: a 5 There is an evil which I when thy king is the son of have seen under the sun, as an nobles, and thy princes eat in error which proceedeth from the due season, for strength, and ruler : not for drunkenness. 6 Folly is set in great dig- 18 Bymuch slothfulness the nity, and the rich sit in low building decayeth, and through place. idleness of the hands the house 7 I have seen servants upon droppeth through. horses, and princes walking as 19 A feast is made for servants upon the earth. laughter, and wine maketh 8 He that diggeth a pit shall merry : but money answereth fall into it; and whoso breaketh all things. an hedge, a serpent shall bite 20 Curse not the king, no him. not in thy thought; and curse 9 Whoso . removeth stones not the rich in thy bed-chamshall be hurt therewith; and he ber : for a bird of the air shall that cleaveth wood shall be en- carry the voice, and that which dangered thereby. hath wings shall tell the matter. 10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then LESSON XCII. must he put to more strength : but wisdom is profitable to di- Cast thy bread upon the waters: rect, for thou shalt find it after many 11 Surely the serpent will days. bite without enchantment, and a 2 Give a portion to seven, babbler is no better. and also to eight: for thou 12 The words of a wise man's knowest not what evil shall be mouth are gracious; but the upon the earth. lips of a fool will swallow up 3 If the clouds be full of rain, himself: they empty themselves upon the 13 The beginningof the words earth: and if the tree fall toward of his mouth is foolishness; and the south, or toward the north, the end of his talk is mischievous in the place where the tree fallmadness. eth, there it shall be. 14 A fool also is full of words: 4 He that observeth the wind a man cannot tell what shall be; shall not sow; and he that re. and what shall be after him, who gardeth the clouds shall not can tell him ? reap. 15 The labour of the foolish 5 As thou knowest not what wearieth every one of them, be- is the way of the spirit, nor hov cause he knoweth not how to the bones do grow in the womb go to the city. of her that is with child; even | 16 Woe to thee, O land, so thou knowest not the works when thy king is a child, and of God, who maketh all. thy princes eat in the morning. 6 In the morning sow thy 17. Blessed art thou, O land, seed, and in the evening with a G hold not thine hand : for thou 4 And the doors shall be shut knowest not whether shall pros- in the streets, when the sound per, either this or that, or whe. of the grinding is low; and he ther they both shall be alike shall rise up at the voice of the good. bird, and all the daughters of 7 Truly the light is sweet, music shall be brought low; and a pleasant thing it is for the 5 Also when they shall be eyes to behold the sun : afraid of that which is high; and 8 But if a man live many fears shall be in the way; and years, and rejoice in them all: the almond-tree shall flourish, yet let him remember the days and the grasshopper shall be a of darkness ; for they shall be burden, and desire shall fail ; many. All that cometh is va- because man goeth to his long nity. home, and the mourners go 1 9 Rejoice, O young man, about the streets : in thy youth, and let thine heart 6 Or ever the silver cord be cheer thee in the days of thy loosed, or the golden bowl be youth, and walk in the ways of broken, or the pitcher be broken thine heart, and in the sight of at the fountain, or the wheel thine eyes : but know thou, that broken at the cistern. for all these things God will 7 Then shall the dust return bring thee into judgement. to the earth as it was ; and the 10 Therefore remove sorrow spirit shall return unto God who from thy heart, and put away gave it. evil from thy flesh : for child- 8 Vanity of vanities, saith hood and youth are vanity. the Preacher : all is vanity. 9 And moreover, because the LESSON XCIII. Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge ; yea, he REMEMBER now thy Creator in gave good heed, and sought out, the days of thy youth, while and set in order many proverbs. the evil days come not, nor the 10 The Preacher sought to years draw nigh, when thou find out acceptable words, and shalt say, I have no pleasure in that which was written was upright, even words of truth. 2 While the sun, or the light, 11 The words of the wise are or the moon, or the stars be not as goads, and as nails fastened darkened, nor the clouds return by the masters of assemblies, after the rain; which are given from one shep3 In the day when the keepers herd. of the house shall tremble, and 12 And further, by these, my the strong men shall bow them- son, be admonished : of making selves, and the grinders cease, many books there is no end, and because they are few, and those much study is a weariness of the that look out of the windows be flesh. darkened : ( 13 Let us hear the conclu them; sion of the whole matter : Fear * 14 For God shall bring every God, and keep his command work into judgement, with every ments : for this is the whole secret thing, whether it be good, duty of man. or whether it be evil. SECTION XVIII.-Trust in God. LESSON XCIV. and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. The Lord is my shepherd; I 12 For thou wilt not leave my shall not want. soul in hell; neither wilt thou 2 He maketh me to lie down suffer thine holy one to see corin green pastures; he leadeth ruption. me beside the still waters. 13 Thou wilt show me the 3 He restoreth my soul : he path of life : in thy presence is leadeth me in the paths of righte-fulness of joy, at thy right hand ousness for his name's sake. there are pleasures for evermore. 4 Yea, though I walk through | 14 I will bless the Lord at the valley of the shadow of death, all times : his praise shall conI will fear no evil : for thou art tinually be in my mouth. with me; thy rod and thy staff 15 My soul shall make her they comfort me. boast in the Lord: the humble 5 Thou preparest a table be- shall hear thereof, and be glad. fore me in the presence of mine 16 O magnify the Lord with enemies: thouanointest my head me, and let us exalt his name with oil; my cup runneth over. together. 6 Surely goodness and mercy 17 I sought the Lord, and he shall follow me all the days of heard me, and delivered me from my life: and I will dwell in the all my fears. house of the Lord for ever. 18 O taste and see that the 7 The Lord is the portion Lord is good: blessed is the man of mine inheritance, and of my that trusteth in him. eup: thou maintainest my lot. 19 This poor man cried, and 8 The lines are fallen unto the Lord heard him, and saved me in pleasant places ; yea, I him out of all his troubles. have a goodly heritage. 20 The angel of the Lord en9 I will bless the Lord, who campeth round about them that hath given me counsel: the Lord fear him, and delivereth them. is my portion, therefore will I 21 They looked unto him, and hope in him. were lightened; and their faces 10 I have set the Lord al- were not ashamed. ways before me : because he is 22 O fear the Lord, ye his at my right hand, I shall not be saints : for there is no want to moved. them that fear him. 11 Therefore my heart is glad, 23 The young lions do lack, : : and suffer hunger: but they that his feathers, and under his wings seek the Lord shall not want any shalt thou trust: his truth shall good thing. be thy shield and buckler. 24 As for God, his way is 5 Thou shalt not be afraid perfect : the word of the Lord for the terror by night; nor for is tried : he is a buckler to all the arrow that flieth by day; those that trust in him. 6 Nor for the pestilence that 25 The name of the Lord walketh in darkness; nor for is a strong tower: the righteous the destruction that wasteth at runneth into it, and is safe. noon-day. 26 Every word of God is 7 A thousand shall fall at thy pure : he is a shield unto them side, and ten thousand at thy that put their trust in him. right hand; but it shall not 27 In the fear of the Lord is come nigh thee. strong confidence: and his chil- 8 Only with thine eyes shalt dren shall have a place of refuge. thou behold, and see the reward 28 The fear of the Lord is a of the wicked. fountain of life, to depart from 9 Because thou hast made the snares of death. the Lord which is my refuge, 29 The fear of man bringeth even the Most High, thy habia snare : but whoso putteth his tation; trust in the Lord shall be safe. 10 There shall no evil befall 30 Many seek the ruler's fa- thee, neither shall any plague vour; but every man's judge- come nigh thy dwelling. ment cometh from the Lord. 11 For he shall give his an 31 Say not thou, I will re- gels charge over thee, to keep compense evil; but wait on the thee in all thy ways. Lord, and he shall save thee. 12 They shall bear thee up 32 When a man's ways please in their hands, lest thou dash the Lord, he maketh even his thy foot against a stone. enemies to be at peace with him. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder: the young LESSON XCV. lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. He that dwelleth in the secret 14 Commit thy works unto place of the Most High, shall the Lord, and thy thoughts shall abide under the shadow of the be established. Almighty. 15 Take heed, and be quiet: 2 I will say of the Lord, He fearnot, neither be faint-hearted. is my refuge and my fortress : 16. Then shalt thou walk in my God; in him will I trust. thy way safely, and thy foot 3 Surely he shall deliver thee shall not stumble. from the snare of the fowler, 17 When thouliest down, thou and from the noisome pesti- shalt not be afraid : yea, thou lence. shalt lie down, and thy sleep 4 He shall cover thee with shall be sweet. 2 a 18. Be not afraid of sudden LESSON XCVI. fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. Thus saith the Lord, Woe unto 19 For the Lord shall be thy the man that trusteth in man, confidence, and shall keep thy and maketh flesh his arm, and foot from being taken. whose heart departeth from the 20 Trust in the Lord with Lord : all thine heart; and lean not 2 For he shall be like the unto thine own understand- heath in the desert, and shall ing not see when good cometh ; but 21 In all thy ways acknow- shall inhabit the parched places ledge him, and he shall direct in the wilderness, in a salt land, thy paths. and not inhabited. 22 Cast thy burden upon the 3 Blessed is the man that Lord, and he shall sustain thee: trusteth in the Lord, and whose he shall never suffer the righte- hope the Lord is : ous to be moved. 4 For he shall be as a tree 23 Are the consolations of planted by the waters, and that God small with thee? mourn spreadeth out her roots by the not, nor weep: neither be thou river, and shall not see when sorry, for the joy of the Lord is heat cometh : but her leaf shall thy strength. be and shall not be 24 If thou faint in the day of careful in the year of drought, adversity, thy strength is small. neither shall cease from yield 25 Fear not, for thou shalt ing fruit. not be ashamed: neither be thou 5 For I the Lord thy God confounded, for thou shalt not will hold thy right hand, saying be put to shame. unto thee, Fear not, I will help 26 Be of good courage, and thee. he shall strengthen your heart, 6 Call unto me, and I will all that hope in the Lord. answer thee, and shew thee 27 I had fainted, unless I had great and mighty things, which believed to see the goodness of thou knowest not. the Lord in the land of the 7 Fear not: I will help thee, living saith the Lord and thy re28 Wait on the Lord : be deemer, the Holy One of Israel. of good courage, and he shall 8 Because thou hast set thy strengthen thine heart: wait, I love upon me, therefore will I say, on the Lord. deliver thee: I will set thee on 29 The Lord hear thee in high, because thou hast known the day of trouble; the name my name. of the God of Jacob defend 9 Thou shalt call upon me, and I will answer thee: I will 30 Send thee help from the be with thee in trouble; I will sanctuary, and strengthen thee deliver thee, and honour thee. out of Zion. 10 With long life will I sa ye thee; ។ |