Chapter 16

Man’s heart is ever full of devising; from the Lord comes the ordering of right speech.

His own path man scans, and nothing sees amiss, but the divine balance weighs our thoughts;

share with the Lord the burden of all thy doings, if thou wouldst be sincere in thy intent.

God, who made all, made all for his own purposes, even the godless man, with doom awaiting him.

A proud man the Lord holds in abhorrence; depend upon it, no acquittal shall he find. (To do right, that is the first step on the way of blessedness, a more welcome thing in God’s sight than any sacrifice a man can offer.2)

Kindness and honour are sin’s purging; ever it is the fear of the Lord turns men away from harm.

Live as the Lord would have thee live, and he will make even thy enemies into well-wishers.

Better a penny honestly come by than great revenues ill gotten.

Heart of man must plan his course, but his steps will fall as the Lord guides them.

Speaks king, speaks oracle; never a word amiss.

Scale and balance are emblems of the Lord’s own justice; no weight in the merchant’s wallet but is of divine fashioning.

Wrong-doing the king will not abide; on right his own throne rests.

Kings are for honest talk; free-spoken is well loved.

The king’s frown is death at thy door; wisdom will appease it;

his smile is life; not more welcome the spring rains, than royal favour.

Not of gold or silver be thy hoard; make wisdom thine, discernment thine, more precious than these.

The just man travels by the high road, safe from harm, watching his path anxiously, as he values his life.

Presumption comes first, and ruin close behind it; pride ever goes before a fall.

Better a humble lot among peaceful folk, than all the spoil a tyrant’s friendship can bring thee.

Well versed in doctrine, happiness thou shalt win; trust in the Lord, and find a blessing.

Good judgement a wise heart can claim; winning words bring greater prizes yet.

The prudent man drinks from a living fountain; fools only learn the lessons of their folly.

Wisdom distils from heart to mouth, and lends the lips persuasion.

Honey itself cannot vie with well-framed words, for heart’s comfort and body’s refreshment.

The right road in a man’s thinking may be one whose goal is death.

No better friend drudgery has than appetite; hunger drives a man to his task.

Ever the godless man digs a well of mischief, ever his lips are aflame.

His the scheming that breeds quarrels, the whispering that divides his clan,

the love of wrong that misleads his neighbours and carries them off into evil ways;

spell-bound with dreams of treachery, he shuts his lips tight and goes about his false errand.

No prize so honourable as old age, and it is won by innocence of life.

Patience is worth more than valour; better a disciplined heart than a stormed city.

Into the lap’s fold the lot falls haphazard, but the Lord rules the issue.