_The tongue of the Wise distils knowledge, But the mouth of fools poureth out folly_ (Pr. 15^{2}). _A fool’s mouth is his destruction, His lips are the snare of his soul_ (Pr. 18^{7}). _A fool’s vexation is instantly known, But a prudent man ignores an affront_ (Pr. 12^{16}). How true! Most normal persons have acquired the power to delay or suppress the answer that rises to the lips in anger, but which of us would not confess that it was hard to learn this wisdom and that it is never easy to observe its teaching? The temptation to blurt out all our thought in time of trouble or vexation is always with us. In the hot-tempered East restraint was even more necessary than it is amongst ourselves, and one is therefore not surprised to find the absence of this virtue receiving the same fearsome condemnation as self-confidence: _Seest thou a man that is hasty of speech? There is more hope of a fool than of him_ (Pr. 29^{20}). Next, a group of proverbs concerning certain persons who to their own great surprise have missed success in society. The list may begin with a character one scarcely expects to meet in Scripture: THE PRACTICAL JOKER _As a madman that casteth firebrands, arrows and death, So is he who deceives his neighbour and cries, “I was only in jest”_ (Pr. 26^{18, 19}). Then some advice to THE BOOR IN SOCIETY[55] _When thou sittest to eat with a ruler Bear in mind his lordship’s presence; And if thou be a hearty eater, Put a knife to thy throat_ (Pr. 23^{1-3}). And, thirdly, in two proverbs, THE INOPPORTUNE MAN _As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, And as vinegar upon a wound; So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart_ (Pr. 25^{20})[56]. _He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning; It shall be counted a curse unto him_ (Pr. 27^{14}). The last saying prompts the thought that Mr. E. V. Lucas is also among the Sages, for has he not given it as his opinion that “early rising leads to self-conceit, intolerance, and dulness after dinner”? “The old poet,” says he, “was right-- ‘When the morning riseth red Rise not thou but keep thy Bed; When the Dawn is dull and gray Sleep is still the better way: Beasts are up betimes, but then They are beasts and we are men.’” The last of the social failures is the Flatterer, oily and ingratiating, but treacherous and in the end exposed: THE FLATTERER _The words of a flatterer are like dainty morsels Going down to the innermost parts of the body_ (Pr. 18^{8}). _A man that flattereth his neighbour Spreadeth a net for his feet_ (Pr. 29^{5}; cp. 26^{28}). _He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favour Than he that flattereth with the tongue_ (Pr. 28^{23}).