Chapter 22

22. The slothful man is compared to a stone, and every one that comes near will hiss at his disgrace, for a stone that is polished out of the ground is as the whole sum of all things, and the slothful is to be cast out with the filth of the earth. He that nourishes a fool shall grieve his soul, and he that keeps an ungodly servant shall be hurt; a heavy stone is sometimes not so heavy as a fool, and the sorrow of a fool is heavier than both, for a lump of sand, or a piece of lead, is lighter than a fool's wrath, and a fool's displeasure is a hot coal. If a friend becomes poor, be not grieved, for there is a helper in time of need, and it is better to weep than to be angry, for anger is more bitter than death. The mind of a fool is like a house without a roof, and in the entrance of a wise man stands the gate of his house, but a foolish man looks into the house through the window, and a wise man will stand at the door. He that is not accustomed to reproof will be angry at every word, and he that is accustomed to it will endure to be spoken against; he that speaks by the water side will be laughed at, and he that talks to a fool will not be able to stop his mouth. When a man takes a garment from a friend, and an injury from his neighbour, he does but half the harm, but if a man reveal secrets, he loses his credit and is betrayed by his friend. Cast your trouble upon the Lord, and he will sustain you, and he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved; there be many that will change their voice for another, but a friend that is faithful will never be lost, for a man may love a friend for a season, and if he fails not in time of trouble, he shall remain. Swear not lightly, and do not lay a snare for your own life, for you will stumble and fall; a friend will not be comforted for the loss of a son, and he that is lost in the world is a lost friend. If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation, except for upbraiding, arrogancy, disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound, for these are the causes for which every friend will depart, and if you have hurt your neighbour, you may have done a willful fault. As for his grief, you may be comforted, but the loss of a friend will not be comforted, and as he that has lost his money, so is he that has lost his friend, and the brother of the ungodly is lost. Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away, and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship, and though you draw a sword at your friend, despair not, for there may be a returning to favor. Whoever separates himself from a friend, a brother, or a lover will not be able to stop his mouth, and whoever separates himself from them will not be able to comfort them, for he that is full of iniquity will not be able to endure the separation, and he that is full of unrighteousness will not be able to turn away his face. Put a door and bar to your mouth, and make a hedge about your ears, for the fear of the Lord is a gift of the Lord, and it will keep you from all evil.