_By His mighty power Jehovah maketh strong the clouds, And the hailstones are broken small: At His appearing the mountains shake, And at His will the south wind rages, And the northern storm and the whirlwind; The voice of His thunder maketh the earth to travail. Like birds flying down He sprinkleth the snow, And as the lighting of the locust is the falling down thereof: The eye will marvel at its white loveliness, The heart be astonished at the raining of it. So also the hoar-frost He spreads on the earth as salt, And maketh the shrubs to gleam like sapphires_ (E. 43^{15-19}).[110] Some of the simplest allusions to natural phenomena are among the most memorable of these “Nature” proverbs perhaps because it happens that the clear and simple image from the world without is linked to some equally clear and simple, yet poignant, experience of human life:-- _As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country_ (Pr. 25^{25}). _As in water face answereth to face, So answereth the heart of man to man_ (Pr. 27^{19}). _As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not_ (Pr. 26^{2}). _Dreams give wings to fools_ (E. 34^{1}). _The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, Shining more and more unto the perfect day_ (Pr. 4^{18}). CHAPTER XIV Humour in the Proverbs Discretion counsels the suppression of this chapter. Justice insists that it shall be written, for the Hebrews, on the evidence of the Scriptures, have been accused of lacking humour; a much more serious offence than being inartistic. Humour, divine gift, is no merely ornamental or superfluous quality we can easily afford to do without, but is the active antagonist of many deadly sins. From inordinate ambitions and peacock vanity humour is a strong deliverer. If only Germany could have laughed at herself now and then these past thirty years! Of course the mere fact that the accusation has been levelled against the Hebrews is nothing serious, for the same charge has actually been made against the Scotch; but whilst the Scot is well able to take care of his own reputation, few have been concerned to defend the Hebrew on this score.