Give not the fool an answer after his foolishness, lest thou become like unto him;

If thou seest a man that is wise in his own conceit, there is more hope in a fool than in him.

The slothful body thrusteth his hand into his bosom, and it grieveth him to put it again to his mouth.

but when he speaketh fair, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

A dissembling tongue hateth one that rebuketh him; and a flattering mouth worketh mischief.

He that is full, abhorreth a honeycomb; but unto him that is hungry, every sour thing is sweet.

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for the unknown man's sake.

He that is too hasty to praise his neighbour above measure, shall be taken as one that giveth him an evil report.

Though thou shouldest bray a fool with a pedestal in a mortar like oatmeal, yet will not his foolishness go from him.

The ungodly fleeth, no man chasing him; but the righteous standeth stiff as a lion.

Whoso increaseth his riches by vantage and winning, let him gather them to help the poor withal.

The rich man thinketh himself to be wise; but the poor that hath understanding, can perceive him well enough.

Well is him that standeth always in awe; as for him that hardeneth his heart, he shall fall into mischief.

He that by violence sheddeth any man's blood, shall be a renagade unto his grave; and no man shall be able to succor him.

He that will be rich all too soon, hath an evil eye; and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

He that rebuketh a man, shall find more favour at the last, than he that flattereth him.

If a wise man go to law with a fool - whether he deal with him friendly or roughly - he getteth no rest.

Where no Prophet is, there the people perish; but well is him that keepeth the law.

If thou seest a man that is hasty to speak unadvised; thou mayest trust a fool more than him.

He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child, shall make him his master at length.

All the words of God are pure and clean, for he is a shield unto all them that put their trust in him.

These are the words of king Lemuel, and the Prophecy that his mother taught him.

She rendereth him good and not evil all the days of her life.

He giveth unto man, what it pleaseth him; whether it be wisdom, understanding, or gladness. But unto the sinner he giveth weariness and sorrow, that he may gather and heap together the thing, that afterward shall be given unto him whom it pleaseth God. This is now a vain thing, yea a very disquietness and vexation of mind.

I considered also that whatsoever God doth, it continueth forever, and that nothing can be put unto it, nor taken from it: And that God doth it to the intent that men should fear him.

Wherefore I perceive, that there is nothing better for a man, than to be joyful in his labour, for that is his portion. But who will bring him to see the thing that shall come after him?

Yea, him that is yet unborn to be better at ease than they both, because he seeth not the miserable works that are done under the Sun.

If one of them fall, his companion helpeth him up again: But woe is him that is alone, for if he fall, he hath not another to help him up.

As for the people that have been before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their joy the greater through him. This is also a vain thing and a vexation of mind. (v17) When thou comest into the house of God, keep thy foot and draw nigh, that thou mayest hear: that is better than the offerings of fools, for they know not what evil they do

A labouring man sleepeth sweetly, whether it be little or much that he eateth; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Yet is there a sore plague, which I have seen under the sun: namely, riches kept to the hurt of him that hath them in possession.

Like as he came naked out of his mother's womb, so goeth he thither again, and carryeth nothing away with him of all his labour.

This is a miserable plague, that he shall go away even as he came. What helpeth him then, that he hath labored in the wind?

Therefore me think it a better and fairer thing, a man to eat and drink, and to be refreshed of all his labour that he taketh under the Sun all the days of his life which God giveth him: for this is his portion.

For unto whomsoever God giveth riches, goods and power, he giveth it him to enjoy it, to take it for his portion, and to be refreshed of his labour: this is now the gift of God.

When God giveth a man riches, goods and honour, so that he wanteth nothing of all that his heart can desire, and yet God giveth him not leave to enjoy the same, but another man spendeth them. This is a vain thing and a miserable plague.

If a man beget a hundredth children, and live many years, so that his days are many in number, and yet cannot enjoy his good, neither be buried: as for him I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

The thing that hath been is named already, and known - that it is man himself: neither may he go to law with him that is mightier than he.

For who knoweth what is good for man living, in the days of his vain life, which is but a shadow? Or, who will tell a man what shall happen after him under the Sun?

For wisdom defendeth as well as money, and the excellent knowledge and wisdom giveth life to him that have it in possession.

Be not hasty to go out of his sight, and see thou continue in no evil thing: for whatsoever it pleaseth him, that doeth he.

Like as when a king giveth a charge, his commandment is mighty: Even so whom may say unto him, "What doest thou?"

And why? A man knoweth not what is for to come: for who will tell him?

Neither is there any man that hath power over the spirit, to keep still the spirit, nor to have any power in the time of death: it is not he also that can make an end of the battle, neither may ungodliness deliver him that meddleth withall.

But though an evil person offend a hundredth times, and have a long life: yet am I sure, that it shall go well with them that fear God, because they have him before their eyes.

Again, as for the ungodly, it shall not be well with him, neither shall he prolong his days: but even as a shadow, so shall he be that feareth not God.

Therefore I commend gladness, because a man hath no better thing under the Sun, than to eat and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall he have of his labour all the days of his life, which God giveth him under the Sun.

It happeneth unto one as unto another; It goeth with the righteous as with the ungodly; with the good and clean as with the unclean; with him that offereth as with him that offereth not; like as it goeth with the virtuous, so goeth it also with the sinner; As it happeneth unto the perjured, so happeneth it also unto him that is afraid to be foresworn.

But he that diggeth up a pit, shall fall therein himself; and whoso breaketh down the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

A fool is so full of words, that a man cannot tell what end he shall make. Who will then warn him of it that shall follow after him?

If a man live many years, and be glad in them all, let him remember the days of darkness, which shall be many: And when they come, all things shall be but vanity.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest the sheep, where thou maketh the rest at the noon day: for why shall I be like him that goeth wrong about the flocks of thy companions?

By night in my bed I sought him, whom my soul loveth: yea, diligently sought I him, but I found him not.

I will get up, thought I, and go about the city, in the ways and in all the streets will I seek him whom my soul loveth: but when I sought him, I found him not.

The watchmen that go about the city found me, to whom I said: Saw ye not him whom my soul loveth?

So when I was a little past them, I found him whom my soul loveth. I have gotten hold upon him, and will not let him go, until I bring him into my mother's house, and in to her chamber that bare me.

Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon in the crown, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his marriage, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Nevertheless when I had opened unto my beloved, he was departed and gone his way. Now like as afore time when he spake, my heart could not longer refrain: Even so now I sought him, but I could not find him: I cried upon him, nevertheless he gave me no answer.

I charge you therefore, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him how that I am sick for love.

Whither is thy love gone then, O thou fairest among women; whither is thy love departed, that we may seek him with thee?

There will I turn me unto my love, and he shall turn him unto me.

Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; this vineyard delivered he unto the keepers, that every one for the fruit thereof should give him a thousand pieces of silver.

Thy princes are traitors and companions of thieves. They love gifts altogether, and gape for rewards. As for the fatherless, they help him not to his right, neither will they let the widows causes come before them.

And Jerusalem shall be a tabernacle for a shadow because of heat in the daytime, and place and refuge where a man may keep him from weather and rain.

This he hedged, this he walled round about, and planted it with goodly grapes. In the midst of it builded he a tower, and made a wine press therein. And afterward when he looked that it should bring him grapes, it brought forth thorns.

Which used to speak on this manner: "Let him make haste now, and go forth with his work, that we may see it! Let that counsel of the holy one of Israel come, and draw nigh, that we may know it!"

and say unto him, 'Take heed to thyself and be still, but fear not, neither be fainthearted for these two tails: that is, for these two smoking firebrands, the wrath and furiousness of Rezin the Syrian and Remaliah's son.

After that went I unto the Prophetess, that now had conceived and born a son. Then said the LORD to me, "Give him this name: Mahershalahashbaz.

And shall break in upon Judah, increasing in power, till he get him by the throat. He shall fill also the wideness of thy land with his broad wings, O Immanuel."

but sanctify the LORD of Hosts: let him be your fear and dread.

And many shall stumble, fall, and be broken upon him: yea they shall be snared and taken."

Thus I wait upon the LORD that hath turned his face from the house of Jacob, and I look unto him.

If any man want light, let him look upon the law and the testimony whether they speak not after this meaning.

and behold, there is trouble and darkness; vexation is round about him, and the cloud of error. And out of such adversity, shall he not escape.

For the people turneth not unto him, that chastiseth them, neither do they seek the LORD of Hosts.

but robbeth him on the righthand, and doth famish; he eateth on the left hand and he shall not have enough. Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm.

For I shall send him among those hypocritical people, among the people that have deserved my disfavour shall I send him: that he may utterly rob them, spoil them, and tread them down like the mire in the street.

But doth the axe boost itself, against him that heweth therewith? Or doth the saw make any bragging, against him that ruleth it? That were even like as if the rod did exalt itself against him that beareth it: or as though the staff should magnify itself, as who say it were not wood.

Therefore shall the LORD of Hosts send him poverty in his riches, and burn up his power, as it were with a fire.

After that day shall the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped out of the house of Jacob, seek no more comfort at him that smote them, but shall comfort themselves with faithfulness and truth in the LORD, the holy one of Israel.

For though thy people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, yet shall but the remnant of them only convert unto him. Perfect is the judgment of him that floweth in righteousness,

Moreover, the LORD of Hosts shall prepare a scourge for him, like as was the punishment of Midian upon the mount of Oreb. And he shall lift up his rod over the sea, as he did sometimes over the Egyptians.

And on him shall light the spirit of the LORD: the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of strength, the spirit of knowledge and of reverence, and it shall make him savour of the fear of the LORD

Rejoice not, thou whole Philistia, as though the rod of him that beateth thee were broken: For out of the serpent's root, there shall come an adder, and the fruit shall be a fiery worm.

Who shall then maintain the messages of the Gentiles? But the LORD establisheth Zion, and the poor of my people shall put their trust in him.

This shall be a token or testimony unto the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt, when they shall cry unto him, because of those that oppress them. And he shall send them a Captain and a Saviour to deliver them.

Moreover, Egypt shall be brought unto the LORD, and the Egyptians also shall know the LORD at the same time: they shall do him reverence with peace offerings, and with meat offerings: they shall promise him offerings, yea, and pay him also.

In the same year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, where Sargon the king of the Assyrians sent him; what time as he also besieged Ashdod, and won it the same season:

Whoso may deceive, said the voice, let him deceive: Who so may destroy, let him destroy. Up Elam, besiege it O Media, for I will still all their groanings.

And ye shall make a pit betwixt the twain walls of the water of the old pool, and nothing regard him that took it in hand, and made it long ago.

Thus sayeth the LORD God of Hosts, "Go in to the treasury unto Shebna the governor, and say to him,

and array him with thy coat, and gird him with thy girdle, and I will give thy power into his hand. He shall be a father of the citizens of Jerusalem, and of the kindred of Judah.

I will fasten him to a nail in the place of the most high faithfulness, and he shall be upon the glorious throne of his father's house.

They shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, of the children and children's children, all apparel small and great, all instruments of measure and music.

Then shall the priest be as the people, the master as the servant, the dame like the maid, the seller like the buyer, he that lendeth upon usury, like him that borroweth upon usury, the creditor as the debtor.

In that day shall it be said, "Lo, this is our God: we have waited for him, and he shall save us. This is the LORD in whom we have hoped: Let us rejoice, and delight in his salvation.

For the hand of the LORD ceaseth upon this hill. But Moab shall be threshed down under him, like as the straw is trodden under feet in a dunghill.

The path of equity wilt thou grant unto the just, O thou most righteous; thou shalt order the path of him that is righteous.

And as for the fading flower, the glory of his pomp, which is upon the top of the plenteous valley: it shall happen unto him, as to an untimely fruit before the harvest come. Which as soon as it is seen, is by and by devoured, before it come well in a man's hand.

Therefore thus sayeth the LORD God: "Behold, I will lay a stone in Zion, a great stone, a costly corner stone, for a sure foundation: that whoso putteth his trust in him, shall not be confounded.