CHAP. XXV.
1 Ofthre things which please God, and of thre which he hateth. 7 Of nine things that be not to be suspect. 15 Of the malice of a woman.
1 THre things reioyce me, and by them am I beautified before God & men: * the vni* 1.1 tie of brethren, the loue of neighbours, a mā* 1.2 and wife that agre together.
2 ¶ Thre sortes of men my soule hateth, and I vtterly abhorre the life of them: a poore mā that is proude: a riche man that is alier, and an olde adulterer that doteth.
3 ¶ If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth what canst thou finde in thine age?
4 ¶ Oh, how pleasant a thing is it whē graie hea ded men minister iudgement, and when the elders can giue good 〈◊〉〈◊〉
5 Oh, how comelie a thing is wisdome vnto aged men, vnderstanding and prudencie to men of honour!
6 The crowne of olde mē is to haue muche ex perience, and the feare of God is their glorie
7 ¶ There be nine things, which I haue iud∣ged in mine heart to be happie, and the tēth wil I pronounce with my tongue: a man that while he liueth, hathe ioye of his children, & seeth the fall of his enemies.
8 ¶ Wel is him that dwelleth with a wife of vn derstanding, * and that hathe not fallen with* 1.3 his tongue, and that hathe not serued suche* 1.4 as are vn worthie of him.
9 Wel is him that findeth prudencie, and he that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 speake in the eares of them that wil heare.
10 ¶ Oh, how great is he that findeth wisdo∣me yet is there none aboue him, that feareth the Lord.
11 The feare of the Lord passeth all things in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
12 (Blessed is the man, vnto whome it is gran∣ted to haue the feare of God.) Vnto whome shal he be likened that hathe atteined it?
13 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of his loue, and faith is the beginning to be ioy∣ned vnto him.
14 (¶ The greatest heauines is the heauines of the heart, and the greatest malice is the ma∣lice of a woman.)
15 Giue me any plague, saue onely the plague of the heart, and any malice, saue the malice of a woman:
16 Or any 〈◊〉〈◊〉, saue the assalt of them that hate or any vengeance, saue the vengeance of the enemie.
17 There is not a more wicked head then the head of the serpent, and there is no wrath a∣boue the wrath of an“ 1.5 enemie.
18 * I had rather dwell with a lion and dragon,* 1.6 then to kepe house with a wicked wife.
19 The wickednes of a woman changeth her face, and maketh her countenance blacke as“ 1.7 a sacke.
20 Her housband is sitting among his neigh∣bours: because of her he sigheth sore or he beware.
21 All wickednes is but litle to the wickednes of a woman: let the porcion of the sinner fall vpon her.
22 As the climing vp of a sandie way is to the fete of the aged, so is a wife ful of wordes to a quiet man.
23 *Stumble not at the beautie of a woman, and* 1.8 desire her not for thy pleasure.* 1.9
24 If a woman nourish housband, she is angrie and impudent and ful of reproche.
25 A wicked wife maketh a sorie heart, an hea∣uie countenance, and a wounded minde, wea ke hands and feble knees, and can not com∣fort her husband in heauines.
26 Of the * woman came the beginning of sin∣ne,* 1.10 and thorow her we all dye.* 1.11
27 Giue the water no passage, (no not alitle,) nether giue a wicked woman libertie to go out.
28 If she walke not in thine obedience, (she shal confound thee in the sight of thine ene mies.) Cut her of then from thy flesh:a 1.12 Giue her, and forsake her.