1   Euery friende sayth, I wyll be friendly vnto him also: but there is some friend, which is onely a frende in name.

2   Remaineth not there heauines vnto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemie?

3   O most wicked presumption: from whence art thou sprong vp to couer the earth with falshood and disceite?

4    ^noteThere is some companion which in prosperitie reioyceth with his friend: but in the time of trouble, he taketh part against him.

5    ^noteThere is some companion that mourneth with his friend for the bellies sake: but when trouble commeth, he taketh holde of the shielde.

6   Forget not thy friend in thy minde, ∧ thinke vpon him in thy riches.

7   Seeke no counsell at thy kinsmen, and hide thy counsel from such as beare thee no good wyll.

8    ^noteEuery counseller prayseth his counsell: neuerthelesse, there is some that counselleth but for his owne profite.

9   Beware of the counseller, and be aduised afore whereto thou wylt vse him (for he wyll counsaile for him selfe) lest he cast the lot vpon thee,

10   And say vnto thee, Thy way and purpose is good: and afterwarde he stande against thee, and loke what shal become of thee.

11   Aske no counsaile at him that suspecteth thee for an enemie, ∧ hide thy counsaile from such as hate thee: aske no counsell for religion of him that is without religion, nor for iustice of him that hath no iustice: aske no counsel at a woman, touching her of wh&obar; she is ielous, nor at a fearefull and faint harted body in matters of warre: or at a marchaunt how deare he wyl cheape thy wares toward his: or at a byer, of selling: or at an enuious man, of thankesgeuing: or at the vnmerciful, of louing kindnesse: or at an vnhonest man, of honestie: or at the slothfull, of working: or at an hyreling which hath no house, of profit or wealth: or at an idle body of much labour: take no such folkes to counsell.

12   But be diligent to seeke counsaile at a vertuous man that feareth God, such a one as thou knowest to be a keper of the commaundementes, which hath a minde after thyne owne minde, and is sory for thee when thou stumblest. C   

13   And holde thy counsell fast in thyne heart: for there is no man more faithfull to kepe it, then thou thy selfe.

14   For a mans minde is sometime disposed to tell out more, then seuen watchmen that sit aboue in an hie place loking about them.

15   And aboue all this, pray the highest that he wyll leade thy way in faithfulnes and trueth.

16   Before all thy workes aske counsell first: and or euer thou doest any thing, be well aduised.

17   There be foure thinges that declare a chaunged heart, whereout there springeth euill and good, death and lyfe, and a maisterfull tongue that bableth much.

18   Some man is apt and well instructed in many thinges, and yet very vnprofitable vnto him selfe. D   

19   Some man there is that can geue wyse and prudent counsel, and yet is he hated and continueth a begger,

20   For that grace is not geuen him of God to be accepted.

21   Another is robbed of al wysdome: yet is he wyse vnto himselfe, and the fruite of vnderstanding is comm&ebar;dable in his mouth.

22   A wyse man maketh his people wyse, ∧ the fruites of his wysdome fayle not.

23   A wyse man shalbe plenteously blessed of God: and all they that see him, shall speake good of him.

24   The lyfe of man standeth in the number of the dayes: but the dayes of Israel are innumerable.

25   A wyse man shall obtayne faithfulnes and credence among his people, and his name shalbe perpetuall.

26   My sonne, prooue thy soule in thy selfe, and if thou see any euill thing, geue it not vnto her:

27    ^noteFor all thinges are not profitable for all men, neither hath euery soule pleasure in euery thing.

28   Be not greedy in euery eating, and be not to hastie vpon all meates.

29    ^noteFor excesse of meates bringeth sickenesse, and gluttonie commeth at the last to an vnmeasurable heate.

30   Through surfet haue many one perished: but he that dieteth him selfe temperatelie, prolongeth his lyfe.

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