21 The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame.
22 Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man's house.
23 Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.
24 For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.
25 Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words:
26 Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready.
27 Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.
28 These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.
CHAP. XXX.
1 He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.
2 He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance.
3 He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he shall rejoice of him.
4 Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.
5 While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he was not sorrowful.
6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends.
7 He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.
8 An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful.
9 Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.
10 Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end.
11 Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.
12 Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart.
13 Chastise thy son, and hold him to labour, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence unto thee.
14 Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that is afflicted in his body.
15 Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth.
16 There is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart.
17 Death is better than a bitter life or continual sickness.
18 Delicates poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of meat set upon a grave.
19 What good doeth the offering unto an idol? for neither can it eat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord.
20 He seeth with his eyes and groaneth, as an eunuch that embraceth a virgin and sigheth.
21 Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel.
22 The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days.
23 Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein.
24 Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age before the time.
25 A cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and diet.
CHAP. XXXI.
1 Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep.
2 Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep,
3 The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicates.
4 The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.
5 He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof.
6 Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.
7 It is a stumblingblock unto them that
