Chapter of Proverbs, Rudyard Kipling
1. The wind bloweth where it
listeth, and after the same
manner in every country.
Be not puffed up with a
breath (of it)
2. Of a portion set aside a
portion or ever the days
come when thou shalt see
there is no work in them
3. For he that hath not must
serve him that hath; even
to the peril of the soul
4. Take the wage for thy work
in silver and (it may be)
gold; but accept not honours
nor any great gifts
5. Is ye ox yoked till men have
need of him; or the camel
belled while yet she is free?
And wouldst thou be eved
with these?
6. Pledge no writing till it is
written; and seek not
payment on (any) account
the matter shall be
remembered against thee.”
7. There is a generation which
selleth dung in the street
and saith: “To the pure all
things are pure.”
8. But count (thou) on the one
hand how may be so minded;
and after write according
to thy knowledge.
9. Because not all evil beareth
fruit in a day; and it may
be some shall curse thy
grave for the iniquity of
thy works in their youth
10. The fool brayeth in his
heart there is no God;
therefore his imaginings
are terribly returned on
him; and that without interpreter
11. Get skill, and when thou
has it, forget; lest the
bird on her nest mock thee,
and He that is Highest
look down
12. Get knowledge; it shall
not burst thee; and amass
under thy hand a peculiar
treasure of words:
13. As a King heapeth him
jewels to bestow or cast
aside; or being alone in
his palace, fortifieth
himself beholding (them).
14. So near as thou canst, open
not thy whole mind to
any man.
15. The bounds of his craft are
appointed to each from of
old; they shall not be known
to the cup-mates or the
companions
“16. For three things my heart
is disquieted; and for four
that I cannot bear:
17. For a woman who esteemeth
”“herself a man; and a man
that delighteth in her
company;
18. For people whose young
men are cut off by the
sword; and for the soul
that regardeth not these
things.
19. In three things, yea and
in four, is the metal of
the workman made plain:
20. In excessive labour; in
continual sloth; in long
waiting; and in the day
of triumph.
21. There is one glory of the
sun and another of the
moon and a third of the
stars: yet are all these
appointed for the glory
of the earth which alone
hath no light.
22. Hold not back (any) part
of a price.
23. Despise no man even in thy
heart; for the custom of
it shall make thy works of
none effect
24. Use not overmuch to
frequent the schools of
the scribes; for idols are
there and (all) the paths
return upon themselves.
25. Envy no man’s work nor
deliver judgement upon
it in the gate, for the end
is bitterness.
26. Consider now those blind
worms of the deep which
fence themselves about as
it were with stone against
their fellows;
27. And reaching the
intolerable light of the
sun straightway[…]”
“ sun straightway perish
leaving but their tombs;
28. By those whose mere multitude
the sea is presently stayed;
the tide itself divideth
at that place.
29. Small waves after storm
laying there seeds, nuts
and the bodies of fish,
(at last) an island ariseth
crowned with palms; thither
the sea-birds repair.
30. Till man coming taketh
all to his use and hath no
memory of aught below
(his feet)
31. Out of the dust which
had life come all things
and shalt thou be other
than they?
32. Nevertheless, my son, dare
thou greatly to believe.