Chapter 19

¹Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee. ¹¹At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman groaning. in the bringing forth a child. ¹²As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word in the heart of a fool. ¹³Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say : f did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more. ¹⁴Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again. ¹⁵Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed. ¹⁶And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the tongue, but not from his heart. ¹⁷For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him. ¹⁸And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the law is in all wisdom. ¹⁹But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of sinners is not prudence. ²⁰There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom. ²¹Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High. ²²There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust. ²³And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit: ²⁴And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown: ²⁵And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it. ²⁶A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest him, is known by his countenance. ²⁷The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man, shew what he is. ²⁸There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise.