Gold and silver will make the foot stand sure; and counsel is esteemed above them both. Riches and strength will lift up the heart; and the fear of the Lord is above both; there is nothing wanting in the fear of the Lord, and there is no need to seek help therein. The fear of the Lord is as a garden of blessing, and covereth a man above all glory. * * * * * My son, lead not a beggar’s life; better it is to die than to beg. A man that looketh unto the table of another, his life is not to be counted for a life; he will pollute his soul with another man’s meats: but a man wise and well-instructed will beware thereof. In the mouth of the shameless begging will be sweet; and in his belly a fire shall be kindled. =41= O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that is at peace in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to distract him, and hath prosperity in all things, and that still hath strength to receive meat! O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto a man that is needy, and that faileth in strength, that is in extreme old age, and is distracted about all things, and is perverse, and hath lost patience! Fear not the sentence of death; remember them that have been before thee, and that come after: this is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh. And why dost thou refuse, when it is the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether it be ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, there is no inquisition of life in the grave. * * * * * The children of sinners are abominable children, and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly. The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish, and with their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach. Children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake. Woe unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the Most High God! If ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse; if ye die, a curse shall be your portion. All things that are of the earth shall go back to the earth: so the ungodly shall go from a curse unto perdition. The mourning of men is about their bodies: but the name of sinners being evil shall be blotted out. Have regard to thy name; for it continueth with thee longer than a thousand great treasures of gold. A good life hath its number of days; and a good name continueth for ever. * * * * * =42= Of these things be not ashamed, and accept no man’s person to sin thereby: Of the law of the Most High, and his covenant; and of judgement to do justice to the ungodly; Of reckoning with a partner and with travellers; and of a gift from the heritage of friends; Of exactness of balance and weights; and of getting much or little; Of indifferent selling of merchants; and of much correction of children; and of making the side of an evil servant to bleed. Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and where many hands are, shut thou close.