Old men, and children :

Let them praise the name of the LORD:
For his name alone is excellent;

His glory is above the earth and heaven.
He also exalteth the horn of his people,

The praise of all his saints;

Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him.
Praise ye the LORD.

THE BOOK OF PROVERBS.

THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON THE SON OF DAVID, KING OF
ISRAEL;

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father,
And forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,
And chains about thy neck.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,

And the man that getteth understanding.

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise

of silver,

And the gain thereof than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies;

And all the things thou canst desire are not to be com

pared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand;

And in her left hand riches and honour.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

And all her paths are peace.

her:

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon
And happy is every one that retaineth her.
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth;
By understanding hath HE established the heavens.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up,
And the clouds drop down the dew.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
Consider her ways, and be wise:

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the summer,
And gathereth her food in the harvest.
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?
When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep :

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth,
And thy want as an armed man.

These six things doth the LORD hate :
Yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue,

And hands that shed innocent blood,

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
Feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies,

And he that soweth discord among brethren,

My son, keep thy father's commandment, And forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, And tie them about thy neck.

When thou goest, it shall lead thee;

When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee;

And when thou awakest it shall talk with thee.

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;

And reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

My son, keep my words,

And lay up my commandments with thee.
Keep my commandments, and live ;
And my law as the apple of thine eye.
Bind them upon thy fingers,

Write them upon the table of thine heart.
Say unto wisdom, 'Thou art my sister;'
And call understanding thy kinswoman :
That they may keep thee from the strange woman,
From the stranger which flattereth with her words.

A wise son maketh a glad father :

But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand :

But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son:

But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

The memory of the just is blessed : But the name of the wicked shall rot.

Hatred stirreth up strifes :

But love covereth all sins,

A false balance is abomination to the LORD: But a just weight is his delight.

When pride cometh then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them : But the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath : But righteousness delivereth from death.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

A righteous man regarded the life of his beast:
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD:
But they that deal truly are his delight.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean:
But much increase is by the strength of the ox.

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not :
But knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
Go from the presence of a foolish man,

When thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. Fools make a mock at sin :

But among the righteous there is favour.

He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth :
But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

In all labour there is profit:

But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding:

But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people.

A soft answer turneth away wrath : But grievous words stir up anger.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Beholding the evil and the good.

Better is a little with righteousness
Than great revenues without right.
A man's heart deviseth his way :
But the LORD directeth his steps.

Better is little with the fear of the LORD
Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

A friend loveth at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Labour not to be rich:

Cease from thine own wisdom.

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?

For riches certainly make themselves wings;

They fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Withhold not correction from the child:

For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.