XVIII. He that liveth for ever acreated all things in general.

2  The Lord only is righteous,

And bthere is none other but he,

3  Who governeth the world cwith the palm of his hand,

And dall things obey his will:

For he is the King of all, by his power

eDividing holy things among them from profane.

4  fTo whom hath he given power to declare his works?

And gwho shall find out his hnoble acts?

5  Who shall number the strength of his imajesty?

And who shall also tell out his imercies?

6  As for the wondrous works of the Lord, jthere may nothing be taken from them,

Neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out.

7  When a man hath done, then he beginneth;

And when he leaveth off, then he shall be kdoubtful.

8  What is man, and whereto serveth he?

What is his good, and what is his evil?

9  lThe number of a man’s days at the most are an hundred years.

10  mAs a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravel stone in comparison of the sand;

So are na thousand years to the days of eternity.

11  Therefore is God opatient with them,

And poureth forth his mercy upon them.

12  He saw and perceived their pend to be evil;

qTherefore he multiplied his compassion.

13  The mercy of man is toward his neighbour;

But rthe mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh:

He reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth,

And bringeth again, sas a shepherd his flock.

14  He hath mercy on them that receive discipline,

And that diligently seek after his judgments.

15  tMy son, blemish not thy good deeds,

Neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing.

16  Shall not the udew asswage the heat?

So is a word better than a gift.

17  Lo, is not a word better than a gift?

But both are with a xgracious man.

18  A fool will upbraid churlishly,

And ta gift of the envious consumeth the eyes.

19  Learn before thou speak,

And use physick or ever thou be sick.

20  yBefore judgment examine thyself,

And in the day of zvisitation thou shalt find mercy.

21  aHumble thyself before thou be sick,

And in the time of sins shew repentance.

22  bLet nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time,

And defer not until death to be justified.

23  cBefore thou prayest, prepare thyself;

And be not as one that tempteth the Lord.

24  dThink upon the wrath ethat shall be at the end,

And the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.

25  fWhen thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger:

And when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need.

26  From the morning until the evening the time is changed,

And all things are soon done before the Lord.

27  gA wise man will fear in every thing,

And in the day of sinning he will beware of offence:

But a fool will not observe time.

28  Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom,

And will give praise unto him that found her.

29  They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves,

And hpoured forth iexquisite parables.

30  jGo not after thy lusts,

But refrain thyself from thine kappetites.

31  If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her,

She will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.

32  Take not pleasure in much good cheer,

Neither be tied to the expence thereof.

33  Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing,

When thou hast nothing in thy purse:

For thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on.