The proverbialists had been close observers of human nature, and of the ways of the world. "Hell and destruction are never full, so the eyes of a man are never satisfied." "A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry; but money answereth all things." "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." These wise men had seen much to justify the sharp arrows they shot at those "who crook the pregnant hinges of the knee where thrift may follow fawning." "The poor is hated even of his own neighbor, but the rich hath many friends." "Many will entreat the favor of a prince, and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts." "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." There is an incident in the second Book of Kings, that exemplifies, with touches of humor, the truth of these proverbs. "And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, (king of Israel,) for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and _brought no present to the king of Assyria_, as he had done year by year." The king of Assyria is greatly shocked at this sign of disrespect. His feelings are outraged and wounded at receiving no present. It is suspicious, very suspicious! Let this Hoshea be looked to. The man who fails to bring the usual present is fit for "treasons, stratagems and spoils." There is no telling what evil he may be plotting. Surely there is "conspiracy in him." "Therefore, the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison." Solomon was right--"A man's gift bringeth him before great men," but the absence of it bringeth him into prison as a traitor! _6. Miscellaneous._ Many other examples of wit and wisdom might be given. Let us add a few miscellaneous ones. Solomon advises against making long calls. Busy men would do well to hang this motto up in their offices: "Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house, lest he weary of thee and so hate thee." In Solomon's wide and varied experiences, there had evidently been occasional encounters with "bores." It may sometimes be well to present a stern front to the slanderer: "The North wind driveth away rain, so doth an angry countenance a back-biting tongue." Excellent advice this for those who indorse other people's notes: "Be not one of them that strike hands, or one of them that are sureties for debts; if thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?" "He that hateth suretyship is sure."