CHAPTER CXIX.

PROVERBS.

A PROVERB is a short sentence teaching some moral truth or useful lesson in a concise form, easily remembered.

The Proverbs of Solomon are not only such short lessons, but they contain also some useful exhortations to virtue and godliness. Wisdom is used for religious faith, and folly for unbelief.

Solomon is said to have spoken 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings iv. 32), and they were written to "give a young man knowledge and discretion;" but the book is full of useful lessons both for young and old. The following are a few of the most practical:

A RULE OF LIFE.

I.

"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

"For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. "For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

"He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

"Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

"Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

"She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

"Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

"I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

"When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

"Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass

away.

"For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

"For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. iv. 1-18).

II.

"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

"For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

"So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man" (Prov. iii. 1-4).

"Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people.

"In the congregation of the Most High shall she her mouth, and triumph before His power.

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"I came out of the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth as a cloud.

"I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar.

"I alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep.

"In the waves of the sea, and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I got a possession.

"With all these I sought rest and in whose inheritance shall I abide ?

"So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and He that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel.

"He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail.

"In the holy tabernacle I served before Him; and so was I established in Sion.

"Likewise in the beloved city He gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power.

"And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord's inheritance" (Ecclus. xxiv. 1-12).

CHAPTER CXX.

PROVERBS (continued).

WISDOM.

I.

"DOTH not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

"She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

"She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

"Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

"O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

"Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

"For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

"All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

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They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

"Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

"For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

II.

"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

"Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

"By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

"By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

"Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

"My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

"I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

"That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

"The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.

"I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

"When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. "Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth :

"While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

"When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set compass upon the face of the depths:

"When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep:

"When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth:

"Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

"Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

"Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

"For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.

"But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death" (Prov. viii. 1-36).

CHAPTER CXXI.

PROVERBS (continued).

A VIRTUOUS WOM A N.

"WHO can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

"She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

"She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.