POSTSCRIPT

THESE ALSO ARE SAYINGS OF THE WISE

xxxiv

Respect of Persons

An Epigram

To have respect of persons in judgement is not good. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him. But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.

He kisseth the lips

That giveth a right answer.

xxxvi

Prepare thy work without,

And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thine house.

xxxvii

An Epigram

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause;

And deceive not with thy lips;

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me,
I will render to the man according to his work.

xxxviii

The Field of the Slothful

A Sonnet

I went by the field of the Slothful,

And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,

The face thereof was covered with nettles,
And the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Then I beheld,

And considered well:

I saw,

And received instruction.

"Yet a little sleep,

A little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep" So shall thy poverty come as a robber; And thy want as an armed man.

122

BOOK IV

PROVERBS OF SOLOMON

COPIED OUT BY THE MEN OF

HEZEKIAH, KING OF JUDAH