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way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the
sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
20
Such
is
the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and
wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21
For three
things
the earth is disquieted,
and for four
which
it cannot bear:
22
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled
with meat;
23
For an odious
woman
when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24
There be four
things which are
little upon the earth, but they
are
exceeding wise:
25
The ants
are
a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26
The conies
are but
a feeble folk,
yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them
by bands;
28
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
29
There be three
things
which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
30
A lion
which is
strongest among beasts, and turneth
not away for any;
31
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom
there is
no rising up.
32
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil,
lay
thine hand upon
thy mouth.
33
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth
forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
CHAPTER 31
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2
What, my son? and what,
the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy
ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4
It is
not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is
not for kings to drink wine;
nor for princes strong drink:
5
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any
of the afflicted.
6
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of
heavy hearts.
7
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8
Open
thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9
Open thy mouth,
judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price
is
far above rubies.
11
The heart of her husband
doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12
She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
13
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14
She
is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15
She riseth also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16
She considereth a field, and
buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17
She girdeth her loins with strength,
and strengtheneth her arms.
18
She perceiveth that her merchandise
is
good: her candle goeth not
out by night.
19
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20
She stretcheth
out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of the
snow for her household: for all her household
are
clothed with scarlet.
22
She maketh herself
coverings of tapestry; her clothing
is
silk and purple.
23
Her husband is known in the gates, when
he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24
She maketh fine linen, and selleth
it;
and delivereth girdles
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