Solomons Sentences.
Being an Excellent Ditty, shewing the sage Sayings and Wise Sentences of Solomon.
The Tune is, Wigmore's Galliard.
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THose that will run a Vertuous race,
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and learn the Precepts of the Sage,
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Those that true wisdom will embrace,
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and learn to live in youth and age:
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Let them approach here to with speed,
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And to my Lessons give good heed;
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For bearing well these things away,
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The Lord will bless them night and day
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My Son, said Solomon the wise,
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if thou true wisdom wilt obtain,
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Then fear the Lord that rules the skys,
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for so the Scriptures teacheth plain:
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Imbrace his word, and him obey,
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This is the chief and only way;
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For they that do these things despise,
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Are fools to God, though worldly wise.
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Unto thy Father honour give,
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and thou shalt surely blessed be,
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And be obedient while you live,
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and to thy Mother Courteous be,
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Then God will send thee evermore
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Sufficient wealth, and treasure store:
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All things shall prosper in thine hand,
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And long thou shalt enjoy the Land.
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The blessing of the Father dear,
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doth cause his Childrens good success
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But where the Mother doth appear,
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to curse her Childrens wickedness:
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Their whole foundation doth decay,
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[li]ke withered leaves that fall away.
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Then all good Christians learn by me,
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To love your Parents faithfully.
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Set not thy mind on worldly wealth,
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nor put thy confidence therein,
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For riches doth consume by stealth,
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and Covetousness is counted sin:
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For whilst thou livest on the earth,
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Thou art uncertain of thy death;
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And when that death doth stop thy wind
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Then thou must leave thy goods behind
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Be friendly unto every man,
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but unto few familiar be,
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And try thy friend if that thou can,
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his inward thoughts to prove & see.
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And if thou find him just and true,
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Change not an old friend for a new.
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For many promise much indeed,
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But clean forsake them in their need.
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If thou hast Sons, instruct them well
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and on thy Daughters never smile:
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Their wanton ways do far excell,
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let not affection thee beguile:
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With due correction love them still,
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And give them not their wanton will;
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For if that they do stubborn grow,
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They will not then their duty know.
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Give honour to the aged sort,
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and to thy betters always bow,
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So shalt thou have a good report,
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for God himself doth it allow,
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Of hateful Pride always beware,
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And have an Eye to after care;
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Be not too wrath in anything,
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For that will soon repentance bring.
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Lend not thy goods to mighty men,
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whose countenance passeth thy degree
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For they are hard to get again,
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as now by dayly proof we see:
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For other men give not thy word,
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No further then thou canst afford;
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Lest afterwards thou chance to rue,
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And pay the debt when it is due.
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With him that is a Magistrate,
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in anywise go not to Law,
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Lest thou repent the same too late,
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for he will hold thee still in awe:
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Be always wary of thy words,
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For spightful words are cruel swords
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And look to whom thou dost impart
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The thoughts and secrets of thy heart
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Be never jealous of thy Wife,
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least she therefore mischief learn,
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And thou thereby dost purchase strife
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then wisely do each thing discern.
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And not evil occasion give,
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But lovingly together live;
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We see when man and wife do hate,
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The curse of God hangs at the Gate.
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On Harlots cast not thou thy mind,
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lest thou thereby thyself consume;
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And waste thy riches with the wind,
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whilst thou in fancy fret and fume:
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Their foul inticements bringeth death
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And poyson cometh out of their breath;
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Their eyes are wandring too and fro,
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And every one their fashions know.
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Praise no woman for beauties sake,
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nor discommend no man ny sight;
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And with thy tongue no lying make,
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fulfill thy promise just and right:
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Be merciful unto the poor,
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And God will thee reward therefore;
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Keep not thy Labourers wages back,
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And comfort such as comfort lack.
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Grieve not the heavy-hearted man,
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nor joy not at thy enemies harm;
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Rebuke thy Brother friendly then,
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against no man use open charm:
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Credit not thou a Tale in haste,
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Lest tryal make the matter waste;
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And from all slander keep thy tongue,
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And work for age whilst thou art young
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3 things there are that God does hate
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as holy Scriptures doth declare;
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A man too proud in Beggers state,
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a rich man for to lye and swear.
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To see an old man given to lust,
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These things of God are sure accurst,
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The lying tongue the soul doth quell,
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But pride and lust throw down to hell.
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Whilst thou art living, call for grace,
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thy life is like a fading flower;
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Death cometh stealing on apace,
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thou canst not know the day nor hour
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Thy Speech at all times may not last
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Use well the same that now thou hast;
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And from repentance do not stray,
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Thou canst no time with death delay.
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If thou consider well the same,
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and bear these Lessons in thy mind;
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And thereunto thyself do frame,
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great comfort thou shalt quickly find
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Plant well these sayings in thy heart,
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And from these Precepts never start;
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So shalt thou live in perfect peace,
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And God will bless thee with encrease.
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