Great Throughts Treasury

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise."

"Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him."

"There is no wealth greater than the health of the body, there is no joy greater than the joy of the heart... A cheerful heart causes man's life to blossom, while the spirit of sadness dries the bones. Never rejoice at other people's misfortunes, for you cannot know when adversity may come to you."

"Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor."

"A contentious woman is the nagging, overbearing creature that humanity dreads. She complains, corrects, criticizes, reminds, and suggests until you go crazy or withdraw for your own sanity. A husband with such a wife is cursed. He is better off living alone in the wilderness than in a fine house with her."

"A faithful woman can be trusted in all things. She is sexually faithful, domestically diligent, financially prudent, and so forth. Her husband can be confident in her at all times, knowing she will always do what is right and profitable for him and the family. He need never fear a broken heart or dried spirit because of her."

"A foolish woman is not hard to spot. She makes a lot of noise and knows little. She rejects the rules set by her father or husband. She will flirt and lie to cover her wicked intentions. She hunts innocent men in their normal course of business, and wise ones will stay far away, knowing the consequences."

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."

"A good man leaves an inheritance for his children?s children, but a sinner?s wealth is stored up for the righteous."

"A fool is wise in his eyes."

"A good name is rather to be chosen than riches."

"A gracious woman will blow you away with kindness, warmth, and femininity. She is always respected, for this rare trait sets her apart from all others. Graciousness is the most beautifying trait, yet few can define it, and even fewer have it. This special woman deserves great affection, honor, and protection."

"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance."

"A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth."

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

"A man?s riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat."

"A poor man?s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away."

"A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly."

"A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool."

"A son who gathers in summer is wise, but a son who sleeps during gathering time brings shame."

"A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him."

"A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter."

"A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother."

"A woman's clothing shows her heart and character. A whore dresses like one, and a virtuous woman dresses modestly in the opposite direction. She is never provocative, and her husband can always safely trust her. She knows clothes are to conceal, not reveal, those parts of her body for her husband only."

"A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue."

"Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him. For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill. But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves; shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art. Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should be idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved."

"All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full."

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

"And blessed is the eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought no iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be given the special gift of faith, and an inheritance in the temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind. For glorious is the fruit of good labors: and the root of wisdom shall never fall away. As for the children of adulterers, they shall not come to their perfection, and the seed of an unrighteous bed shall be rooted out. For though they live long, yet shall they be nothing regarded: and their last age shall be without honor. Or, if they die quickly, they have no hope, neither comfort in the day of trial. For horrible is the end of the unrighteous generation."

"And also to the alien, who is not of Thy people Israel, but comes from a distant land on account of Thy fame; for hearing of Thy great name and Thy strong hand, and Thine outstretched arm, he comes to this house to pray... do Thou listen in the heavens, the place where Thou dwellest, and perform all that the alien begs of Thee, so that all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name, to fear Thee like Thine own people Israel, and to know that Thy name is proclaimed over this house that I have built."

"And punishments came upon the sinners not without former signs by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness, insomuch as they used a more hard and hateful behavior toward strangers. For the Sodomites did not receive those, whom they knew not when they came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had well deserved of them. And not only so, but peradventure some respect shall be had of those, because they used strangers not friendly: but these very grievously afflicted them, whom they had received with feastings, and were already made partakers of the same laws with them."

"And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my Lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living."

"And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days."

"And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my Lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"

"And when they had determined to slay the babes of the saints, one child being cast forth, and saved, to reprove them, thou tookest away the multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a mighty water. Of that night were our fathers certified afore, that assuredly knowing unto what oaths they had given credence, they might afterwards be of good cheer. So of thy people was accepted both the salvation of the righteous, and destruction of the enemies. For wherewith thou didst punish our adversaries, by the same thou didst glorify us, whom thou hadst called. For the righteous children of good men did sacrifice secretly, and with one consent made a holy law, that the saints should be like partakers of the same good and evil, the fathers now singing out the songs of praise. But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the enemies, and a lamentable noise was carried abroad for children that were bewailed."

"As for the unGodly, wrath came upon them without mercy unto the end: for he knew before what they would do; how that having given them leave to depart, and sent them hastily away, they would repent and pursue them. For whilst they were yet mourning and making lamentation at the graves of the dead, they added another foolish device, and pursued them as fugitives, whom they had entreated to be gone."

"As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth. Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom. But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people. Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good."

"As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife."

"Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge."

"Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil."

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."

"Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool."

"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a fattened calf with hatred."

"Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse."

"Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse."

"Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord."

"But snow and ice endured the fire, and melted not, that they might know that fire burning in the hail, and sparkling in the rain, did destroy the fruits of the enemies. But this again did even forget his own strength, that the righteous might be nourished. For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker increaseth his strength against the unrighteous for their punishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee. Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to the desire of them that had need: that thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know, that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it is thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee."

"Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men. When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth forever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards. But the multiplying brood of the unGodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation. For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not last, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out. The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing."