Proverbs 25 Cross References - Leeser

¹ Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected. ² It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. ³ As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable. ⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter. ⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness. ⁶ Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men; ⁷ For better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have often seen. ⁸ Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest thou know not what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion. ⁹ Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another: ¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed. ¹¹ Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner. ¹² As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth. ¹³ As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master. ¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift. ¹⁵ By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones. ¹⁶ Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth. ¹⁷ Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee. ¹⁸ A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor. ¹⁹ Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress. ²⁰ As he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, as vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart. ²¹ If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; ²² For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee. ²³ The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances. ²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house. ²⁵ As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country. ²⁶ Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked. ²⁷ To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men’s honor. ²⁸ Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.

^{32 (5:12)} And he spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five.

¹ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, the king of Israel:

¹ The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causeth his father to rejoice; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

⁹ And in addition to this that Koheleth was wise, he continually also taught the people knowledge, and he probed, and searched out, and composed many proverbs.

¹ The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of ‘Uzziyahu, Jotham, Achaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah.

²² Then came Elyakim the son of Chilkiyahu, that was superintendent over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Yoach the son of Assaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent; and they told him the words of Rabshakeh.

² And he sent Elyakim, who was superintendent over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the son of Amoz, the prophet.

¹ The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of ‘Uzziyah, Jotham, Achaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah, and in the days of Jerobo’am the son of Joash the king of Israel.

¹ The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morashthite in the days of Jotham, Achaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah, which he foresaw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

^{29 (29:28)} The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are publicly known belong unto us and to our children for ever, to do all the words of this law.

⁹ Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who would otherwise be able to judge this thy great people? ¹⁰ And the speech was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹ And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; and hast not asked for thyself riches, nor hast asked the life of thy enemies; but hast asked for thyself discernment to understand how to give judgment: ¹² Behold, I have done according to thy word; lo, I have given thee a wise and a discerning heart; so that like unto thee there was none before thee, nor after thee shall any one arise like unto thee. ¹³ And also what thou hast not asked have I given thee, both riches and honor: so that like unto thee there shall not have been any one among the kings all thy days. ¹⁴ And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then will I lengthen thy days. ¹⁵ And Solomon awoke, and, behold, it was a dream; and he went to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt-offerings, and prepared peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. ¹⁶ Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and placed themselves before him. ¹⁷ And the one woman said, Pardon, my Lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. ¹⁸ And it came to pass on the third day after I was delivered, that also this woman was delivered: and we were together, there was no stranger with us in the house, only we two were in the house. ¹⁹ And this woman’s son died in the night; because she had overlaid him. ²⁰ And she arose in the midst of the night, and took my son from beside me, while thy hand-maid slept, and laid him in her bosom, and her dead son she laid in my bosom. ²¹ And when I rose in the morning to give my son suck, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I had born. ²² And the other woman said, It is not so; my son is the living one, and thy son is the dead; and this one said, It is not so; thy son is the dead, and my son is the living: thus they spoke before the king. ²³ Then said the king, This one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is dead: and the other saith, It is not so; thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. ²⁴ And the king said, Fetch me a sword: and they brought the sword before the king. ²⁵ And the king said, Hew the living child in two, and give the one half to one, and the other half to the other. ²⁶ Then spoke the woman whose son was the living unto the king, for her love had become enkindled for her son, and she said, O pardon, my Lord, give her the living child, and only do not slay it; but the other said, Neither mine nor thine shall it be, hew it asunder. ²⁷ The king then answered and said, Give her the living child, and do not slay it: she is its mother. ²⁸ And when all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had given, they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to exercise justice.

^{29 (5:9)} And God gave unto Solomon wisdom and understanding exceedingly much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore. ^{30 (5:10)} And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. ^{31 (5:11)} And he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrachite, and Heman, and Kalkol, and Darda’, the sons of Machol: and his name was spread among all the nations round about. ^{32 (5:12)} And he spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five. ^{33 (5:13)} And he spoke concerning the trees, from the cedar-tree that is on the Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall; he spoke also concerning the beasts, and concerning the fowl, and concerning the creeping things, and concerning the fishes. ^{34 (5:14)} And men came from all the people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

¹⁵ That search may be made in the book of the memorable events of thy fathers, and thou wilt find in the book of the memorable events, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have practised sedition within the same from the most ancient time; for which cause this city was destroyed.

¹⁹ And an order was given by me, and search was made, and it was found that this city from the most ancient time hath lifted itself up against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been practised therein.

¹⁷ And now, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that an order was given by king Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send to us his pleasure concerning this matter.

⁷ Canst thou find out the experience of God? or canst thou find the way unto the utmost limit of the Almighty? ⁸ It is as high as heaven; what canst thou effect? it is deeper than the nether world; what canst thou know?

¹⁶ A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.

⁴ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding of it. ⁵ Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her? ⁶ Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone: ⁷ When altogether sang the morning stars in gladness, and shouted for joy all the sons of God? ⁸ And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth? ⁹ When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth, ¹⁰ And when I decreed for it my law, and set for it bars and doors, ¹¹ And said, Thus far mayest thou come, but no farther; and here shall be stayed thy strength in the pride of thy waves? ¹² Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn its place: ¹³ That it might lay hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked might be shaken out therefrom? ¹⁴ She is changed as the sealing-clay: and all things stand as though newly clad. ¹⁵ And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken. ¹⁶ Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep? ¹⁷ Were the gates of death ever laid open unto thee? or canst thou see the doors of the shadow of death? ¹⁸ Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, if thou knowest it all. ¹⁹ Where is the way to the spot where the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place, ²⁰ That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house? ²¹ Thou surely knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great! ²² Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries of the hail, ²³ Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of fight and battle? ²⁴ Where is the way to the spot where the light divideth itself, where the east wind is scattered over the earth? ²⁵ Who hath divided off watercourses for the overflowing rain, and a way for the lightning that is followed by thunders, ²⁶ To bring rain on a land, void of men; on a wilderness wherein no son of earth is found; ²⁷ To satisfy waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass? ²⁸ Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew? ²⁹ Out of whose womb cometh forth the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven—who giveth birth to it? ³⁰ When like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?

⁴ Their little ones become strong; they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not unto them. ⁵ Who sent out the wild ass free? or who loosened the bonds of the forest-ass? ⁶ To whom I assigned the wilderness as his house, and the salty land as his dwellings. ⁷ He laugheth at the noise of a town, and the shoutings of the driver he heareth not. ⁸ What he espieth on the mountains is his pasture, and after every green thing doth he search. ⁹ Will the forest-ox be willing to serve thee, or will he stay over night at thy crib? ¹⁰ Canst thou bind the forest-ox with a rope to labor in the furrow? or will he harrow valleys, following after thee? ¹¹ Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave to him thy labor? ¹² Wilt thou confide in him, that he should bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy threshing-floor?— ¹³ The wing of the ostrich moveth joyfully: hath she the pinions and plumage of the careful stork? ¹⁴ No, for she intrusteth her eggs to the earth, and letteth them be hatched out on the dust: ¹⁵ And she forgetteth that a foot may crush them, or that the beast of the field may stamp them down. ¹⁶ He hath made her callous against her young, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain, but she feeleth no dread; ¹⁷ Because God hath denied her wisdom, and he hath not imparted to her understanding. ¹⁸ At the time she raiseth herself up on high, she laugheth at the horse and his rider. ¹⁹ Dost thou give the horse strength? dost thou clothe his neck with the rolling mane? ²⁰ Canst thou make him jump like a locust? his majestic snort is terrible. ²¹ Men spy about in the valley, and he rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth forth to meet the armed array. ²² He laugheth at fear, and is not dismayed; and turneth not back from before the sword. ²³ Over him rattle the quiver, the glittering spear and the lance. ²⁴ With impatient noise and rage he holloweth with his hoof the ground, and keepeth not quiet when the cornet’s voice is heard. ²⁵ Midst the sound of the cornet he uttereth his joyful neigh; and from afar he perceiveth the battle, the loud call of the captains, and the battle-cry.— ²⁶ Is it through thy understanding that the hawk flieth along, and spreadeth out his wings toward the south? ²⁷ Or is it by your order that the eagle doth mount upward, and buildeth high up his nest? ²⁸ On a rock he dwelleth, and spendeth his nights, on a rocky crag and mountain fastness. ²⁹ From there he espieth his food, from afar can his eyes behold. ³⁰ His young ones, also, sip up blood: and where the slain be, there is he.

² Will he that contendeth with the Almighty yet find fault? him that reproveth God answer this.

³ Who is he that dareth to conceal thy counsel without knowledge? Truly I have spoken of what I understood not, of things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

^{29 (5:9)} And God gave unto Solomon wisdom and understanding exceedingly much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore.

¹¹ For as high as heaven is above the earth, so mighty is his kindness toward those that fear him.

¹¹ Ask thee a sign from the Lord thy God; ask it in the depth, or high up above.

⁹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.

³ The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.

²⁵ And I will turn my hand against thee, and purge away as with lye thy dross, and remove all thy tin: ²⁶ And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning; after that shalt thou be called, The city of righteousness, the town that is faithful. ²⁷ Zion shall be redeemed through justice, and her converts through righteousness.

¹⁸ Son of man, the house of Israel are become to me dross: they all are copper, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; the dross of silver are they become.

² But who can sustain the day of his coming? and who can stand when he appeareth? for he is like the fire of the melter, and like the lye of the washers: ³ And he will sit as a melter and purifier of silver; and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness

³³ And their blood shall return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever; but unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his throne, may there be peace for ever from the Lord.

⁴⁶ So the king commanded Benayahu the son of Yehoyada’, who went out, and fell upon him, so that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the fury of the king was appeased.

¹¹ That the king had granted to the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand forward for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to exterminate all the military strength of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to plunder their property as spoil, ¹² On one day in all the provinces of king Achashverosh, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. ¹³ A copy of the writing to be given out as a law in every province, was published unto all nations, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. ¹⁴ The swift messengers that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and hurried forward with the command of the king: and the law was given out at Shushan the capital. ¹⁵ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in a royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a cloak of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan was glad and joyful. ¹⁶ For the Jews there was light, with joy and gladness, and honor. ¹⁷ And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s command reached with his law, there were joy and gladness for the Jews, entertainments and a feast-day: and many of the people of the land became Jews; for the dread of the Jews had fallen upon them.

⁷ He that practiseth deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that speaketh falsehoods shall not succeed before my eyes. ⁸ Every morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land, cutting off from the city of the Lord all the wrong-doers.

¹² It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness alone can a throne be established.

⁸ A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.

²⁸ Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.

¹⁴ When a king judgeth in truth the indigent, his throne shall stand firmly for ever.

^{7 (9:6)} For promoting the increase of the government, and for peace without end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to establish it and to support it through justice and righteousness, from henceforth and unto eternity: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

⁵ And there shall be founded through kindness a throne; and there shall sit upon it in truthfulness in the tent of David a judge who seeketh justice, and is quick in righteousness.

¹¹ And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

²⁰ And as for thy asses that were lost unto thee this day three days ago, do not set thy heart on them; for they have been found. And to whom belongeth all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not to thee, and to all thy father’s house? ²¹ And Saul answered and said, Am not I a son of Benjamin, of one of the smallest tribes of Israel? and is not my family the least of all the families of the tribes of Benjamin? wherefore then hast thou spoken to me such thing? ²² And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the apartment; and he assigned them a place at the head of the invited guests, who were about thirty persons.

¹⁷ And Samuel said, Is it not that, however little thou wast in thy own eyes, thou art the head of the tribes of Israel? and the Lord anointed thee as king over Israel?

¹⁸ And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be a son-in-law to the king? ¹⁹ But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto ‘Adriel the Mecholathite for wife. ²⁰ And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told it to Saul, and the thing was right in his eyes. ²¹ And Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may become unto him a snare, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Through the second shalt thou this day become my son-in-law. ²² And Saul commanded his servants, Speak to David secretly, saying, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee; and now thou must become the king’s son-in-law. ²³ And the servants of Saul spoke in the ears of David these words. And David said, Doth it seem so light in your eyes to become the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and of light esteem?

⁸ Now therefore, thus shalt thou say unto my servant, to David, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheep-cote, from behind the flocks, to be a ruler over my people, over Israel; ⁹ And I have been with thee whithersoever thou didst go, and I have cut off all thy enemies from thy presence, and I have made thee a great name, like the name of the great who are on the earth; ¹⁰ And I have procured a place for my people, for Israel, and I have planted them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and be no more troubled; and that the children of wickedness shall not afflict them any more as aforetimes, ¹¹ And as it was since the day that I ordained judges to be over my people Israel; and I have caused thee to rest from all thy enemies; and the Lord telleth thee that he, the Lord, will make thee a house. ¹² When thy days will be completed, and thou wilt sleep with thy fathers: then will I set up thy seed after thee, who shall proceed out of thy body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He it is that shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. ¹⁴ I too will be to him as a father, and he shall indeed be to me as a son: so that when he committeth iniquity, I will chastise him with the rod of men, and with the plagues of the children of man; ¹⁵ But my kindness shall not depart from him, as I caused it to depart from Saul, whom I removed from before thee. ¹⁶ And thy house and thy kingdom shall be steadfast for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. ¹⁷ In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

¹ A song of the degrees by David. O Lord, my heart was not haughty, nor were my eyes lofty: neither have I walked after matters too great, or those too wonderful for me.

¹⁹ Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.

²⁷ To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men’s honor.

² Let another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.

⁶ And I said, Ah, Lord Eternal! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am but a lad. ⁷ And the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am but a lad; but to whomsoever I may send thee shalt thou go, and whatsoever I may command thee shalt thou speak. ⁸ Be not afraid because of them; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. ⁹ And the Lord stretched forth his hand, and touched me therewith on my mouth; and the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. ¹⁰ See, I have appointed thee this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down: to build up, and to plant.

¹² And Amazyah said unto ‘Amos, Seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and eat there thy bread, and there prophesy; ¹³ But at Beth-el prophesy not farther any more; for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a royal residence. ¹⁴ Then answered ‘Amos, and said to Amazyah, I am no prophet, nor am I a prophet’s son; but I am a herdman, and a gatherer of wild figs; ¹⁵ But the Lord hath taken me away from behind the flocks, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

¹⁴ And Abner said to Joab, Do let the young men rise up and play before us. And Joab said, They may rise up. ¹⁵ Then they rose up and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. ¹⁶ And they grasped every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; and they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Chelkath-hazzurim, which is by Gib’on.

²⁶ And Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall for everlasting the sword devour? knowest thou not that it will be bitter in the end? and how long shall it be, ere thou wilt bid the people to return from pursuing their brethren?

⁸ Then sent Amazyah messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoachaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. ⁹ And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amazyahu the king of Judah, saying, The thornbush that was in the Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in the Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son for wife. And there passed along the wild beasts that were in Lebanon, and trod down the thornbush. ¹⁰ Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thy heart hath lifted thee up: keep thy glory and stay in thy house; and why wilt thou meddle with misfortune, that thou mayest fall, thou, and Judah with thee? ¹¹ But Amazyahu would not hear. Therefore Jehoash the king of Israel went up; and he and Amazyahu the king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. ¹² And Judah was defeated before Israel; and they fled every man to his tents.

¹² There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.

¹⁴ As one letteth loose a stream of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.

⁶ The lips of the fool come with contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.

³³ For the pressure of milk bringeth forth butter, and the pressure of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the pressure of wrath bringeth forth strife.

³¹ The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so; but what will ye do in the end thereof?

¹³ He that walketh about as talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.

³⁹ Cause to pass away my disgrace of which I have dread; for thy ordinances are good.

²³ A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word spoken at the proper time, how good is it!

²⁶ Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.

¹⁰ Koheleth sought to find out acceptable words, and that which would be written down uprightly, even words of truth.

⁴ The Lord Eternal hath given me a tongue for teaching, that I should know how to strengthen the weary with the word: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth my ear to listen like those who are well taught.

³¹ That this shall not be unto thee as a cause of offense and as a reproach of heart unto my lord, both by having shed blood without cause, and by my lord having righted himself; and when the Lord will do good unto my lord, then do thou remember thy hand-maid. ³² And David said to Abigayil, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me; ³³ And blessed be thy intelligence, and blessed be thou, who hast prevented me this day from coming unto blood-guiltiness, and from helping myself with my own hand. ³⁴ But truly, as the Lord the God of Israel liveth, who hath withdrawn me from injuring thee, except thou hadst hastened and come to meet me, surely there would not have been left unto Nabal by the morning-light so much as a dog.

¹¹ And then came unto him all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all that had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house; and they condoled with him, and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him; and they gave him, every one, a kessitah, and every one an earring of gold.

⁵ If the righteous strike me, it is a kindness; and if he reprove me, it is as oil poured on the head, my head shall not refuse it; for yet my prayer also is offered in their sufferings.

⁸ Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and cast not off the teaching of thy mother; ⁹ For a wreath of grace are they unto thy head, and chains for thy throat.

⁸ Do not correct a scorner, lest he hate thee: reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

⁵ A fool contemneth the correction of his father; but he that observeth admonition will become prudent.

³¹ The ear that heareth the admonition of life will ever abide in the midst of the wise. ³² He that rejecteth correction despiseth his own soul; but he that heareth admonition acquireth intelligence.

¹² The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.

⁵ Better is open reproof than concealed love. ⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but deceptive are the kisses of an enemy.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falleth into unhappiness; but a faithful ambassador bringeth healing.

²⁵ As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.

⁶ He choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.

¹¹ And Zedekiah the son of Kena’anah had made himself horns of iron; and he said, Thus hath said the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have made an end of them.

⁶ Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?

⁴ And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord, to Esau, Thus hath said thy servant Jacob, With Laban have I sojourned, and stayed until now. ⁵ And I have acquired oxen, and asses, flocks, and men-servants, and women-servants; and I send now to tell my lord, to find grace in thy eyes. ⁶ And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother, to Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. ⁷ Then Jacob was greatly afraid, and he felt distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two bands. ⁸ And he said, If Esau should come to the one band and smite it, then the other band which is left may escape. ⁹ And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy birthplace, and I will deal well with thee: ¹⁰ I am not worthy of all the kindness, and of all the truth, which thou hast shown unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. ¹¹ Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, the mother with the children. ¹² And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. ¹³ And he lodged there that same night; and he took of that which he carried with him a present for Esau his brother: ¹⁴ Two hundred she-goats, and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams. ¹⁵ Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty cows, and ten bulls, twenty she-asses, and ten foals. ¹⁶ And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself; and he said unto his servants, Pass on before me, and put a space between drove and drove. ¹⁷ And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother should meet thee, and ask thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither art thou going? and for whom are these before thee? ¹⁸ Then shalt thou say, They belong to thy servant, to Jacob; it is a present sent unto my lord, to Esau; and, behold, also, he is himself behind us. ¹⁹ And so he commanded also the second, also the third, as also all that followed the droves, saying, After this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him. ²⁰ And say ye moreover, Behold, also thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will receive me kindly. ²¹ The present went thus on before him; and he lodged himself that night in the camp.

¹⁴ But one of the young men told Abigayil, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master; but he hath spoken rudely to them.

²⁴ And she fell at his feet, and said, On me, me, my lord, is the fault: and let thy hand-maid, I pray thee, speak in thy hearing, and listen to the words of thy hand-maid. ²⁵ Let not my Lord, I pray thee, turn his heart unto this worthless man, unto Nabal; for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and meanness is with him; but I thy hand-maid did not see the young men of my Lord, whom thou didst send. ²⁶ And now, my lord, as the Eternal liveth, and as thy soul liveth, it is the Lord who hath withholden thee from coming to blood-guiltiness, and from helping thyself with thy own hand; and now may like Nabal be thy enemies, and those that seek to do my Lord evil. ²⁷ And now this present which thy hand-maid hath brought unto my Lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow in the train my Lord. ²⁸ Pardon, I pray thee, the trespass of thy hand-maid; for the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house; because the battles of the Lord doth my lord fight, and evil will not be found in thee all thy days. ²⁹ And though a man is risen up to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: yet will the soul of my Lord be bound in the bond of life with the Lord thy God; and the soul of thy enemies will he hurl away, as out of the middle of the sling. ³⁰ And it shall come to pass, when the Lord will do to my lord, in accordance with all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and will ordain thee as ruler over Israel, ³¹ That this shall not be unto thee as a cause of offense and as a reproach of heart unto my lord, both by having shed blood without cause, and by my lord having righted himself; and when the Lord will do good unto my lord, then do thou remember thy hand-maid. ³² And David said to Abigayil, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me; ³³ And blessed be thy intelligence, and blessed be thou, who hast prevented me this day from coming unto blood-guiltiness, and from helping myself with my own hand. ³⁴ But truly, as the Lord the God of Israel liveth, who hath withdrawn me from injuring thee, except thou hadst hastened and come to meet me, surely there would not have been left unto Nabal by the morning-light so much as a dog. ³⁵ And David took out of her hand that which she had brought him; and unto her he said, Go up in peace to thy house: see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have respected thy presence. ³⁶ And Abigayil came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, and he was exceedingly drunken; wherefore she told him not a word, either little or great, until the morning-light. ³⁷ But it happened in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things; and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. ³⁸ And it came to pass in about ten days thereafter, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. ³⁹ And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath withheld his servant from evil; and the wickedness of Nabal hath the Lord returned upon his own head. And David sent and applied for Abigayil, to take her to himself for wife. ⁴⁰ And the servants of David came to Abigayil to Carmel, and they spoke unto her, saying, David hath sent us unto thee, to take thee to himself for wife. ⁴¹ Thereupon she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thy hand-maid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. ⁴² And Abigayil hastened, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with her five damsels that went in her train; and she went after the messengers of David, and she became his wife. ⁴³ David also took Achino’am of Yizre’el; and both of them became thus his wives. ⁴⁴ But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti, the son of Layish, who was of Gallim.

¹ A soft answer turneth away fury; but a mortifying word stirreth up anger.

¹⁴ The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a wise man will appease it.

⁴ If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.

⁸ And when he returned after a time to take her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the carcass of the lion and honey likewise. ⁹ And he took it out in his hands, and went on, eating as he was going, and came to his father and mother, and he gave unto them, and they did eat; but he told them not that out of the carcass of the lion he had taken the honey.

²⁵ And the men of all the land came to a forest; and there was honey upon the surface of the field. ²⁶ And when the people were come into the forest, behold, there was a stream of honey; but no one put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. ²⁷ But Jonathan had not heard his father charging the people with the oath; he therefore put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in a honey-comb, and carried his hand again to his mouth; and his eyes became clear.

⁸ Thy morsel which thou hast eaten must thou spit out, and thou hast wasted thy pleasant words.

¹³ Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate: ¹⁴ So obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a happy future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.

¹⁵ Cream and honey shall he eat, so soon as he knoweth to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

²² And it shall happen, that for the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat cream; for cream and honey shall eat every one that is left in the midst of the land.

² And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye can rise up early, and go on your way. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. ³ And he pressed upon them greatly, and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they did eat.

¹⁸ And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lechem-judah toward the lower edge of the mountain of Ephraim; from there am I, and I went as far as Beth-lechem-judah; but I am going to the house of the Lord; and there is no man that bringeth me into his house. ¹⁹ Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there are also bread and wine for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man who is with thy servants; there is no want of any thing. ²⁰ And the old man said, Peace be with thee; only let all thy wants lie upon me; at least lodge not in the street. ²¹ So he brought him to his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and they ate and drank.

^{2 (52:4)} Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs, like a sharpened razor, thou worker of deceit.

^{21 (55:22)} The creamy words of his mouth are smooth, yet there is war in his heart; his words are softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

^{4 (57:5)} My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down in the midst of those that send out flames, those sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharpened sword.

³ What will God give unto thee? or what will he add unto thee, thou tongue of deceit? ⁴ Sharpened arrows of the mighty, with coals of the broom-bush.

^{3 (140:4)} They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the poison of the adder is under their lips. Selah.

¹⁸ There is some one that useth words which are like the thrusts of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is healing.

²⁸ Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?

^{3 (9:2)} And they bend their tongues, their bow of falsehood, and not for the truth are they valiant in the land; for from evil to evil do they proceed, and me they know not, saith the Lord.

^{8 (9:7)} A murderous arrow is their tongue; every one speaketh deceit: with his mouth speaketh he peaceably to his neighbor, but in his heart he layeth wait for him.

²⁰ Then came against him Tilgath-pilneesser the king of Assyria, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. ²¹ Although Achaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: he yet gave him no assistance.

¹⁴ As though I were one who refuseth kindness to his friend, and forsaketh the fear of the Almighty: ¹⁵ My brothers are treacherous as a brook, like flowing brooks they pass along; ¹⁶ Which are made turbid by reason of the ice, wherein the snow hideth itself; ¹⁷ At the time when they feel the warmth, they vanish; when it is hot, they are quenched out of their place. ¹⁸ The paths of their course wind themselves along; they go in the wilderness and are lost. ¹⁹ The caravans of Thema look hither, the travelling companies Sheba hope for them; ²⁰ But they stand ashamed because they had trusted; they come thither and are made to blush.

¹ Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not from me; and that set themselves a ruler, but not by my spirit, in order that they may add sin to sin: ² That travel to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my will; to strengthen themselves through the strength of Pharaoh, and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! ³ Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh become your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt your disgrace.

⁶ Behold, thou trustedst on yon cracked reed-staff, on Egypt; which, if a man lean on it, will enter into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh the king of Egypt to all that trust on him.

⁶ And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord; because they have been a reed-staff to the house of Israel. ⁷ When they took hold of thee with the hand, thou wast cracked, and didst rend for them all the shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou wast broken, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.

¹² And if he be a poor man, thou shalt not lie down with his pledge: ¹³ Thou shalt punctually deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may lie under his own cover, and bless thee; and unto thee shall it be as righteousness before the Lord thy God. ¹⁴ Thou shalt not withhold the wages of a hired man, of the poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of the strangers that are in thy land within thy gates. ¹⁵ On the same day shalt thou give him his wages, that the sun may not go down upon it; for he is poor, and his soul longeth for it; so that he may not cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin in thee. ¹⁶ Fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall children be put to death for the fathers: for his own sin shall every man be put to death. ¹⁷ Thou shalt not pervert the cause of the stranger, or of the fatherless; and thou shalt not take in pledge the raiment of a widow;

⁷ They cause the poor to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold. ⁸ Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock. ⁹ The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge. ¹⁰ They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:

³ For there our captors demanded of us the words of song; and those that mocked us, joy, saying, Sing for us one of the songs of Zion. ⁴ How should we sing the song of the Lord on the soil of the stranger?

²⁶ As vinegar is to the teeth, and as smoke is to the eyes: so is the sluggard to those that send him.

⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁷ Is it not to distribute thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the afflicted poor into thy house! when thou seest the naked, that thou clothe him; and that thou hide not thyself from thy own flesh?

^{18 (6:19)} Then went the king to his palace, and passed the night fasting: and no food was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

⁴ If thou meet thy enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. ⁵ If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to unload him, thou must not do so, but thou shalt surely unload with him.

²² But he said, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldst thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go back to their master.

¹⁵ And then arose the men who have been expressed by name, and took hold of the captives, and all that were naked among them they clothed from the booty; and they gave them garments and shoes, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm-trees, near their brethren; and then did they return to Samaria.

¹⁷ At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:

¹² Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction, and the Lord will requite me good instead of his cursing this day.

²² The golden light that cometh out of the north: around God is terrible majesty.

³ That uttereth no calumny with his tongue, that doth no evil to his neighbor, and bringeth no reproach on his fellow-man;

⁵ Whoso slandereth in secret his neighbor, him will I destroy: whoso hath proud eyes and a haughty heart, him will I not suffer.

²⁰ Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.

¹³ A calamity unto his father is a foolish son; and a continual dropping are the quarrels of a wife.

⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman in a roomy house.

¹⁹ It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a quarrelsome and vexatious woman.

¹⁵ A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. ¹⁶ He that would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as fragrant oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.

¹⁶ And she went, and seated herself down at some distance, a good way off, about a bow-shot; for she said, I cannot look on when the child dieth; so she sat at a distance, and lifted up her voice, and wept. ¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the lad; and an angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad, there where he is. ¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad, and lay hold on him with thy hand; for I will make of him a great nation. ¹⁹ And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water: and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

² And the people quarrelled with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink; and Moses said unto them, Why will ye quarrel with me? why will ye tempt the Lord? ³ And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, For what purpose is it that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill me and my children and my cattle with thirst?

⁶ Behold, I will be standing before thee there upon the rock at Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come out from it water, and the people shall drink; and Moses did so before the eyes of the elders of Israel.

¹⁸ And he became very thirsty, and he called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast granted through the hand of thy servant this great deliverance; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? ¹⁹ But God clave a hollow place that was at Lechi, and there came forth water out of it; and he drank, and his spirit came again, and he revived; wherefore he called the name thereof ‘En-hakkore, which is in Lechi unto this day.

¹⁵ And David longed, and said, Oh that one would bring me water to drink out of the well at Beth-lechem, which is by the gate!

¹ BOOK SECOND: To the chief musician, a Maskil, for the sons of Korach. ^(42:2) As a hart panteth after brooks of water, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. ^{2 (42:3)} My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I go again and be seen in the presence of God?

¹ A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. ^(63:2) O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry land, and it is faint without water.

³⁰ What is pleasant to the light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: a good report giveth marrow to the bones.

⁷ How beautiful are upon the mountains the feet of the messenger of good tidings, that publisheth peace, that announceth tidings of happiness, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.

¹ Ho, every one of ye that thirsteth, come ye to the water, and he too that hath no money: come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy without money and without price wine and milk.

¹⁴ Doth the snow of Lebanon ever quit the rock of the field? or do the far-coming, cold, flowing waters ever fail?

^{15 (2:1)} Behold, upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, Celebrate thy feasts, O Judah, fulfill thy vows; for never more shall the wicked pass again through thee, he is utterly cut off.

⁸ And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

¹⁴ Then answered Achimelech the king, and said, And who is among all thy servants so trusted as David, and the king’s son-in-law, and freely admitted to thy private council, and is honored in thy house? ¹⁵ Did I this day then begin to ask counsel for him of God? far be it from me; let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for thy servant knew not of all this, either a little or great thing. ¹⁶ And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Achimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house. ¹⁷ And the king said unto the runners that stood about him, Turn round and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing, and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not stretch forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord. ¹⁸ And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou round, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned round, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day eighty and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

²¹ And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the command of the king in the court of the house of the Lord. ²² And king Joash did not remember the kindness which Yehoyada’ his father had shown to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord will see this, and require my blood.

² Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou didst deem thyself like a young lion among the nations: while thou art as a crocodile in the seas; and thou issuedst forth with thy rivers, and madest turbid the waters with thy feet, and didst stir up their rivers.

¹⁸ Is it too little for you that ye can feed on the good pasture, that ye must tread down the residue of your pastures with your feet? and that ye can drink clear waters, that ye must render muddy with your feet what is left? ¹⁹ And as for my flock, what ye have trodden with your feet must they eat; and what ye have made muddy with your feet must they drink.

¹⁶ Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.

³⁰ And the anger of Saul was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of perverse rebelliousness! do I not know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thy own shame, and to the shame of thy mother’s nakedness?

¹⁷ And now know and consider what thou canst do; for evil is determined on against our master, and against all his household; and he is too greatly a worthless man for me to speak to him.

⁵ Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall where it was broken down, and heightened the towers, and built without another wall, and fortified the Millo of the city of David, and made weapons in abundance and shields.

³ And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great misery and in disgrace; and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and her gates are burnt with fire.

³² One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.

²⁴ Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse: