24

There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.

The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.

The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.

Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:

Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: