Proverbs 31:4–8

¹WINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

¹¶ Wine is a mocker, strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.

¹⁷Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁷Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the sonne of nobles, and thy princes eate in due season, for strength, and not for drunkennesse.

²²Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

²²Woe vnto them that are mightie to drinke wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drinke.

¹¹Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

¹²¶ My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

¹¹Whoredome, and wine, and newe wine take away the heart.

¹²¶ My people aske counsel at their stocks, and their staffe declareth vnto them: for the spirit of whordomes hath caused them to erre, and they haue gone a whoring from vnder their God.

¹⁶And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

¹⁷And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

¹⁸And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

¹⁹So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

²⁰And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.

¹⁶And they went out at noone: But Benhadad was drinking himselfe drunke in the pauilions, hee and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

¹⁷And the young men of the Princes of the Prouinces went out first, and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

¹⁸And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they be come out for warre, take them aliue.

¹⁹So these yong men of the princes of the prouinces, came out of the citie, and the armie which followed them:

²⁰And they slew euery one his man: and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse, with the horsemen.

⁵¶ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

⁵¶ ^‖Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth vnto him all nations, & heapeth vnto him all people:

²Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

³Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

⁴They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

^2†Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commaunded to bring the golden and siluer vessels, which his father Nebuchad-nezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Ierusalem, that the king and his princes, his wiues, and his concubines might drinke therein.

³Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God, which was at Ierusalem, and the king and his princes, his wiues, and his concubines dranke in them.

⁴They drunke wine, and praised the gods of gold and of siluer, of brasse, of yron, of wood, and of stone.

¹⁵The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

¹⁵The postes went out, being hastened by the kings commandement, and the decree was giuen in Shushan the palace: and the king and Haman sate downe to drinke, but the citie Shushan was perplexed.

³They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

⁴They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

⁵In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

³They make the king glad with their wickednesse, and the princes with their lies.

^4‖‖They are al adulterers, as an ouen heated by the baker: who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, vntill it be leauened.

^5‖In the day of our King, the princes haue made him sicke with bottels of wine, he stretched out his hand with scorners.

⁷¶ But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

⁸For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

⁷¶ But they also haue erred through wine, and through strong drinke are out of the way: the priest and the prophet haue erred through strong drinke, they are swallowed vp of wine: they are out of the way through strong drinke, they erre in vision, they stumble in iudgement.

⁸For all tables are full of vomite and filthinesse, so that there is no place cleane.

⁹Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

¹⁰And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

⁹Doe not drinke wine nor strong drinke, thou, nor thy sonnes with thee, when ye goe into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, lest yee die: It shall bee a statute for euer, throughout your generations:

¹⁰And that ye may put difference betweene holy and vnholy, and betweene vncleane and cleane:

²¹And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

²²And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

²³And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

²⁴And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

²⁵And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

²⁶And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

²⁷And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

²⁸And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

²¹And when a conuenient day was come, that Herod on his birth day made a supper to his lords, high captaines, and chiefe estates of Galilee:

²²And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod, and them that sate with him, the king said vnto the damosell, Aske of me whatsoeuer thou wilt, and I will giue it thee.

²³And he sware vnto her, Whatsoeuer thou shalt aske of me, I will giue it thee, vnto the halfe of my kingdome.

²⁴And she went forth, and said vnto her mother, What shall I aske? And she said, The head of Iohn y ^e Baptist.

²⁵And she came in straightway with haste, vnto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou giue me by and by in a charger, the head of Iohn the Baptist.

²⁶And the king was exceeding sory, yet for his othes sake, and for their sakes which sate with him, hee would not reiect her.

²⁷And immediatly the king sent ^‖an executioner, and commaunded his head to be brought, and he went, and beheaded him in the prison,

²⁸And brought his head in a charger, and gaue it to the damosell, and the damosell gaue it to her mother.

¹²And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

¹²And it came to passe, when Benhadad heard this ^†message (as hee was drinking, he and the kings in the ^‖pauilions) that hee said vnto his seruants, ^‖Set yourselues in aray. And they set themselues in aray against the citie.

⁵¶ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

⁵¶ ^‖Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth vnto him all nations, & heapeth vnto him all people:

²³Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

²³Drinke no longer water, but vse a little wine for thy stomackes sake, and thine often infirmities.

¹⁵And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

^15†And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oile to make his face to shine: and bread which strengtheneth mans heart.

¹⁰And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

¹⁰And shee was ^†in bitternesse of soule, and prayed vnto the LORD, and wept sore.

⁶And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

⁶And Dauid was greatly distressed: for the people spake of stoning him, because the soule of all the people was ^†grieued, euery man for his sonnes, and for his daughters: but Dauid encouraged himselfe in the LORD his God.

²⁷And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

²⁷And when shee came to the man of God to the hill, shee caught ^†him by the feet: but Gehazi came neere to thrust her away. And the man of God saide, Let her alone, for her soule is ^†vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

¹³The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

¹³The blessing of him that was readie to perish, came vpon me: and I caused the widowes heart to sing for ioy.

²⁰Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

²⁰Wherefore is light giuen to him that is in misery, and life vnto the bitter in soule?

¹⁸And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

¹⁸And bee not drunke with wine, wherein is excesse: but bee filled with the Spirit:

³Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

⁴Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

^3†Defend the poore and fatherlesse: doe iustice to the afflicted and needie.

^4*Deliuer the poore and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

¹¹If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

¹²If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

^11*If thou forbeare to deliuer them that are drawen vnto death, and those that are ready to be slaine:

^12*If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not: doth not he that pondereth the heart, consider it? and he that keepeth thy soule, doth not he know it? and shall not hee render to euery man according to his workes?

¹³Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

¹⁴For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

¹⁵¶ Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

¹⁶Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

¹³Then Mordecai commanded to answere Esther; Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the kings house, more then all the Iewes.

¹⁴For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there ^†enlargement and deliuerance arise to the Iewes from another place, but thou and thy fathers house shall be destroyed: And who knoweth, whether thou art come to the kingdome for such a time as this?

¹⁵¶ Then Esther bade them returne Mordecai this answere:

¹⁶Goe, gather together all the Iewes that are ^†present in Shushan, and fast yee for me, and neither eate nor drinke three dayes, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so will I goe in vnto the king, which is not according to the Law, and if I perish, I perish.

²⁴Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

²⁴Neuerthelesse, the hand of Ahikam, the sonne of Shaphan, was with Ieremiah, that they should not giue him into the hand of the people, to put him to death.

⁷¶ Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

⁸Ebed-melech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,

⁹My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.

¹⁰Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

⁷¶ Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of y ^e eunuches which was in the kings house, heard that they had put Ieremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Beniamin)

⁸Ebed-melech went foorth out of the kings house, and spake to the king, saying,

^9†My lord the king, these men haue done euill in all that they haue done to Ieremiah the Prophet, whom they haue cast into the dungeon, and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is, for there is no more bread in the city.

^10†Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirtie men with thee, and take vp Ieremiah the Prophet out of the dungeon before he die.

¹²Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

¹³The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

¹⁴I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

¹⁵I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

¹⁶I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

¹⁷And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

¹²Because I deliuered the poore that cried, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.

¹³The blessing of him that was readie to perish, came vpon me: and I caused the widowes heart to sing for ioy.

¹⁴I put on righteousnesse, and it clothed me: my iudgement was as a robe and a diademe.

¹⁵I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

¹⁶I was a father to the poore: and the cause which I knewe not, I searched out.

¹⁷And I brake the ^†iawes of the wicked, and ^†pluckt the spoile out of his teeth.

¹⁶¶ Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.

¹⁷Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,

¹⁸Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

¹⁹Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

¹⁶¶ Then said the Princes, and all the people, vnto the priests, and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for hee hath spoken to vs in the Name of the LORD our God.

¹⁷Then rose vp certaine of the Elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying;

^18*Micah the Morashite prophecied in the dayes of Hezekiah king of Iudah, and spake to all the people of Iudah, saying; Thus saith the LORD of hostes, Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Ierusalem shall become heapes, and the mountaine of the house, the hie places of a forrest.

^19†Did Hezekiah King of Iudah and all Iudah put him at all to death? did hee not feare the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the euill which he had pronounced against them? thus might wee procure great euill against our soules.

⁵¹Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

^51*Doth our Law iudge any man before it heare him, & know what he doth?

¹¹Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

^11††Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee, according to the greatnesse of thy power: preserue thou those that are appointed to die.

⁴¶ And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

⁵For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

⁶And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain.

⁷And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

⁴¶ And Ionathan spake good of Dauid vnto Saul his father, and said vnto him, Let not the King sinne against his seruant, against Dauid: because hee hath not sinned against thee, and because his workes haue bene to thee ward very good.

⁵For he did put his ^*life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, & the LORD wrought a great saluation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst reioyce: Wherefore then wilt thou sinne against innocent blood, to slay Dauid without a cause?

⁶And Saul hearkened vnto the voyce of Ionathan; and Saul sware, As the LORD liueth, he shall not be slaine.

⁷And Ionathan called Dauid, and Ionathan shewed him all those things: and Ionathan brought Dauid to Saul, and he was in his presence, as ^†in times past.

³²And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

³²And Ionathan answered Saul his father, and said vnto him, Wherefore shall hee be slaine? what hath hee done?

¹⁴Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

¹⁵Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

¹⁴Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithfull among all thy seruants, as Dauid, which is the kings sonne in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

¹⁵Did I then beginne to enquire of God for him? be it farre from mee: let not the king impute any thing vnto his seruant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy seruant knew nothing of all this, ^†lesse or more.

⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

⁷Wisedome is too high for a foole: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

⁹The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

⁹The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.