Baruch 4

1 This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endures for ever: all they that hold it fastare appointedto life; but such as leave it shall die.

2 Turn you, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk towards her shining in the presence of the light thereof.

3 Give not your glory to another, nor the things that are profitable to you to a strange nation.

4 O Israel, happy are we: for the things that are pleasing to God are made known to us.

5 Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel.

6 You⌃ were sold to the nations,butnot for destruction: because you⌃ moved God to wrath, you⌃ were delivered to your adversaries.

7 For you⌃ provoked him that made you by sacrificing to demons, and not to God.

8 You⌃ forgat the everlasting God, that brought you up; you⌃ grieved also Jerusalem, that nursed you.

9 For she saw the wrath that is come upon you from God, and said, Hearken, you⌃womenthat dwell about Sion: for God has brought upon me great mourning;

10 for I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them.

11 For with joy did I nourish them; but sent them away with weeping and mourning.

12 Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many: for the sins of my children am I left desolate; because they turned aside from the law of God,

13 and had no regard to his statutes, neither walked they in the ways of God’s commandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.

14 Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember you⌃ the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them.

15 For he has brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless nation, and of a strange language,who neither reverenced old man, nor pitied child.

16 And they have carried away the dear beloved sons of the widow, and left her that was alone desolate of her daughters.

17 But I, what can I help you?

18 For he that brought these plagues upon you will deliver you from the hand of your enemies.

19 Go your way, O my children, go your way: for I am left desolate.

20 I have put off the garment of peace, and put upon me the sackcloth of my petition: I will cry to the Everlasting as long as I live.

21 Be of good cheer, O my children, cry to God, and he shall deliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.

22 For I have trusted in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy is come to me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall soon come to youfrom the Everlasting your Saviour.

23 For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but God will give you to me again with joy and gladness for ever.

24 For like as now they that dwell about Sion have seen your captivity: so shall they see shortly your salvation fromour God, which shall come upon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.

25 My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from God: for your enemy has persecuted you; but shortly you shall see his destruction, and shall tread upon their necks.

26 My delicate ones have gone rough ways; they were taken away as a flock carried off by the enemies.

27 Be of good cheer, O my children, and cry to God: for you⌃ shall be remembered of him that has broughtthese thingsupon you.

28 For as it was your mind to go astray from God:so,return and seek him ten times more.

29 For he that brought these plagues upon you shall bring you everlasting joy again with your salvation.

30 Be of good cheer, O Jerusalem: for he that called you by name will comfort you.

31 Miserable are they that afflicted you, and rejoiced at your fall.

32 Miserable are the cities which your children served: miserable is she that received your sons.

33 For as she rejoiced at your fall, and was glad of your ruin: so shall she be grieved for her own desolation.

34 And I will take away her exultation in her great multitude, and her boasting shall be turned into mourning.

35 For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure; and she shall be inhabited ofdevils for a great time.

36 O Jerusalem, look about you toward the east, and behold the joy that comes to you from God.

37 Behold, your sons come, whom you sent away, they come gathered together from the east to the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.

Baruch 5

1 Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of your mourning and affliction, and put on the comeliness of the glory thatcomesfrom God for ever.

2 Cast about you the robe of the righteousness whichcomesfrom God; set a diadem on your head of the glory of the Everlasting.

3 For God will show your brightness to everyregionunder heaven.

4 For your name shall be called of God for ever The peace of righteousness, and The glory of godliness.

5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand upon the height, and look about you toward the east, and behold your children gathered from the going down of the sun to the rising thereof at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them.

6 For they went from you on foot, being led away of their enemies: but God brings them in to you borne on high with glory,asona royal throne.

7 For God has appointed that every high mountain, and the everlasting hills, should be made low, and the valleys filled up, to make plain the ground, that Israel may go safely in the glory of God.

8 Moreover the woods and every sweet smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God.

9 For God shall lead Israel with joy in the light of his glory with the mercy and righteousness that comes from him.

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them,What seek ye?They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39 He saith unto them,Come and see.They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said,Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas,which is by interpretation, A stone.

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,Follow me.

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him,Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him,Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

50 Jesus answered and said unto him,Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

51 And he saith unto him,Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/8/32k/JHN/1-488b03ea174ba7ee120143fdff02436a.mp3?version_id=1—

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them,What seek ye?They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39 He saith unto them,Come and see.They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said,Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas,which is by interpretation, A stone.

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,Follow me.

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him,Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him,Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

50 Jesus answered and said unto him,Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

51 And he saith unto him,Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/8/32k/JHN/1-488b03ea174ba7ee120143fdff02436a.mp3?version_id=1—

Sirach 1

1 All wisdomcomesfrom the Lord,

And is with him forever.

2 The sand of the seas, and the drops of rain,

And the days of eternity, who shall count?

3 The height of the heaven, and the breadth of the earth,

And the deep, and wisdom, who shall searchthemout?

4 Wisdom has been created before all things,

And the understanding of prudence from everlasting.

5

6 To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed?

And who has known her shrewd counsels?

7

8 There is one wise, greatly to be feared,

The Lord sitting upon his throne:

9 He created her,

And saw, and counted her,

And poured her out upon all his works.

10 She iswith all flesh according to his gift;

And he gave her freely to them that love him.

11 The fear of the Lord is glory, and exultation,

And gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.

12 The fear of the Lord shall delight the heart,

And shall give gladness, and joy, and length of days.

13 Whoso fears the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last,

And in the day of his death he shall be blessed.

14 To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

And it was created together with the faithful in the womb.

15 With men shelaid an eternal foundation;

And with their seed shall she be had in trust.

16 To fear the Lord is the fulness of wisdom;

And she satiateth men with her fruits.

17 She shall fill all her house with desirable things,

And her garners with her produce.

18 The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom,

Making peace andperfect health to flourish.

19 He both saw and counted her;

He rained down skill and knowledge of understanding,

And exalted the honor of them that hold her fast.

20 To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom;

And her branches are length of days.

21

22 Unjust wrath can never be justified;

For the sway of his wrath is his downfall.

23 A man that is longsuffering willbearfor a season,

And afterward gladness shall spring up to him;

24 He will hide his wordsfor a season,

And the lips of many shall tell forth his understanding.

25 A parable of knowledge is in the treasures of wisdom;

But godliness is an abomination to a sinner.

26 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments,

And the Lord shall give her to you freely:

27 For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction;

Andinfaith and meekness is his good pleasure.

28 Disobey not the fear of the Lord;

And come not to him with a double heart.

29 Be not a hypocrite in the mouths of men;

And take good heed to your lips.

30 Exalt not yourself, lest you fall,

And bring dishonor upon your soul;

Andsothe Lord shall reveal your secrets,

And shall cast you down in the midst of the congregation;

Because you came not to the fear of the Lord,

And your heart was full of deceit.

Sirach 2

1 My son, if you come to serve the Lord,

Prepare your soul for temptation.

2 Set your heart aright, and constantly endure,

And make not haste in time of calamity.

3 Cleave to him, and depart not,

That you may be increased at your latter end.

4 Accept whatever is brought upon you,

And be longsufferingwhen you passest into humiliation.

5 For gold is tried in the fire,

And acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.

6 Put your trust in him, and he will help you:

Order your ways aright, and set your hope on him.

7 You⌃ that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;

And turn not aside, lest you⌃ fall.

8 You⌃ that fear the Lord, put your trust in him;

And your reward shall not fail.

9 You⌃ that fear the Lord, hope for good things,

And for eternal gladness and mercy.

10 Look at the generations of old, and see:

Who did ever put his trust in the Lord, and was ashamed?

Or who did abide in his fear, and was forsaken?

Or who did call upon him, and he despised him?

11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy;

And he forgives sins, and saves in time of affliction.

12 Woe to fearful hearts, and to faint hands,

And to the sinner that goes two ways!

13 Woe to the faint heart! for it believes not;

Therefore shall it not be defended.

14 Woe to you that have lost your patience!

And what will you⌃ do when the Lord shall visit you?

15 They that fear the Lord will not disobey his words;

And they that love him will keep his ways.

16 They that fear the Lord will seek his good pleasure;

And they that love him shall be filled with the law.

17 They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts,

And will humble their souls in his sight,

18 saying,

We will fall into the hands of the Lord,

And not into the hands of men:

For as his majesty is,

So also is his mercy.

Sirach 3

1 Hear me your father, O my children,

And do thereafter, that you⌃ may be saved.

2 For the Lord has given the father glory as touching the children,

And has confirmed the judgement of the mother as touching the sons.

3 He that honors his father shall make atonement for sins:

4 And he that gives glory to his mother is as one that lays up treasure.

5 Whoso honors his father shall have joy of his children;

And in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.

6 He that gives glory to his father shall have length of days;

And he that hearkens to the Lord shall bring rest to his mother,

7 And will do service under his parents, as to masters.

8 In deed and word honor your father,

That a blessing may come upon you from him.

9 For the blessing of the father establishes the houses of children;

But the curse of the mother roots out the foundations.

10 Glorify not yourself in the dishonor of your father;

For your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.

11 For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father;

And a mother in dishonor is a reproach to her children.

12 My son, help your father in his old age;

And grieve him not as long as he lives.

13 And if he fails in understanding, have patience with him;

And dishonor him notwhile you arein your full strength.

14 For the relieving of your father shall not be forgotten:

And instead of sins it shall be added to build you up.

15 In the day of your affliction it shall remember you;

As fair weather upon ice,

So shall your sins also melt away.

16 He that forsakes his father is as a blasphemer;

And he that provoketh his mother is cursed of the Lord.

17 My son, go on with your business in meekness;

So shall you be beloved of an acceptable man.

18 The greater you are, humble yourself the more,

And you shall find favor before the Lord.

19

20 For great is the potency of the Lord,

And he is glorified of them that are lowly.

21 Seek not things that are too hard for you,

And search not out things that are above your strength.

22 The things that have been commanded you, think thereupon;

For you have no need of the things that are secret.

23 Be not over busy in your superfluous works:

For more things are showed to you than men can understand.

24 For the conceit of many has led them astray;

And evil surmising has caused their judgement to slip.

25

26 A stubborn heart shall fare ill at the last;

And he that loves danger shall perish therein.

27 A stubborn heart shall be laden with troubles;

And the sinner shall heap sin uponsin.

28 The calamity of the proud is no healing;

For a plant of wickedness has taken root in him.

29 The heart of the prudent will understand a parable;

And the ear of a listener is the desire of a wise man.

30 Water will quench a flaming fire;

And almsgiving will make atonement for sins.

31 He that requites good turns is mindful of that which comes afterward;

And in the time of his falling he shall find a support.

Sirach 4

1 My son, deprive not the poor of his living,

And make not the needy eyes to wait long.

2 Make not a hungry soul sorrowful;

Neither provoke a man in his distress.

3 To a heart that is provoked add not more trouble;

And defer not to give to him that is in need.

4 Reject not a suppliant in his affliction;

And turn not away your face from a poor man.

5 Turn not away your eye from one that asksof you,

And give none occasion to a man to curse you:

6 For if he curse you in the bitterness of his soul,

He that made him will hear his supplication.

7 Get yourself the love of the congregation;

And to a great man bow your head.

8 Incline your ear to a poor man,

And answer him with peaceful words in meekness.

9 Deliver him that is wronged from the hand of him that wrongeth him;

And be not faint-hearted in giving judgement.

10 Be as a father to the fatherless,

And instead of a husband to their mother:

So shall you be as a son of the Most High,

And he shall love you more than your mother does.

11 Wisdom exalts her sons,

And takes hold of them that seek her.

12 He that loves her loves life;

And they that seek to her early shall be filled with gladness.

13 He that holds her fast shall inherit glory;

And wherehe enters, the Lord will bless.

14 They that do her service shall minister to the Holy One;

And them that love her the Lord does love.

15 He that gives ear to her shall judge the nations;

And he that gives heed to her shall dwell securely.

16 If he trust her, he shall inherit her;

And his generations shall have her in possession.

17 For at the first she will walk with him in crooked ways,

And will bring fear and dread upon him,

And torment him with her discipline,

Until she may trust his soul, and try him by her judgements:

18 Then will she return again the straight way to him,

And will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets.

19 If he go astray, she will forsake him,

And give him overto his fall.

20 Observe the opportunity, and beware ofevil;

And be not ashamed concerning your soul.

21 For there is a shame that brings sin;

And there is a shamethat isglory and grace.

22 Accept not the personof anyagainst your soul;

Andreverence no man to your falling.

23 Refrain not speech,when it tendeth to safety;

And hide not your wisdom for the sake of fair-seeming.

24 For by speech wisdom shall be known;

And instruction by the word of the tongue.

25 Speak not against the truth;

And be abashed for your ignorance.

26 Be not ashamed to make confession of your sins;

And force not the current of the river.

27 Lay not yourself down for a fool to tread upon;

And accept not the person of one that is mighty.

28 Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord God shall fight for you.

29 Be nothasty in your tongue,

And in your deeds slack and remiss.

30 Be not as a lion in your house,

Nor fanciful among your servants.

31 Let not your hand be stretched out to receive, andclosed when you should repay.

Sirach 5

1 Set not your heart upon your goods;

And say not, They are sufficient for me.

2 Follow not your own mind and your strength,

To walk in the desires of your heart;

3 And say not, Who shall have dominion over me?

For the Lord will surely take vengeance on you.

4 Say not, I sinned, and what happened to me?

For the Lord is longsuffering.

5 Concerning atonement, be not without fear,

To add sin upon sins:

6 And say not, His compassion is great;

He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins:

For mercy and wrath are with him,

And his indignation will rest upon sinners.

7 Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord;

And put not off from day to day:

For suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth;

And you shall perish in the time of vengeance.

8 Set not your heart upon unrighteous gains:

For you shall profit nothing in the day of calamity.

9 Winnow not with every wind,

And walk not in every path:

Thus does the sinner that has a double tongue.

10 Be stedfast in your understanding;

And let your word be one.

11 Be swift to hear;

And with patience make your answer.

12 If you have understanding, answer your neighbor;

And if not, let your hand be upon your mouth.

13 Glory and dishonor is in talk:

And the tongue of a man is his fall.

14 Be not called a whisperer;

And lie not in wait with your tongue:

For upon the thief there is shame,

And an evil condemnation upon him that has a double tongue.

15 In a great matter and in a small, be not ignorant;

Sirach 6

1 And instead of a friend become not an enemy;

For an evil name shall inherit shame and reproach:

Even so shall the sinner that has a double tongue.

2 Exalt not yourself in the counsel of your soul;

That your soul be not torn in pieces as a bull:

3 You shall eat up your leaves, and destroy your fruits,

And leave yourself as a dry tree.

4 A wicked soul shall destroy him that has gotten it,

And shall make hima laughing stock to his enemies.

5 Sweet words will multiplya man’s friends;

And a fair-speaking tongue will multiply courtesies.

6 Let those that are at peace with you be many;

But your counselors one of a thousand.

7 If you would get you a friend, get himby proving,

And be not in haste to trust him.

8 For there is a friendthat is sofor his own occasion;

And he will not continue in the day of your affliction.

9 And there is a friend that turns to enmity;

And he will discover strife to your reproach.

10 And there is a friend that is a companion at the table;

And he will not continue in the day of your affliction.

11 And in your prosperity he will be as yourself,

And will be bold over your servants:

12 If you shall be brought low, he will be against you,

And will hide himself from your face.

13 Separate yourself from your enemies;

And beware of your friends.

14 A faithful friend is a strongdefence;

And he that has found him has found a treasure.

15 There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend;

And his excellency is beyondprice.

16 A faithful friend is a medicine of life;

And they that fear the Lord shall find him.

17 He that fears the Lord directs his friendship aright;

For as he is, so is his neighbor also.

18 My son, gather instruction from your youth up:

And even to hoar hairs you shall find wisdom.

19 Come to her as one that plows and sows,

And wait for her good fruits;

For your toil shall be little in the tillage of her,

And you shall eat of her fruits right soon.

20 How exceeding harsh is she to the unlearned!

And he that is without understanding will not abide in her.

21 As a mighty stone of trial shall she rest upon him;

And he will not delay to cast her from him.

22 For wisdom is according to her name; and she is not manifest to many.

23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgement,

And refuse not my counsel,

24 And bring your feet into her fetters,

And your neck into her chain.

25 Put your shoulder under her, and bear her,

And be not grieved with her bonds.

26 Come to her with all your soul,

And keep her ways with your whole power.

27 Search, and seek, and she shall be made known to you;

And when you have got hold of her, let her not go.

28 For at the last you shall find her rest;

Andshe shall be turned for you into gladness.

29 And her fetters shall be to you for a covering of strength,

And her chains for a robe of glory.

30 For there is a golden ornament upon her,

And her bands area riband of blue.

31 You shall put her onasa robe of glory,

And shall array you with herasa crown of rejoicing.

32 My son, if you will, you shall be instructed;

And if you will yield your soul, you shall beprudent.

33 If you love to hear, you shall receive;

And if you incline your ear, you shall be wise.

34 Stand you in the multitude of the elders;

And whoso is wise, cleave you to him.

35 Be willing to listen to every godly discourse;

And let not the proverbs of understanding escape you.

36 If you see a man of understanding, get you betimes to him,

And let your foot wear out the steps of his doors.

37 Let your mind dwell upon the ordinances of the Lord,

And meditate continually in his commandments:

He shall establish your heart,

And your desire of wisdom shall be given to you.