"She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. "She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. "She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. "She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. "She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. "Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 66 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." FATHER, I know that all my life Is portioned out for me; And the changes which are sure to come, I do not fear to see: But I ask Thee for a present mind Intent on pleasing Thee. I ask thee for a thoughtful love, And a heart at leisure from itself To soothe and sympathise. Miss Waring. CHAPTER CXXII. PROVERBS (continued). PROSPERITY TO THE RIGHTEOUS. I. "RIGHTEOUSNESS exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. "Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. "Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. "Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. "When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth and when the wicked perish there is shouting. "By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. "The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted (of him), and wisdom obtaineth His love. "The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life and they that do things that please Him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality. “The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotence. Envy not the glory of a sinner: for thou knowest not what shall be his end." II. "Delight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave. Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away. “As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling. "Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown. "As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk. "The furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning. "The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man. "Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of men. "If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe. "The birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her. "As the lion lieth in wait for her prey; so sin for them that work iniquity. "The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon. "If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding. "The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin. "The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears. "The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear. "Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind." CHAPTER CXXIII. PROVERBS (continued). OBEDIENCE TO Parents. 1. "Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” "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: "Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer. "The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth. to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. "A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. "A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him, "Hear me, your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be safe. "For the Lord hath given the father honour over the children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons. "Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins: "And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure." II. "Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard. "He that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother. "He that feareth the Lord will honour his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters. "Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them. "For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations. "Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father's dishonour is no glory unto thee. "For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to the children. 66 'My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth. "And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength. "For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up. "In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather. |