Chapter 22

¹The sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will speak of his disgrace. ²The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every one that toucheth him will shake his hands. ³A son ill taught is the confusion of the father: and a foolish daughter shall be to his loss. ⁴A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that confoundeth, becometh a disgrace to her father. ⁵She that is bold shameth both her father and husband, and will not be inferior to the ungodly: and shall be disgraced by them both. ⁶A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the stripes and instruction of wisdom are never out of time. ⁷He that teacheth a fool, is like one that glueth a potsherd together. ⁸He that telleth a word to him that heareth not, is like one that waketh a man out of a deep sleep. ⁹He speaketh with one that is asleep, who uttereth wisdom to a fool: and in the end of the discourse he saith: Who is this? ¹⁰Weep for the dead, for his light hath failed: and weep for the fool, for his understanding faileth. ¹¹Weep but a little for the dead, for he is at rest. ¹²For the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death. ¹³The mourning for the dead is seven days: but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of their life. ¹⁴Talk not much with a fool, and go not with him that hath no sense. ¹⁵Keep thyself from him, that thou mayst not have trouble, and thou shalt not be defiled with his sin. ¹⁶Turn away from him, and thou shalt find rest, and shalt not be wearied out with his folly. ¹⁷What is heavier than lead? and what other name hath he but fool? ¹⁸Sand and salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear, than a man without sense, that is both foolish and wicked. ¹⁹A frame of wood bound together in the foundation of a building, shall not be loosed: so neither shall the heart that is established by advised counsel. ²⁰The thought of him that is wise at all times, shall not be depraved by fear. ²¹As pales set in high places, and plasterings made without cost, will not stand against the face of the wind: ²²So also a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool shall not resist against the violence of fear. ²³As a fearful heart in the thought of a fool at all times will not fear, so neither shall he that continueth always in the commandments of God. ²⁴He that pricketh the eye, bringeth out tears: and he that pricketh the heart, bringeth forth resentment. ²⁵He that flingeth a stone at birds, shall drive them away: so he that upbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship. ²⁶Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not: for there may be a returning. To a friend, ²⁷If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and pride, and disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for in all these cases a friend will flee away. ²⁸Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his prosperity also thou mayst rejoice. ²⁹In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that thou mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance. ³⁰As the vapour of a chimney, and the smoke of the fire goeth up before the fire: so also injurious words, and reproaches, and threats, before blood. ³¹I will not be ashamed to salute a friend, neither will I hide myself from his face: and if any evil happen to me by him, I will bear it. ³²But every one that shall hear it, will beware of him. ³³Who will set a guard before my mouth, and a sure seal upon my lips, that I fall not by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?