through, and therein afterwards no fign where fhe went is to be found;

12 Or like as when an arrow is fhot at a mark, it parteth the air, which immediately cometh together again, fo that a man cannot know where it went through.

13 Even fo we, in like manner, as foon as we were born, began to draw to our end, and had no fign of virtue to fhew; but were confumed in our own wickednefs.

10 And as a ship that paff eth over the waves of the water, which when it is gone by, the trace thereof cannot be found, neither the pathway of the keel in the

14 For the hope of the ungodly is like duft that is blown away with the wind; like a thin froth that is driven away with the storm; like as the fmoke which is difperfed here and there with a tempeft, and passeth away as the remembrance of a guest that tarrieth but a day.

15 But the righteous live for evermore; their reward alfo is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the moft High.

waves;

16 Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand: for with his right hand fhall he cover with the violent noife and them, and with his arm shall motion of them, is paffed the protect them.

II Or as when a bird hath flown through the air, there is no token of her way to be found, but the light air being beaten with the ftroke of her wings, and parted

Ii

17 He

2 Give ear, ye that rufe 17 He fhall take to him his jealoufy for complete ar- the people, and glory in the mour, and make the crea-multitude of nations. for the re- 3 For power is given ture his weapon you of the Lord, and fovevenge of his enemies. 18 He fhall put on righte-reignty from the Highest, oufness as a breaft-plate, and who fhall try your works, true judgment instead of an and fearch out your counfels.

4 Because being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God.

helmet.

19 He fhall take holiness for an invincible fhield.

20 His fevere wrath fhall he sharpen for a fword, and the world fhall fight with him against the unwife.

5¶ Horribly and speedily fhall he come upon you: for a fharp judgment fhall be to them that be in high places.

21 Then fhall the rightaiming thunderbolts go abroad, and from the clouds, as from a well-drawn bow, fhall they fly to the mark.

6 For mercy will foon pardon the meaneft: but mighty men fhall be mightily tormented.

22 And hailstones full of wrath fhall be caft as out of a ftone-bow, and the water of the fea fhall rage against them, and the floods fhall cruelly drown them.

For he which is Lord 7 over all, fhall fear no man's perfon, neither fhall he stand man's greatany in awe of nefs: for he hath made the

[fmall and great, and careth for all alike.

23 Yea, a mighty wind fhall ftand up against them, and like a ftorm fhall blow them away: thus iniquity fhall lay wafte the whole 9 Unto you therefore, O earth, and ill dealing fhall o-kings, do I fpeak, that ye may verthrow the thrones of the learn wifdom, and not fall

8 But a fore trial fhall come upon the mighty.

mighty.

away.

CHAP. VI.

10 For they that keep holinefs holily, fhall be judged EAR therefore, O ye holy: and they that have kings, and under-learned fuch things, fhall find ftand; learn, ye that be judg-what to answer.

HE

es of the ends of the earth. 11 Wherefore fet your af

fection

fection upon my words; defire them, and ye fhall be inftructed.

12 ¶ Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, fhe is easily feen of them that love her, and found of fuch as feek her.

then in thrones and scepters, O ye kings of the people, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.

22 As for wifdom, what the is, and how the came up, I will tell you, and will not hide myfteries from you: but will feek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth.

13 She preventeth them that defire her, in making herself first known unto them.

14 Whoso seeketh her early fhall have no great travel: for he shall find her fitting at his doors.

15 To think therefore upon her, is perfection of wifdom and whofo watcheth for her, shall quickly be without care.

24 But the multitude of the wife is the welfare of the world; and a wife king is 16 For fhe goeth about the upholding of the people. feeking fuch as are worthy of 25 Receive therefore inher, fheweth herself favour-ftruction through my words, ably unto them in the ways, and it shall do you good. and meeteth them in every thought.

17 For the very true beginning of her is the defire of difcipline; and the care of difcipline is love;

18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws, is the affurance of incorruption;

2 And in my mother's womb was fashioned to be flesh, in the time of ten months, being compacted in

19 And incorruption mak-blood, of the feed of man,

eth us near unto God.

20 Therefore the defire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.

21 If your delight be

23 Neither will I go with confuming envy, for such a man fhall have no fellowship with wifdom.

CHAP. VII.

I am a

man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth.

and the pleasure that came with fleep,

3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth which is

Ii 2

is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered, was crying, as all others do.

4 was nurfed in fwad-liberally: I do not hide her dling-clothes, and that with

cares.

5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of

birth.

6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

7 Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the fpirit of wisdom came to

me.

8qI preferred her before fcepters and thrones, and efteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.

them.

13 I learned diligently, and do communicate ber

12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them and I knew not that he was the mother of

riches.

14 For fhe is a treasure unto men, that never faileth : which they that ufe, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.

15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet, for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wife.

9 Neither compared I un-of workmanship. to her any precious ftone, because all gold in refpect of her is as a little fand, and filver shall be counted as clay before her.

16 For in his hand are both we and our words: all wisdom alfo and knowledge

10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chofe to 18 The beginning, endhave her instead of light: foring, and midft of the times: the light that cometh from the alterations of the turning her, never goeth out. of the fun, and the change of 11 All good things toge-feafons: ther came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.

17 For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements:

19 The circuits of years, and the pofitions of stars:

20 The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beafts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diverfities of plants, and