Proverbs 21:22–24

¹⁹Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

^19*Wisedome strengtheneth the wise, more then ten mightie men which are in the citie.

⁵A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

^5††A wise man is strong, yea a man of knowledge encreaseth strength.

¹³¶ This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

¹⁴There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

¹⁵Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

¹⁶Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

¹⁷The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

¹⁸Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

¹³¶ This wisedome haue I seene also vnder the Sunne, and it seemed great vnto me:

¹⁴ There was a little citie, and few men within it; and there came a great King against it, and besieged it, & built great bulwarks against it:

¹⁵Now there was found in it a poore wise man, and hee by his wisedome deliuered the citie; yet no man remembred that same poore man.

^16*Then said I, Wisedome is better then strength: neuerthelesse, the poore mans wisedome is despised, and his words are not heard.

¹⁷The words of wise men are heard in quiet, more then the cry of him that ruleth among fooles.

¹⁸Wisedome is better then weapons of warre: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

¹⁶¶ Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

¹⁷And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

¹⁸Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

¹⁹I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?

²⁰And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

²¹The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

²²Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

¹⁶¶ Then cried a wise woman out of the citie, Heare, heare; say, I pray you, vnto Ioab, Come neere hither, that I may speake with thee.

¹⁷And when he was come neere vnto her, the woman said, Art thou Ioab? And he answered, I am he: Then shee said vnto him, Heare the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I doe heare.

¹⁸Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speake in old time, saying, ^‖They shall surely aske counsell at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

¹⁹I am one of them that are peaceable and faithfull in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: Why wilt thou swallow vp the inheritance of the LORD?

²⁰And Ioab answered and saide, Farre be it, farre be it from me, that I should swallow vp or destroy.

²¹The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim (Sheba the sonne of Bichri ^†by name) hath lift vp his hand against the king, euen against Dauid: deliuer him onely, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said vnto Ioab, Behold, his head shall be throwen to thee ouer the wall.

²²Then the woman went vnto all the people in her wisedome, and they cut off the head of Sheba the sonne of Bichri, and cast it out to Ioab: and hee blew a trumpet, and they ^†retired from the citie, euery man to his tent: & Ioab returned to Ierusalem vnto the king.

⁶¶ And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

⁷Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

⁸And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

⁹So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

⁶¶ And the king and his men went to Ierusalem, vnto the Iebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake vnto Dauid, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: ^‖Thinking, Dauid cannot come in hither.

⁷Neuerthelesse, Dauid tooke the strong hold of Zion: the same is the citie of Dauid.

⁸And Dauid said on that day, Whosoeuer getteth vp to the gutter, and smiteth the Iebusites, and the lame, and the blind, that are hated of Dauids soule, ^*he shall be chiefe and captaine: ^‖Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

⁹So Dauid dwelt in the fort, and called it the citie of Dauid, and Dauid built round about, from Millo and inward.

³He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

³He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life: but hee that openeth wide his lips, shall haue destruction.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that loue it shall eate the fruite thereof.

²⁷He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

^27*‖He that hath knowledge, spareth his words: and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.

^28*Euen a foole, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips, is esteemed a man of vnderstanding.

²⁶If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

²⁶If any man among you seeme to be religious, & bridleth not his tongue, but deceiueth his owne heart, this mans religion is vaine.

¹³The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

^13†*The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lippes: but the iust shall come out of trouble.

¹⁹In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

¹⁹In the multitude of words there wanteth not sinne: but he that refraineth his lippes, is wise.

²For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

³Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

⁴Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

⁷For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

²For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

³Behold, we put bittes in the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about their whole body.

⁴Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driuen of fierce windes, yet are they turned about with a very small helme, whithersoeuer the gouernour listeth.

⁵Euen so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things: behold, how great ^‖a matter a litle fire kindleth.

⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquitie: so is the tongue amongst our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.

⁷For euery ^†kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of ^†mankind.

⁸But the tongue can no man tame, it is an vnruly euill, ful of deadly poyson.

⁹Therewith blesse wee God, euen the Father: and therewith curse wee men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing: my brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹Doeth a fountaine send foorth at the same ^‖place sweet water and bitter?

¹²Can y ^e figtree, my brethren, beare oliue berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountaine both yeeld salt water & fresh.

¹³Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge amongst you? let him shew out of a good conuersation his workes with meekenes of wisedome.

¹BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

¹¶ Blessed ^* is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the ^‖vngodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornefull.

⁸Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

⁹Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

⁸Better is the ende of a thing then the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better then the proude in spirit.

^9*Be not hastie in thy spirit to bee angry: for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.

¹⁶¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

¹⁶¶ Then Herode, when hee saw that hee was mocked of the Wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent foorth, and slewe all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two yeeres olde and vnder, according to the time, which he had diligently enquired of the Wise men.

²²How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

²²How long, ye simple ones, will ye loue simplicitie? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fooles hate knowledge?

¹²Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

^12*Before destruction the heart of man is haughtie, and before honour is humilitie.

²⁹Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

²⁹Iudgements are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the backe of fooles.

⁵And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

⁶And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

⁵And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reuerence, then was Haman full of wrath.

⁶And hee thought scorne to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Iewes, that were throughout the whole kingdome of Ahasuerus, euen the people of Mordecai.

⁶¶ We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.

⁶¶ ^*We haue heard of the pride of Moab (hee is very proud) euen of his hautines, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.

²⁹We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.

^29*We haue heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftinesse and his arrogancie, and his pride, and the hautinesse of his heart.

¹⁸Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

^18*Pride goeth before destruction: and an hautie spirit before a fall.

¹⁷A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

^17†A proude looke, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood: