes, 3 Thy name is perfume poured out ; Therefore the virgins love thee. Draw me ; we will run after thee, 4 Let the king bring me into his inner chambers : We will exult and rejoice in thee ; We will celebrate thy love more than wine : Sincerely do they love thee. Black I am, but beautiful, ye daughters of Jerusalem, 5 As the tents of Kedar, As the tent-curtains of Solomon. Gaze not upon me because I am black, 6 Because the sun hath looked upon me. ' The sons of my mother were angry with me; They made me the keeper of the vineyards ; The vineyard that is mine own I have not kept. Tell me, 0 thou whom my soul lovcth, 7 Where thou feedest thy jlock, and where thou makest it to lie down at noon : For why should I be as one wandering Among the flocks of thy companions ? If thou know not, fairest of women, 8 Go forth in the footsteps of the flock. And feed thy kids near the tents of the shepherds. To steeds in the chariots of Pharaoh I compare thee, my love. SOLOMON^S SONG II. 69 10 Beautiful are tliy cheeks with rows of jewels, Thy neck with strings of pearls. 11 Strings of gold we will make for thee, With studs of silver. 12 While the king is at his banquet, My spikenard giveth out its fragrance. 13 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, Which lieth all night between my breasts. 14 A cluster of Cyprus is my beloved to me Prom the vineyards of En-geddi. 15 Lo, thou art fair, my love; Lo, thou art fair ; thine eyes arc the eyes of doves. 16 Lo, thou art fair, my beloved, and pleasing, And our couch is green : 17 The beams of our house are cedars, Our roof is of firs. 1 CHAP. II. — I am a narcissus of Sharon; A lily of the valleys. 2 As the lily among thorns. So is my love among damsels. 3 As the citron tree among the trees of the forest. So is my beloved among youths. In his shade I delighted, and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 Let him bring me into the banqueting house, And let his banner over me be love. 5 Support me with dried grapes ; Comfort me with citrons ; For I am sick with love. 6 Let his left hand be under my head. And his right hand embrace me. 7 I adjure you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, By the antelopes and the hinds of the field, That ye disturb not, nor awaken my love. Until she please. The voice of my beloved ! Lo, he Cometh, Bounding upon the mountains, Leaping upon the hills. My beloved is like an antelope Or a young hart. ) SOLOMON^S SONG III. Lo ! lie standeth near our wall, Looking througli the window, Shewing himself at the lattice. My beloved spake, and said to me, lo " Arise, my love, my fair one. And come away. Por lo ! the winter is past, ii The rain is over, and gone ; The flowers appear on the gronnd; 12 The time of singing is come, And the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land. The fig-tree ripeneth its green figs, is And the vines with their flowers send forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, And come away. My dove, in the clefts of the rock, u In the secret places of the steep roch, Show me thy countenance ; Let me hear thy voice ; Por thy voice is sweet, And thy countenance beautiful." Take for us the jackals, i& The little jackals That spoil the vines, "When our vines are in flower. My beloved is mine, and I am his : 16 He feedeth his flock among the lilies. Until the day grows cool and the shadows flee away. 17 Turn; be like an antelope, my beloved; Or a young hart Upon the mountains of Bethcr. CHx\P. III.— On my bed, in the night, I sought him whom my soul loveth : I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise and will go about the city ; In the streets and in the broad places, I will seek him whom my soul loveth : I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen who go about the city £^und me ' Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?^ I had passed on but a little way from them. SOLOMON'S SONG IV. 71 Wheu I found him whom my soul loveth : I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother. And into the chamber of her who had conceived me. 5 I adjure you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, "By the antelopes and the hinds of the field, That ye disturb not, nor awaken my love Until she please. 6 Who is this coming up from the wilderness. Like a column of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With every powder of the merchant ? 7 Lo, the bed of Solomon ! Sixty mighty men are about it. Of the mighty men of Israel ; 8 All of them bearing swords. Expert in battle ; Each having his sword on his thigh, Because of the terror by night. 9 King Solomon hath made for himself Of the trees of Lebanon a bridal bed. 10 Its pillars he hath made of silver, Its frame of gold. Its covering of purple ; The middle of it is spread By the love of the daughters of Jerusalem. 11 Go forth and see King Solomon, ye daughters of Zion, With the crown with which his mother crowned him On the day of his nuptials, On the day of the joy of his heart. 1 CHAP. IV. — Lo, thou art fair, my love ; lo, thou art fair ; Thine eyes are the eyes of doves, from within thy veil. Thy hair is like a flock of goats. That couch on mount Gilead. 2 Thy teeth are like the shorn flock, That are coming up from the washing ; All of which bear twins. And none is without its fellow among them. 3 Like a thread of scarlet are thy lips. And thy speech is pleasant : 72 SOLOMON'S SONG IV. Thy cheeks like a divided pomegranate, Prom within thy veil. Thy neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armoury, On which a thousand shields are hanging, All shields of the mighty. Thy two breasts are like two young fawns, Twins of the antelope, Which feed among the lilies. Until the day grows cool, and the shadows flee away. I will go away to the mountains of myrrh. And to the hills of frankincense. Thou art altogether fair, my love ; No spot is in thee. With me thou lookedst from Lebanon, my spouse, s With me from Lebanon : Thou lookedst from the top of Amana, From the top of Seuir and Ilermon, From the dens of lions. From the mountains of leopards. Thou hast captivated my heart, my sister, my spouse ; 9 Thou hast captivated my heart by one of thine eyes, By one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse ! 10 How much better thy love than wine ! And the fragrance of thy perfumes than of all spices! Thy lips, my spouse, drop as the honey-comb ; 11 Honey and milk are under thy tongue, And the fragrance of thy garments is as the fragrance of Lebanon. There is a garden enclosed, my sister, my spouse ; 12 A spring enclosed, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates, 13 With precious fruits ; With Cyprus, with spikenard ; Spikenard and saffron ; sweet cane and cinnamon, u With all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and lign-aloes. With all the chief spices : A garden-fountain, a well of living waters, 15 And streams from Lebanon. Rise, 0 north wind, and come, thou south ; 16 SOLOMON'S SONG V. 73 Blow upon my garden, that its perfumes may flow forth. Let Biy beloved come into his garden, And eat its precious fruits. CHAP. V, — I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse : I gather my myrrh with my spices ; I eat my honey-comb, with my honey ; I drink my wine with my milk. Eat, my friends ; Drink ye, and drink freely, my beloved. I was sleeping, but my heart was wakeful : The voice of my beloved, knocking ! " Open to me, my sister, my love, My dove, my undefiled ; For my head is filled with dew. My locks with the drops of the night.'' " I have put off my vest, how can I clothe myself ? I have washed my feet, how can I defile them V My beloved put his hand through the opening, And my bowels were moved for him. I arose to open to my beloved ; And my hands dropped myrrh. And my fingers liquid myrrh. Upon the handles of the bolt. T opened to my beloved ; But my beloved had withdrawn himself, he was gone : My spirit failed at his speech ; I sought him, but I could not find him ; I called him, but he did not answer me. The watchmen who go about the city found me. They smote me, they wounded me ; They who guard the walls took my veil from off me. " I adjure you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved. What shall ye tell him ? That I am sick with love." " What is thy beloved more than amy other beloved. Fairest of women ? What is thy beloved more than any other beloved. That thou dost thus ac/jure us ? " " My beloved is white and ruddy. 74 SOLOMON^S SONG VI. The chief among ten thousand. His heaclj the purest gold ; ii His locks are curled, black as the raven : His eyes like doves by the rivers of water, 12 Washed with milk, and fully set : His cheeks like beds of spices; is Shrubberies of sweet smelling plants : His lips like lilies, Dropping liquid myrrh : His hands like rings of gold, 14 Thickly set with beryls ; His body wrought ivory. Inlaid with sapphires : His legs like pillars of marble, 15 Fixed on bases of pure gold : His appearance is as Lebanon ; Majestic as cedars : His mouth is most sweet, 16 And he is altogether most lovely. This is my beloved, and this my friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem." CHAP. VI.— "Whither went thy beloved, fairest of 1 women ? Whither turned thy beloved, That we may seek him with thee ?" " My beloved is gone down to his garden, 2 To the beds of spices. To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. 1 am my beloved's and my beloved is mine ; 3 He fecdcth among the lilies.''^ Thou art fair, my love, as Tirzah ; Pleasant as Jerusalem ; Terrible as bannered hosts. Turn away thine eyes from me ; For they overpower me. Thy hair is like a flock of goats That couch on Mount Gilead. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep That are coming up from the washing. All of which bear twins, And none among them is without its fellow. SOLOMON^S SONG Yll. 75 Thy cheeks are hke a divided pomegranate From within thy veil. Thei'e are sixty queens. And eighty concubines. And virgins without number. The only one is my dove, my undefiled, The only one of her mother. The choice one is she of her who bare her : The daughters sec her and call her happy; The queens and the concubines, and praise her, saying^, " Who is this that looketh forth as the dawn, Fair as the moon, clear as the mid-day sun, Terrible as bannered hosts ? " 1] To the garden of nuts I went down. To see the swelling fruits of the valley, To see whether the vine was budding. Whether the pomegranates were in flower. 32 I knew not — ray spirit troubled me. On account of the chariots of the nobles of my people. 13 *' Return, return, O Shulamite ; Return, return, that wx may look upon thee." " Why would ye look upon the Shulamite, As upon the dance of two companies ? " \ CHAP. VTI. — " How beautiful are thy steps in sandals, 0 daughter of a prince ! The moulding of thy thighs like jewellery. The work of the hands of the artificer. 2 Thy waist is a round goblet Which wanteth not mingled wine; Thy belly is a heap of wheat Set round with lilies : 3 Thy two breasts are like two fawns. Twins of the antelope : 4 Thy neck is like a tower of ivory ; Thine eyes like fish-pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbi m; Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon, Looking towards Damascus : 5 Thy head upon thee like Carmel, And the locks of thy head like the purple robe of a king. Bound in folds. 76 SOLOMON'S SONG VIII. How beautiful and how pleasant 6 Is 7717/ love in delights ! This thy stature is like the palm-tree, 7 And thy breasts like clusters of dates. I said, I will ascend the palm-tree, 8 I will take hold of its boughs ; Now then let thy breasts be as clusters of the vine, And the odour of thy nose like that of citrons ; And thy mouth like excellent wine 9 Which goeth deliciously, smoothl}^, Gliding through the lips and the teeth/' " I am my beloved's and to me is his desire." lo Come, my beloved, let us go into the field ; u Let us lodge in the villages. Let us go early to the vineyards ; 12 Let us see whether the vine be budding, W/iethe7' it hath opened its flowers. And the pomegranates be flowering : There I will give thee my love. The mandrakes send forth an odour, 13 And near our door are all precious /r«z7s. New and old. Which I have laid up for thee, my beloved ! CHAP. VIII. — Oh that thou wert as my brother, i That sucked the breasts of my mother ! If I found thee without, I might kiss thee ; Yet should I not be despised. I would lead thee, I would bring thee to the house of my .2 mother. Who would teach me to give thee to drink spiced wine, Of the juice of pomegranates. Let his left hand be under my head, 3 And his right hand embrace me ! I adjure you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, 4 That ye disturb not, nor awaken my love. Until she please. Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved ? Under the citron-tree I stirred thee up to love ; There thy mother pledged thee ; There she pledged thee who bare thee. SOLOMON'S SONG VIII. 'n 6 Place me as a signet upon thy breast, As a signet upon thine avm : For love is as strong as death ; jealousy is inflexible as the grave : Its brands are brands of fire. The flame of Jehovah. 7 Many waters cannot quench love. Nor can streams overwhelm it : If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, It would be utterly despised. 8 We have a young sister. And she hath no breasts : What shall we do for our sister. In the day when they shall speak of her ? 9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a tower of silver ; And if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers : So I have been in his eyes as one who hath found favour. 11 Solomon hath a vineyard in Baal-Hamon ; He hath let out the vineyard to keepers : Each is to bring for the fruit of it a thousand pieces of silver ; 12 (My vineyard, which I have, is before me !) A thousand pieces of silver for thee, Solomon, And two hundred for those who keep its fruit. 13 0 thou who dwellest in gardens. The companions hearken to thy voice : Cause me to hear it. u Flee my beloved, and be like an antelope. Or a fawn of the deer. Upon the mountains of siueet odours. THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. CHAP. I. — The prophetic visions of Isaiah the son of i Amoz, which he saw concerning- Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah^ Jotham, Ahaz, and Hczekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, 0 heavens, and give ear, 0 earth, 2 For Jehovah speaketh ! I have noui'ished and brought up children. And they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib ; . 3 Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, 4 A seed of evildoers, children that act corruptly : They have forsaken Jehovah, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have gone away backward. On what part will ye be stricken any more, 5 That ye again revolt ? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint ; From the sole of the foot, even unto the head, 6 There is no soundness in it; But wounds, and stripes, and fresh bruises; They have not been closed, neither bound up. Neither softened with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire ; 7 Your land, strangers devour it in your presence, And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. ISAIAH I. 79 8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard. As a hut in a cucumber-field, as a besieged city. 9 Unless Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant. We should have been as Sodom, We should have been like unto Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom ; Give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices imto me ? saith Jehovah : I am sated with the burnt-offerings of rams. And the fat of fed beasts ; And I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12 When ye come to appear before me, Who hath required this at your hand, to profane my courts ? 13 Bring no more vain oblations; Incense is an abomination unto me, New moons and sabbaths and the calling of assemblies : I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth j They are a burden unto me, I am weary to bear them. 15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you ; Yea, when ye make many prayers, I v/iil not hear : Your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash you, make you clean ; Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes : 17 Cease to do evil, learn to do well ; Seek justice; right the oppressed; Defend the fatherless ; plead for the widow. IS Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah : Though your sins be as scarlet. They shall be as white as snow ; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be wilUng and obedient. Ye shall eat the good of the land ; 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be eaten by the sword : Tor the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it, ai How is the faithful city become a harlot ! It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it; 80 ISAIAH II. But now, murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water ; 22 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves : 23 Every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards ; They defend not the fatherless, Neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Therefore saith the Lord, 24 Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will avenge me of mine adversaries. And take vengeance on mine enemies ; And I will turn my hand against thee, 25 And purely purge away thy dross, And take away all thine alloy. And I will restore thy judges, as at the first, 26 And thy counsellors, as at the beginning : Afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, a faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed by justice, 27 And her converts by righteousness. But transgressors and sinners shall be destroyed together, 28 And they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth-groves wherein 29 ye have delighted, And ye shall blush for the gardens which ye have chosen : For ye shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fadeth, 30 And as a garden that hath no water. And the strong man shall be as tow, 31 And his work as a spark. And they shall both burn together. And none shall quench them. CHAP. II. — The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz 1 saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the latter days, 2 That the mountain of the house of Jehovah Shall be cstaljlishcd above the mountains, And shall be higher than the hills ; And all nations shall flow unto it. And many peoi)les shall come and say, 3 Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, To the house of the God of Jacob ; ISAIAH II. 81 And he will teach us his ways, And we will walk in his paths : For out of Zion shall go forth the law. And the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, And decide for many peoples : And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, And their spears into pruning-hooks ; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war any more. 5 0 house of Jacob, come ye. And let us walk in the light of Jehovah, 6 For thou, 0 Jehovah, hast forsaken thy people. The house of Jacob, Because they are filled from the east. And are soothsayers like the Philistines, And join hands with the children of strangers. 7 Their land also is full of silver and gold. Neither is there any end of their treasures ; Their land also is full of horses, Neither is there any end of their chariots : 8 Their land also is full of idols ; They worship the work of their own hands. That which their own fingers have made. 9 Therefore shall the mean man bow down, And the great man be humbled ; And thou shalt not forgive them. 10 Enter into the rocks, and hide thee in the dust, Before the terror of Jehovah, And from the glory of his majesty. 11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, And the haughtiness of men shall bow down, And Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day. 12 For Jehovah of hosts shall have a day of judgment, Upon every thing proud and haughty, And upon every thing lifted up, and it shall be humbled; 13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, high and lifted up, And upon all the oaks of Bashan, 14 And upon all the high mountains. And upon all the hills that are lifted up, VOL. III. G 82 ISAIAH III. And upon every lofty tower, 15 And upon every fortified wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshisi, 16 And upon all objects of desire. And the loftiness of man shall bow down, 17 And the haughtiness of men shall be humbled ; And Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day : And the idols shall utterly pass away. is And men shall go into the holes of the rocks, J9 And into the caves of the earth, Before the terror of Jehovah, And from the glory of his majesty, When he ariseth to terrify the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, 20 And his idols of gold, Which they made each for himself to worship, To the moles and to the bats ; To go into the clefts of the rocks, 21 And into the fissures of the cliffs. Before the terror of Jehovah, And from the glory of his majesty. When he ariseth to terrify the earth. Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils : 22 For wherein is he to be accounted of ? CHAP. III. — For, behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, 1 Doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judali Every kind of support. All support of bread, and all support of water. The mighty man, and the man of war, 2 The judge, and the prophet, and the diviner, The elder, and the captain of fifty, 3 And the honourable man, and the counscller. The cunning artificer, and the expert enchanter. And I will give youths to he their princes, 4 And infants shall rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, 5 And every one by his neighbour : The youth shall behave himself proudly towards the elder. And the ignoble towards the honourable. When a man shall take hold of his brother, 6 ISAIAH III. 88 In the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler. And let this ruin he under thy hand : 7 In that day shal he raise his voice, saying, I will not be a healer ; For in my house there is neither bread nor clothing : Make me not a ruler of the people. 8 For Jei'usalem is ruined, and Judah falleth : Because their tongue and their doings are against Jehovah, So as to provoke the eyes of his glory. 9 The look of their countenances doth witness against them ; And they declare their sin like Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul ! for they bring evil upon themselves. 10 Say ye of the righteous, that it shall be well ivith him : For they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe vmto the wicked ! it shall be ill loith him : For the reward of his hands shall be given him. 12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. 0 my people, they who guide thee lead thee astray, And destroy the way of thy paths. 13 Jehovah standeth up to plead, And standeth to judge the tribes ; 14 Jehovah will enter into judgment With the elders of his people, and the rulers thereof, saying, So ye then have eaten up the vineyard ; The spoil of the poor is in your houses ; 15 What mean ye that ye crush my people, And grind the faces of the poor ? Saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts. 16 Moreover Jehovah saith. Because the daughters of Zion are haughty. And walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes. Mincing their steps as they go, And making a tinkling with their ankle-rings : 17 Therefore the Lord will make bald The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion ; And Jehovah will expose their nakedness. IS In that day the Lord will take away The adornment of their ankle-rings. And head-dresses, and neck-crescents, 19 The ear-pendants, and the bracelets, and the veils. 84 ISALiH IV. The tiaras, and the ankle-chains, and the belts, 20 And the scent-boxes, and the amulets, 21 The rings, and the nose-jewels. The robes, and the mantles, 22 And the cloaks, and the purses. The mirrors, and the fine linen, 23 And the turbans, and the shawls. And it shall come to pass, 24 That instead of perfume, there shall be rottenness; And instead of a girdle, a rope ; And instead of well-dressed hair, baldness ; And instead of a festive garment, a wrapping of sackcloth ; A branded mark, instead of beavity. Thy men shall fall by the sword, ' 25 And thy might in the battle. And her gates shall sigh and mourn ; 26 And she shall sit desolate upon the ground. CHAP. IV.— And in that day, 1 Seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel : Only let us be called by thy name, To take away our reproach. In that day, 2 The branch of Jehovah shall be beautiful and glorious, And the fruit of the land excellent and comely, For them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, 3 And he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, Even every one that is written among the living in Jerusa- lem. When the Lord hath washed away 4 The filth of the daughters of Zion, And purged the blood-guiltiness of Jerusalem From the midst thereof. By a spirit of judgment, and by a spirit of destruction, Then will Jehovah create upon every dwelling - place of 5 mount Zion, And upon her assemblies, A cloud and smoke by day, And the shining of a flaming fire by night : For over all her glory protection shall be thrown. And there shall be a tabernacle, 6 ISAIAH V. 85 For shade by day from the heat ; And for a place of refuge, And for a covert from storm and from rain. 1 CHAP. V. — Now will I sing to my beloved, A song of my beloved touching his vineyard : My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill ; 2 And he digged it, and cleared it of stones, And planted it with the choicest vine ; He built a tower in the midst of it. And also hewed out a winepress therein ; And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, But it brought forth sour grapes. 3 And now, 0 inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard : 4 What could have been done more for my vineyard, That I have not done in it ? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, Did it bring forth sour grapes ? 5 And now let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard : I will take away its hedge, that it may be eaten up ; / will overthrow its wall, that it may be trodden down ; c And I will lay it waste. It shall not be pruned, nor weeded ; But shall grow up into briers and thorns : I will also give charge to the clouds. That they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah the plant of his delight ; And he looked for justice, but l)ehold bloodshed. For righteousness, but behold a cry ! 8 Woe unto them that add house to house, That join field to field, till there he no place, And ye dwell alone in the midst of the land ! 9 In mine ears hath Jehovah of hosts declared, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate. Great and goodly houses without inhabitant ; 10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield onlij one bath, And a homer of seed shall yield an ephah. 11 Woe unto them that rise early in the morning To follow strong drink. Continuing late in the night, till wine inflame them ! 86 ISAIAH V. And the harp, and the viol, 12 The tabretj and the flute, and wme, are in their feasts ; But they regard not the deed of Jehovah, Neither see the work of his hands. Therefore ray people goeth into captivity, 13 For want of knowledge ; And their honourable men are famished. And their multitude parched with thirst : Therefore doth the grave enlarge herself, 14 And open her mouth without measure ; And their glory, and their multitude. And their tumult, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Then shall every man be brought low, and humbled, 15 And the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled : But Jehovah of hosts shall be exalted by judgment, 16 And the holy God shall shew himself holy by righteousness. Then shall sheep feed as in their own pasture, 17 And the deserted places of the rich, strangers shall devour. Woe unto them that draw down punishment is With cords of wickedness. And the penalty of sin, as it were with cart ropes ! That say, Let him make speed, "19 Let him hasten his work, that we may see it, And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh, And come, that we may know it ! Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil ! 20 That put darkness for light, and light for darkness ; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter ! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, 21 And prudent in their own sight ! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, 22 And men of strength to mingle strong drink ! Who absolve the guilty for reward, 23 And take away the righteousness of the righteous from him ! Therefore as a tongue of fire dcvoureth stubble, 24 And as grass in the flame vanisheth away, So shall their root be like rottenness. And their blossom shall ascend like dust ; Because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore is the anger of Jehovah kindled against his people, 25 And he shall stretch forth his hand against them, And smite them ; ISAIAH VI. 87 And the mountains shall tremble. And their corpses shall be as dirt in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still. 2S And he will lift up an ensign to the nations afar. And will call to them from the end of the earth, And, behold, with speed, swiftly, shall they come ! 27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them ; None shall slumber nor sleep ; Neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, Nor the latchet of their sandals broken : IS Whose arrows are sharpened, and all their bows bent. Their horses' hoofs are accounted like flint. And their chariot wheels like the whirlwind. 29 Their roaring is like that of the lioness. They shall roar like young lions ; Yea, they shall rage, and seize the prey, And shall carry it off, and none shall deliver it. 30 They shall rage over it, in that day, Like the raging of the sea : And if one looketh upon the land. Behold, darkness of distress. And the light is darkened in its clouds. 1 CHAP. VI. — In the year that king Uzziali died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train •2 filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim : each one had six wings ; with two he covered his face, and with two he 3 covered his feet, and with two he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said. Holy ! holy ! holy ! is Jehovah of hosts ; The whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the foundations of the thresholds were shaken at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, Woe is me ! for I am undone ; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a jieople of unclean lips ; for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah 6 of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, luiving a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs 88 ISAIAH VII. from off the altar : and he laid it upon my mouth, and said^ 7 Lo, this hath touched thy lips ; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven. And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I s send, and who will go for us ? Then I said. Here am I ; send me. And he said, 9 Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not ; And see ye indeed, but perceive not : Make the heart of this people fat, 10 And make their ears dull, and blind their eyes ; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with tlieir ears. And understand with their heart, and return, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long ? And he answered, 11 Until the cities be laid waste, and without inhabitant, And the houses without man. And the land be utterly desolate ; And until Jehovah have removed men far away, 12 And there be a great desolation in the midst of the laud. And if there be still in it a tenth, it shall again be destroyed : is But, like a terebinth, and an oak. Of which a trunk remains, when they are cut down. So a holy seed shall be its trunk. CHAP. VII. — And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz 1 the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekali the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it. And it was told the house 2 of David, saying, Syria is encamped upon Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind. Then said Jehovah unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet 3 Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub, thy son, to the end of the conduit of the upper pool to the highway of the fuller's field ; and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet, 4 Fear not, neither be faint-hearted. On account of the two tails of these smoking firebrands, For the fierce anger of Ilezin and Syria, And the son of llemaliah. Because Syria hath devised evil against thee, 5 ISAIAH VII. 89 Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, saying, 6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, And let us force our way into it, 7 And set as king in the midst of it the son of Tabeal : Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, And the head of Damascus, Rezin ; (And within threescore and five years Shall Ephraim be destroyed, that it be not a people :) 9 And the head of Ephraim, Samaria, And the head of Samaria, llemaliah's son : If ye will not believe, Surely ye shall not be established. 10 Moreover Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign from Jehovah thy God; Ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah. 13 Then he said, Hear ye now, 0 house of David ; Is it too small a thing for you to weary men. That ye will weary my God also ? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign : Behold the virgin hath conceived and shall bear a son, And call his name Immanuel [God-is-with-us] . 15 Cream and honey shall he eat. Until he know to refuse the evil, and choose the good; 16 Eor before the child shall know to refuse the evil, And choose the good, The land shall be made desolate. Before whose two kings thou fearest. 17 Jehovah shall bring upon thee, And upon thy people, and upon thy father's house. Days that have not come, Since Ephraim departed from Judah ; Even the king of Assyria. 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, That Jehovah shall call to the fly Which is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, And to the bee which is in the land of Assyria : And they shall come and alight, all of them. In the precipitous valleys, and the clefts of the rocks, 90 ISAIAH VIII. And on all thorn-bushes^ and on all pastures. In that day shall Jehovah shave with the hired blade, 20 Even by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, The head, and the hair of the feet ; And the beard also shall it take away. And it shall come to pass in that day, 21 That a man shall keep a young cow, and two sheep ; And it shall come to pass, 22 From the abundance of milk which they shall yield. That he shall eat cream ; For cream and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place 23 Where there were a thousand vines. Worth a thousand pieces of silver, Shall become briers and thorns. With arrows and with the bow shall one go thither; 24 Because all the land shall become briers and thorns. And all the hills that w^ere digged with the spade — 25 There shalt thou not go, through fear of briers and thorns : But they shall be for the sending forth of oxen. And for the treading of lesser cattle. CHAP. VIII. — Moreover, Jehovah said unto me. Take 1 thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. And I took unto 2 me faithful witnesses, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah, the son of Jeberechiah. And I went unto the prophetess ; and 3 she conceived, and bare a son. Then said Jehovah to me, 4 Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz [Spoil-hasteneth- . PREY-sPEEUETii] . For bcforc the child shall have knowledge to cry. My father, and ]\ly mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria. Jehovah spake also unto me, and said, 5 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah 6 Which flow softly. And rejoice in Eezin and Remaliah's son ; Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them 7 The waters of the river, strong and many. Even the king of Assyria, and all his glory : And he shall rise over all his channels, ISAIAH VIII. 91 And go over all his banks ; 8 And be sball pass into Judab ; He sball overflow and pass through, He shall reach even to the neck; And the spreading out of his wings Shall fill the breadth of thy land, 0 Immanuel. 9 Do your worst ye peoples, and be dismayed. And give ear, all ye distant lands : Gird yourselves, and be dismayed ; Gird yourselves, and be dismayed ; 10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; Speak the word, and it shall not stand, For God is with us ! 11 For thus spake Jehovah to me when his hand grasped me. When he instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, 12 Saying, Say ye not, A confederacy, Of all to which this people shall say, A confederacy. Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Jehovah of hosts, sanctify Him, And let him be your fear,' and him your dread. 14 And he shall be your refuge; But a stone of stumblinc; and a rock of offence To the two houses of Israel, A trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble thereon. And fall and be broken, and ensnared, and taken. iG Bind up the testimony, Seal the commandment among my disciples ! 17 And I will wait for Jehovah, Who hideth his face from the house of Jacob, And I will trust in him. 13 Behold, I and the children whom Jehovah hath given me Are for signs and for symbols in Israel, From Jehovah of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion. 19 And when they shall say unto you. Seek unto them that have familiar spirits. And unto the wizards that chirp, and that mutter. Shall not a people seek unto their God ? For the living shall they resort to the dead ? 20 To the commandment and to the testimony ! Shall not they speak according to this word. 92; ISAIAH IX. Who have no dawning-light ? And they shall pass through distressed and hungry : 21 And it shall come to pass^ when they shall be hungry^ That they shall break into anger, And curse their hing and their God, And turn their faces upward. 22 And they shall look unto the earth, And behold trouble and darkness, obscurity of anguish ; And they shall be driven into thick darkness. CHAP. IX. — Nevertheless the obscurity shall not remain \ where distress now is : As the former time brought into contempt The land of Zebulon and the land of Napthali, So the after-/z»ie maketh glorious the way of the sea. The land beyond Jordan, the circle of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light : 2 They that dwell in the laud of the shadow of death, Upon them light hath shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy : 3 They rejoice before thee as with the joy of harvest, As men exult when they divide the spoil. Yov the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, 4 The rod of his oppressor, hast thou broken. As in the day of Midian. For all the armour of him that armeth tumultuously, 5 And the garment rolled in blood. Shall be for burning, fuel for the fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, 6 And the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called. Wonder, Counseller, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. To the increase of his government and to peace 7 There shall he no end. Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom ; To order it and to establish it. By justice and by righteousness. From henceforth, and for ever : The zeal of Jehovah of hosts shall do this. The Lord sent a word unto Jacob, s And it hath fallen upon Israel : And all the people shall know it, 9 ISAIAH IX. 93 Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, For their pride and stoutness of heart, in saying, 10 The bricks are fallen down. But we will build with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, / But we will replace them with cedars. 11 Therefore Jehovah shall set up against them The adversaries of Rezin, And excite his enemies, 12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away. But his hand is stretched out still. 13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them. Neither do they seek Jehovah of hosts. 14 Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel Head and tail, palm-branch and bulrush, in one day. 15 The elder and the honourable man, he is the head ; And the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 16 For they who guide this people lead them astray. And they that are guided by them are destroyed. 17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men. Neither have mercy on their fatherless and widows : For every one is profane and an evil-doer. And every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still. 18 For wickedness burneth as the fire ; It shall devour the briers and thorns. And shall kindle in the thickets of the forest ; And they shall ascend in clouds as smoke riseth. 19 Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burned. And the people shall be as fuel for the fire ; No man shall spare another. 20 And they shall devour on the right hand, and be hungry ; And they shall eat on the left hand, and not be satisfied : They shall eat, every man, the flesh of his own arm ; 21 Manassch, Ephraim ; and Ephraim, IManasseh : And these together shall he against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still. 94 ISAIAH X. CHAP. X. — Woe unto them that make unrighteous i decrees, And that write, causing misery by what they have written; To turn aside the needy from judgment, 2 And to take away the right of the poor of my people ; That widows may be their prey. And that they may rob the fatherless ! And what will ye do in the day of visitation, 3 And in the desolation which shall come from afar ? To whom will ye flee for help ? And where will ye leave your wealth ? Theij shall do nothing but bow down among the prisoners ; 4 And they shall fall among the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still. Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, 5 And the staff in whose hand is mine indignation ! I will send him against a profane nation, 6 And against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge. To seize the spoil, and to take the prey. And to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart so intend ; 7 Por to destroy is in his heart. And to cut off nations not a few. For he saith. Are not my princes altogether kings ? 8 Is not Calno as Carchemish ? is not Hamath as Arpad ? 9 Is not Samaria as Damascus ? As my hand hath found in the kingdoms of the idols, 10 Whose graven images did excel those of Jerusalem and of Samaria, Even as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, 11 Shall not I do thus to Jerusalem and her images ? Wherefore it shall come to pass, 12 When the Lord shall have accomplished his whole work Upon mount Zion and in Jerusalem, That I will punish the fruit of the proud heart Of the king of Assyria, And the glorying of his high looks. For he hath said. By the strength of my hand I have done it, 13 And by my wisdom ; for I am prudent : ISAIAH X. 95 And I have removed the boundaries of peoples. And plundered their treasures ; Like a valiant man I have cast down the inhabitants, u My hand hath found as a nest the riches of the peoples ; And as one gathereth eggs that are forsaken, I have gathered all the earth ; And there was none that moved the wing, Or opened the mouth, or chirped. 15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith ? Shall the saw magnify itself against him that moveth it ? As if the rod should move him that lifteth it ! As if the staff should lift what is not wood ! 16 Wherefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Shall send among his fat ones leanness ; And under his glory he shall kindle a burning, Like the burning of lire. 17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, And his Holy One for a flame ; And it shall utterly devour his thorns and his briers. In one day ; IS And the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field. Both soul and body, shall it consume ; And he shall be like the wasting away of a sick man : 19 And the remnant of the trees of his forest shall be so few. That a child may write them. 20 And it shall come to pass in that day. That the remnant of Israel, And the escaped of the house of Jacob, Shall not again lean upon him that smote them ; But shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant shall return, a remnant of Jacob, To the mighty God : 22 For though thy people, 0 Israel, be as the sand of the sca^ A remnant of them shall return ; Destruction is decreed overflowing with righteousness : 23 For destruction and what is decreed Doth the Lord Jehovah of hosts execute. In the midst of all the earth. 24 Wherefore thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts. Fear not, my people that dwellcst in Zion, Because of the Assyrian : He shall smite thee with the rod. 96 ISAIAH XL And lift up his staflF against thee, After the manner of Egypt ; But yet a very little while, and indignation shall cease, 25 And mine anger shall be for their destruction. And Jehovah of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him, 26 As in the slaughter of Midian, at the rock of Oreb : And as his rod was upon the sea. So shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. And it shall come to pass in that day, 27 That his burden shall depart from oif thy shoulder, And his yoke from off thy neck ; Yea, the yoke shall be destroyed because of fatness. He is come to Aiath ; he hath passed through Migron ; 2s At Michmash he hath laid up his baggage; They are gone over the pass ; in Geba they spend the night ; 29 Ramah trembleth ; Gibeah of Saul is fled. Lift up thy voice, 0 daughter of GalUm ! 30 Hearken, Laisha ; answer her, 0 Anathoth ! Madmenah fleeth; the inhabitants of Gebim hasten away. 31 Yet a day hath he at Nob to halt : 32 Then will he shake his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion, The hill of Jerusalem. But lo, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, S3 Shall lop the chief bough with terror : And the high of stature shall be hewn down. And the lofty shall be humbled. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, 34 And Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one. CHAP. XL — And there shall come forth a rod out of the 1 stem of Jesse, And a branch shall grow out of his roots ; And the spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, 2 The spirit of wisdom and understanding. The spirit of counsel and might. The spirit of knowledge and the fear of Jehovah : His delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah. 3 He shall not judge by the sight of his eyes. Neither decide by the hearing of his ears : But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, 4 And decide with equity for the afflicted of the earth : ISAIAH XI. 97 He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, And with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, And faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 6 Then the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid ; And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together. And a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed ; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The sucking child also shall play on the hole of the asp, And the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper's den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain : For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, As the waters cover the sea. 10 x\nd in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, Which shall stand as a banner for the peoples : To it shall the nations seek, and his rest shall be glorious, n And it shall come to pass in that day, That the Lord shall again, a second time, put forth his hand. To recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, From Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, From Ethiopia, and froui Elara, And from Shinar, and from Hamath, And from the lands of the sea. 12 And he shall lift up a banner to the nations. And shall assemble the exiles of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah, From the four quarters of the earth. vi And the envy of Ephraim shall depart, And the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, And Judah shall not vex Ephraim. 14 But they shall fly upon the country of the Philistines toward the west ; Together they shall spoil the children of the east ; Edom and Moab shall be the prey of their hand ; And the children of Ammon shall obey them. 15 And Jehovah shall cut through the tongue of the Egyptian sea ; VOL. HI. u 98 IS VIAH XII. And with his mighty wind he shall shake his hand over the river, And smite it into seven streams. That men may go over di-yshod. And there shall be a highway from Assyria, i6 For the remnant of his people, which shall be left, As there was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the laud of Egypt. CHAP. XII. — And in that day thou shalt sajr, i I will praise thee, 0 Jehovah : Though thou hast been angry with me, Tliine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me. Behold, God is my salvation ; 2 I will trust, and not be afraid ; Eor Jehovah is my strength and my song, And he will be my salvation. Therefore ye shall draw water with joy out of wells of sal- 3 vation. And in that day ye shall say, 4 Praise Jehovah, call upon his name. Make known his deeds among the peoples ; Proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing unto Jehovah, for he hath done excellent things, 5 Let this be known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion ; 6 Eor great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel. CHAP. XIII. — The prophecy concerning Babylon Avhich 1 Isaiah the son of Amos did see. Upon the bare mountain lift ye up a banner, 2 Exalt the voice unto them, wave the hand, That they may enter into the gates of the tyrants. I have given charge to my appointed ones, 3 I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, Even my proud exulters. The noise of a multitude on the mountains, 4 As of a great people ; A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathering together ; Jehovah of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. ISAIAH XIII. 99 5 They come from a far country, from the end of the heaven. Even Jehovah, and the instruments of his indignation, To destroy the whole land. 6 Howl ye ; for the day of Jehovah is at hand : It shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be feeble, And every man's heart shall melt, and they shall be terrified : s Pangs and throes shall take hold of them ; They shall writhe as a woman that travaileth : They shall turn in amazement one to another ; Their faces shall he as flames. v Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, a cruel daij, And one of wrath and fierce anger. To lay the land desolate, And to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven shall not give their light. Nor the constellations thereof; The sun shall be darkened in his going forth. And the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil. And the wicked for their iniquity ; And I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; Even a man than the gold of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens. And the earth shall be moved out of her place. In the wrath of Jehovah of hosts. And in the day of his fierce anger. 14 And it shall be that, as the chased antelope, And as sheep which no man gathereth. They shall every man turn to his own people. And flee every man into his own land. 15 Every one that is found shall be thrust through ; And every one that is caught shall fall by the sword. 16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. 17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them. Who shall not regard silver, And in gold shall have no delight. 18 77ieir bows also shall dash the young men to pieces, H 2 100 ISAIAH XIV. And tliey shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb ; Their eye shall not spare children. And Babylon^ the glory of kingdoms, 19 The proud beauty of the Chaldees, Shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, 20 Neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation ; Neither shall the Arab pitch his tent there ; Neither shall shepherds make their fold there ; But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there, 21 And their houses shall be full of doleful things ; And ostriches shall dwell there, And shaggy creatures shall dance there. Howling beasts shall cry in their desolate halls, 22 And jackals in their pleasant palaces : Her time is near, and her days shall not be prolonged. CHAP. XIV. — For Jehovah will have mercy on Jacob, 1 And will again choose Israel, And give them rest in their own land : The stranger also shall be joined with them. And shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place ; 2 And the house of Israel shall possess them, In the land of Jehovah, For men-servants and for hand-maidens : And they shall hold them captive, whose captives they were ; And rule over their oppressors. And it shall come to pass in the day when Jehovah shall 3 give thee rest from thy sorrow, and fi'om thy trouble, and from the hard servitude wherein thou wast made to serve, 4 that thou shalt take up this song against the king of Baby- lon, and say. How hath the oppressor ceased ! The gold-exacting city ceased ! Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, 5 The rod of the rulers. Which smote the people in wrath, with a continual stroke ; 6 "Which ruled the nations in anger. With unrestrained oppression. The whole earth is- at rest, and is quiet ; 7 ISAIAH XIV. • 101 They break fovth into singing ; s Yeaj the fir-trees rejoice at thee. The cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art h\id down, no feller is come np against us.