[are] to lie in wait for blood; to corrupt men, and bring them to death and ruin: but the mouth of the upright fhall deliver them, by warning and exhorting those who are affaulted by dangerous perfons and principles, and by 7 vindicating their character. The wicked are overthrown, and [are] not to be found: but the house of the righ8 teous fhall ftand. A man fhall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart 9 fhall be defpifsed as a crafty knave. [He that is] defpifed, or overlooked, and hath a fervant, [is] better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread; or rather, Better is he that lives meanly, and is fervant to himfelf, than he that appears in a great deal of grandeur, and has not wherewith to fupport it. This is a common cafe, many who make a great figure in the world, would not have bread to eat, if their debts were paid. It is prudent to fet TO out in life plainly, and be fervants to ourselves. A righteous [man] regardeth the life of his beaft, that it be not ufed cruelly, but be moderately worked, and have proper food and reft, as a fenfitive creature and a creature of God: but the tender mercies of the wicked [are] cruel; they have loft the natural compaffion of men, and delight in 11 cruelty. He that tilleth his land, who minds his business, does his work himself, not trusting to fervants, fhall be fatisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain [perfons is] void of understanding; he who loves company and rambling about, who makes frequent and long vifits, and ne12 glects his bufinefs, is a fool. The wicked defireth the net of evil [men;] longs to practise the arts by which other wicked men draw their neighbours and acquaintance into fnares, and thereby enrich themselves: but the root of the righteous yieldeth [fruit;] the righteous have enough, 13 and are comfortable without fuch unjust courses. The wicked is fnared by the tranfgreffion of his lips; cuts his throat with his own tongue, brings upon himself troubles and law fuits: but the just man fhall come out of trouble, by 14 his prudent fpeeches and conduct. A man fhall be fatisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth: and the recompenfe of a man's hands fhall be rendered unto him; his good words, and much more his good allions, fhall be re membered 15 membered and rewarded. The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes; he is confident, and afks no advice: but he that hearkeneth unto counfel, who does not rely entirely 16 upon his own judgment, [is] wife. A fool's wrath is prefently known; he fires immediately, which fhows his folly but a prudent [man] overcometh fhame; he curbs his paffions, and his refentment of the greatest in17 juries. [He that] fpeaketh truth fhoweth forth righteoufnefs; he who is used to speak truth in common converfation, will do it in publick as a witness; but a falfe wit18 nefs deceit. There is that fpeaketh like the piercings of a fword; the cut-throat, or common affaffin, is not more pernicious than the man who makes it his business to wound his neighbour's reputation and fow difcord among them: but the tongue of the wife [is] health, or 19 healing, it promotes peace and love. The lip of truth fhall be eftablished for ever: but a lying tongue [is] but for a moment; he loses his credit, and is not believed 20 when he speaks truth. Deceit [is] in the heart of them that imagine evil; they deceive themselves, and bring mifchief on their own heads: but to the counsellors of peace [is] joy; it is a comfortable reflection, that they have always taken the mildeft fide, have endeavoured to make 21 peace, and not promote difcord. There fhall no real evil happen to the juft: but the wicked fhall be filled with 22 mifchief, even when filled with fenfual gratifications. Lying lips [are] abomination to the LORD; he abhors all kind and degree of falsehood: but they that deal truly, as well as speak truly, [are] his delight; and this circumStance of being loved or hated of God, will turn the balance 23 as to all present advantages. A prudent man concealeth knowledge; does not make a pomp or show of it, but knows when to be filent: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness; while they want to fhow their knowledge they 24 only proclaim their ignorance and folly. The hand of the diligent fhall bear rule; hall have wealth and power: but the flothful shall be under tribute; will always be in 25 ftraits, and dependant upon others. Heavinefs in the heart of man maketh it ftoop, therefore those who are forrowful and low fpirited should not pore on their forrows, but pursue their business, and get into friendly and cheerful com pany: pany: but a good word maketh it glad, therefore others Should be ready to comfort them. This is especially applicable 26 to the promises of God's word. The righteous [is] more excellent than his neighbour in every respect, and particularly as he does not delude himself with vain hopes: but the way of the wicked feduceth them; they do ill for 27 themselves. The flothful [man] roafteth not that which he took in hunting; does not make the best of his circumstances, like a man who has taken the trouble of hunting, and thro' mere floth will not drefs his game, but fuffers it to spoil by him: but the fubftance of a diligent man [is] precious; 28 he makes the best of it, and it gives him comfort. In the way of righteousness [is] life; and in the pathway [thereof there is] no death; it is a fure way to happiness here, and to immortal life hereafter.-We fee from hence of what importance humility, diligence, and the wife government and ufe of the tongue are to our profperity for both worlds. Let us habitually practife the government of the thoughts, in order to obtain the government of the tongue; and as a grand motive to this, remember that in the way of righteousness is life, and that in the pathway thereof there is no death.' I. A CHA P. XIII. WISE fon [heareth] his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke, therefore there is 2 no hope of him, he is not likely to be wife. A man shall eat good by the fruit of [his] mouth: but the foul of the tranfgreffors [fhall eat] violence in the prefent life, but especially hereafter, when by our words we shall be justi3 fied, and by our words we shall be condemned. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life from guilt and grief: [but] he that openeth wide his lips, a flanderer or a brawler, who bolts out every thing that comes uppermost, fhall have deftruction; fball lofe his reputation, and bring 4 ruin upon himself. The foul of the fluggard, who will and will not, has no refolution, who loves gain, but hates the exertions of the diligent, fuch an one defireth, and [hath] nothing: nothing but the foul of the diligent fhall be made fat. 5 A righteous [man] hateth lying in himself and others: but a wicked [man] is loathfome to God and man, and 6 cometh to shame. Righteoufnefs keepeth [him that is] upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the 7 finner, tho' he foolishly feeks establishment by it. There is that maketh himself rich, yet [hath] nothing: [there is] that maketh himself poor, yet [hath] great riches. This is applicable to the figure perfons make in the world; therefore we have need of prudence in judging of others, and in trusting them. It is equally applicable to fpiritual things, 8 to conceited and modeft perfons. The ransom of a man's life [are] his riches; thefe fometimes expofe men to injuries, perfecutions, and false accufations, fo that they are glad to part with their riches to ranfom their lives: but the poor heareth not rebuke; they are often free from these things, men do not think it worth while to fue them, because there is 9 nothing to be got. The light of the righteous rejoiceth, like the fun, with conftant, pleasant brightness, which, tho clouded or eclipsed, is not extinguished: but the lamp, the poor, glimmering candle of the wicked fhall be put out, with a difagreeable stench, however bright it may have 10 been. Only by pride cometh contention; this is the chief caufe of quarrels in kingdoms, churches, and families, and of the continuance of them: but with the well advised [is] wisdom; they act with prudence, yield, and study peace. 11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity, by cheating, lying, and gaming, fhall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour, that is, by honeft industry, fhall increase; it will 12 wear well. Hope deferred maketh the heart fick: but [when] the defire cometh, [it is] a tree of life; the most defirable thing in the world. This should teach us not to raise our expectations too high, but to expect and prepare for difappointments; and also not to keep others in fufpenfe, when 13 they expect any benefit from us. Whofo despiseth the word, that is, good admonition from God or man, who will not ftudy it, and be ruled by it, fhall be destroyed; but he that feareth the commandment, who reverences the 14 precept, and feareth the penalty, fhall be rewarded. The law of the wife [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the the fnares of death; it affords him comfort, and preferves 1.5 him from temptation. Good understanding giveth favour; wisdom and piety are most amiable and acceptable to all: but the way of tranfgreffors [is] hard; rough and perplexed, however pleasant and flowery at its first entrance. 16 Every prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge, he undertakes nothing but what he understands, and proceeds cautiously, is careful what he fays, and whom he trufts: but a fool layeth open [his] folly, by his imprudence and rash17 nefs. A wicked meffenger, who is falfe to his truft, or trifles on his errands, falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambaffador [is] health; is comfortable to himself and 18 those who employ him. Poverty and fhame [fhall be to] him that refufeth inftruction: but he that regardeth re19 proof fhall be honoured and esteemed. The defire accomplished, efpecially the pious defire, is fweet to the foul: but [it is] abomination to fools to depart from evil; and fo the profpect of future happiness cannot per20 fuade them to quit the bad courfes they are wedded to. He that walketh with wife [men,] intimately converfes and forms friendships with them, fhall be wife; converfation with fuch edifies and affimilates: but a companion of fools 21 fhall be destroyed. Evil purfueth finners, and will certainly overtake them, tho' they think it at a distance: but to the righteous good shall be repayed, for the good they 22 have done, and the ill they have fuffered. A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children, by prudence, diligence, justice, and charity: and the wealth of the finner [is] laid up for the juft; it is frequently by the providence of God transferred to pious families, who will 23 make a good ufe of it. Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor, that is, in a little improved by industry: if a man has but little he should be fo much the more diligent and frugal: but there is [that is] deftroyed for want of judgment; large eftates are often loft by idleness and extravagance, by over living, by keeping great tables and many fervants: in other inftances by out trading their capital, being bound for others, aud the like; all which show a want 24 of judgment. He that fpareth his rod, if no other method will do, hateth his fon : but he that loveth him chasten eth |