He who guards his mouth and tongue Guards himself against trouble.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue; They who are fond of using it must eat its fruit.

A man has joy from the utterance of his mouth, And a word in season, how good it is!

A word fitly spoken Is like golden fruit in silver settings.

Pleasant words are like honeycomb, Sweet to the taste and healing to the body.

THE CONTROL OF THE TEMPER

A mild answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

A man without self-control Is a ruined city whose wall is broken.

A fool gives way to his wrath, But a wise man restrains his anger.

A fool's anger is known at once, But a sensible man heeds not an insult.

A man's wisdom makes him patient, It is his glory to overlook faults.

He who is patient is better than a warrior, And he who rules his temper than he who takes a city.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MODEST

Do not boast what you will do to-morrow, For you know not what a day may bring forth.

Do you see a man wise in his own opinion?

There is more hope for a fool than for him!

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, But with the modest is wisdom.

It is not good to eat much honey; But to seek the glory of others is glorious.

Let another man praise you, not your own mouth; Some other, and not your own lips.

BEING GENEROUS AND LOVING

He who returns evil for good, From his house evil shall not depart.

It is an honor for a man to avoid strife; Only a fool is quarrelsome.

Charcoal for embers, and wood for fire, And a quarrelsome man to kindle strife!

Strive not with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water; Therefore leave off strife before quarrelling begins.

Better a dry crust with quietness Than a house full of feasting with strife.

A just man regards the life of his beast, But the heart of the wicked is cruel.

He who oppresses the poor reviles his Maker, But he who has pity on the needy honors him.

He who listens not to the cry of the poor, He also shall call and not be answered.

He who pities the poor, lends to the Lord And he will repay him for his good deed.

If your enemy hungers, give him food; If he thirsts, give him water to drink; For you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.

Hatred stirs up strife, But love overlooks faults.

Better a meal of herbs where love is, Than a fatted ox with hate.

Let not love and truth leave you, Bind them about your neck; So you will enjoy favor and a good reputation In the sight of G.o.d and man.

THE NEW TESTAMENT

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Curtis Publishing Company_

_The Nativity_

Painted by W. L. Taylor]

JESUS IS BORN AT BETHLEHEM

The angel Gabriel was sent from G.o.d to a young woman named Mary in Nazareth, a town of Galilee. She was to be married to a man named Joseph of the family of David. When he came to her the angel said: "Hail, highly honored one! G.o.d is with you!"

She was startled by his words and wondered what such a greeting might mean. But the angel said to her, "Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with G.o.d. You will have a son and will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High."

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, for I am not yet married." The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you; therefore your child will be called holy, the Son of G.o.d." Mary said: "I am G.o.d's servant. May it be with me as you say." Then the angel left her.

In those days the Emperor Augustus commanded that every one should be registered. So all went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph, because he was of the family of David, went to be registered with Mary, his wife, from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea where David was born. While they were there Mary's first son was born.

And she wrapped him in swaddling-clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In that country there were shepherds living in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel from G.o.d stood by them and a heavenly light shone around them, and they were frightened. But the angel said to them:

"Fear not, for behold I bring you good news Of great joy which shall be for all the people.

For to you is born this day in the town of David A Saviour who is G.o.d's Anointed.

This will be a sign to guide you: You will find a baby in swaddling-clothes lying in a manger."

Then suddenly there was with the angel a great number of the heavenly ones singing praise to G.o.d and saying:

"Glory to G.o.d on high, And on earth peace, good-will among men."

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem to see this which G.o.d has made known to us." So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph; and the baby was lying in a manger.

When they had seen him, they made known what had been told them about this child. All who heard the words of the shepherds wondered, but Mary kept these things to herself and often thought about them. And the shepherds returned, thanking and praising G.o.d for what they had heard and seen, as it had been foretold.

THE WISE MEN BRING GIFTS TO THE YOUNG CHILD

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the newly born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."