1 In three things I was beautified, and stoode vp beautiful, both before God and men: the vnitie of brethren, the loue of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.
2 Three sorts of men my soule hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poore man that is proud, a rich man that is a lyar, and an olde adulterer that doteth.
3 If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou finde any thing in thine age?
4 Oh how comely a thing is iudgement for gray haires, and for ancient men to know counsell?
5 Oh how comely is the wisedome of olde men, and vnderstanding and counsell to men of honour?
6 Much experience is the crowne of olde men, and the feare of God is their glory.
7 There be nine things which I haue iudged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will vtter with my tongue: a man that hath ioy of his children, and he that liueth to see the fall of his enemie.
8 Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of vnderstanding, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not serued a man more vnworthy then himselfe.
9 Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the eares of him that will heare.
10 Oh how great is he that findeth wisedome! yet is there none aboue him that feareth the Lord.
11 But the loue of the Lord passeth all things for illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened?
12 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of his loue: and faith is the beginning of cleauing vnto him.
13 [Giue mee] any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickednesse, but the wickednesse of a woman.
14 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me: and any reuenge, but the reuenge of enemies.
15 There is no head aboue the head of a serpent, and there is no wrath aboue the wrath of an enemie.
16 I had rather dwell with a lyon and a dragon, then to keepe house with a wicked woman.
17 The wickednesse of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her countenance like sackecloth.
18 Her husband shall sit among his neighbours: and when hee heareth it, shall sigh bitterly.
19 All wickednesse is but little to the wickednesse of a woman: let the portion of a sinner fall vpon her.
20 As the climbing vp a sandie way is to the feete of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.
21 Stumble not at the beautie of a woman, and desire her not for pleasure.
22 A woman, if shee maintaine her husband, is full of anger, impudencie, and much reproch.
23 A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh a heauie countenance, and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in distresse maketh weake hands, and feeble knees.
24 Of the woman came the beginning of sinne, & through her wee all die.
25 Giue the water no passage: neither a wicked woman libertie to gad abroad.
26 If she goe not as thou wouldest haue her, cut her off from thy flesh, and giue her a bill of diuorce, and let her goe.
Chap 26
1 Blessed is the man that hath a vertuous wife, for the number of his dayes shall be double.
2 A vertuous woman reioyceth her husband, and he shall fulfill the yeeres of his life in peace.
3 A good wife is a good portion, which shall be giuen in the portion of them that feare the Lord.
4 Whether a man be rich or poore, if he haue a good heart towards the Lord, he shall at all times reioyce with a cheerefull countenance.
5 There bee three things that mine heart feareth: and for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a citie, the gathering together of an vnruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse then death.
6 But a griefe of heart and sorrow, is a woman that is ielous ouer another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth withall.
7 An euil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her, is as though he held a scorpion.
8 A drunken woman and a gadder abroad, causeth great anger, and shee will not couer her owne shame.
9 The whordome of a woman may be knowen in her haughtie lookes, and eye lids.
10 If thy daughter be shamelesse, keepe her in straitly: lest she abuse her selfe through ouermuch libertie.
11 Watch ouer an impudent eye: and marueile not, if shee trespasse against thee.
12 Shee will open her mouth as a thirstie traueiler, when he hath found a fountaine: and drinke of euery water neere her: by euery hedge will she sit downe, and open her quiuer against euery arrow.
13 The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fat his bones.
14 A silent and louing woman is a gift of the Lord, and there is nothing so much worth, as a mind well instructed.
15 A shamefast and faithfull woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued.
16 As the Sunne when it ariseth in the high heauen: so is the beautie of a good wife in the ordering of her house.
17 As the cleare light is vpon the holy candlesticke: so is the beautie of the face in ripe age.
18 As the golden pillars are vpon the sockets of siluer: so are the faire feete with a constant heart.
19 My sonne, keepe the flowre of thine age sound: and giue not thy strength to strangers.
20 When thou hast gotten a fruitfull possession through all the field: sowe it with thine owne seede, trusting in the goodnesse of thy stocke.
21 So thy race which thou leauest shalbe magnified, hauing the confidence of their good descent.
22 An harlot shall bee accounted as spittle: but a maried woman is a towre against death to her husband.
23 A wicked woman is giuen as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is giuen to him that feareth the Lord.
24 A dishonest woman contemneth shame, but an honest woman will reuerence her husband.
25 A shamelesse woman shalbe counted as a dog: but she that is shamefast will feare the Lord.
26 A woman that honoureth her husband, shall bee iudged wise of all: but she that dishonoureth him in her pride, shall be counted vngodly of all.
27 A loude crying woman, and a scolde, shall be sought out to driue away the enemies.
28 There be two things that grieue my heart: and the third maketh me angry: a man of warre that suffereth pouerty, and men of vnderstanding that are not set by: and one that returneth from righteousnesse to sinne: the Lord prepareth such a one for the sword.
29 A merchant shall hardly keepe himselfe from doing wrong: and an huckster shall not be freed from sinne.
Chap 27
1 Many haue sinned for a smal matter: & he that seeketh for abundance will turne his eies away.
2 As a naile sticketh fast betweene the ioynings of the stones: so doth sinne sticke close betweene buying and selling.
3 Unlesse a man hold himselfe diligently in the feare of the Lord, his house shall soone be ouerthrowen.
4 As when one sifteth with a sieue, the refuse remaineth, so the filth of man in his talke.
5 The furnace prooueth the potters vessell: so the triall of man is in his reasoning.
6 The fruite declareth if the tree haue beene dressed: so is the vtterance of a conceit in the heart of man.
7 Praise no man before thou hearest him speake, for this is the triall of men.
8 If thou followest righteousnesse, thou shalt obtaine her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.
9 The birds will resort vnto their like, so will truth returne vnto them that practise in her.
10 As the Lyon lieth in waite for the pray: so sinne for them that worke iniquity.
11 The discourse of a godly man is alwaies with wisedome: but a foole changeth as the Moone.
12 If thou be among the vndiscreet, obserue the time: but be continually among men of vnderstanding.
13 The discourse of fooles is irksome, and their sport is in the wantonnesse of sinne.
14 The talke of him that sweareth much, maketh the haire stand vpright: and their braules make one stop his eares.
15 The strife of the proud is blood-shedding, and their reuilings are grieuous to the eare.
16 Who so discouereth secrets, looseth his credit: and shall neuer find friend to his minde.
17 Loue thy friend, and be faithfull vnto him: but if thou bewrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.
18 For as a man hath destroyed his enemie: so hast thou lost the loue of thy neighbour.
19 As one that letteth a bird goe out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour goe; and shalt not get him againe.
20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off, he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.
21 As for a wound it may be bound vp, and after reuiling there may be reconcilement: but he that bewrayeth secrets is without hope.
22 He that winketh with the eies worketh euil, and he that knoweth him will depart from him.
23 When thou art present he will speake sweetly, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander thy sayings.
24 I haue hated many things, but nothing like him, for the Lord will hate him.
25 Who so casteth a stone on high, casteth it on his owne head, and a deceitfull stroke shall make wounds.
26 Who so diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.
27 He that worketh mischiefe, it shall fall vpon him, and he shall not know whence it commeth.
28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud: but vengeance as a Lyon shall lie in waite for them.
29 They that reioyce at the fall of the righteous shalbe taken in the snare, and anguish shall consume them before they die.
30 Malice and wrath, euen these are abhominations, and the sinfull man shall haue them both.
Chap 28
1 He that reuengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keepe his sinnes (in remembrance.)
2 Forgiue thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done vnto thee, so shall thy sinnes also be forgiuen when thou prayest.
3 One man beareth hatred against another, and doeth he seeke pardon from the Lord?
4 Hee sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himselfe: and doeth hee aske forgiuenesse of his owne sinnes?
5 If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for pardon of his sinnes?
6 Remember thy end, and let enimitie cease, [remember] corruption and death, and abide in the Commandements.
7 Remember the Commaundements, & beare no malice to thy neighbour: [remember] the Couenant of the highest, and winke at ignorance.
8 Abstaine from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sinnes: for a furious man will kindle strife.
9 A sinfull man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them that be at peace.
10 As the matter of the fire is, so it burneth: and as a mans strength is, so is his wrath, and according to his riches his anger riseth, and the stronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed.
11 An hastie contention kindleth a fire, and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood.
12 If thou blow the sparke, it shall burne: if thou spit vpon it, it shall bee quenched, and both these come out of thy mouth.
13 Curse the whisperer, and double tongued: for such haue destroyed many that were at peace.
14 A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driuen them from nation to nation, strong cities hath it pulled down, and ouerthrowen the houses of great men.
15 A backbiting tongue hath cast out vertuous women, and depriued them of their labours.
16 Who so hearkeneth vnto it, shall neuer finde rest, and neuer dwel quietly.
17 The stroke of the whip maketh markes in the flesh, but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.
18 Many haue fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as haue fallen by the tongue.
19 Well is hee that is defended from it, and hath not passed through the venime thereof: who hath not drawen the yoke thereof, nor hath bene bound in her bands.
20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of yron, and the bands thereof are bandes of brasse.
21 The death therof is an euil death, the graue were better then it.
22 It shall not haue rule ouer them that feare God, neither shall they be burnt with the flame thereof.
23 Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it, and it shall burne in them, and not be quenched, it shalbe sent vpon them as a Lion, and deuoure them as a Leopard.
24 Looke that thou hedge thy possession about with thornes, and binde vp thy siluer and gold:
25 And weigh thy words in a ballance, and make a doore and barre for thy mouth.
26 Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).