Chap. I. The wysdome of God calleth vs by the mouth of Salom&obar;, exorteth vs, and geueth vs warnynge to eschue the wicked: whose vngodly c&obar;uersacion in worde and worke, and punyshment also of the same, is here descrybed.

Chap. II. How wisdome maye be gotten, and what profit commeth of it.

Chap. III. He exorteth vs to the feare of God and to pacience: he commendeth wy&esset;dome, & requyreth us to cleue vnto the same.

Chap. IIII A fatherly exortacion vnto wisdome with the profit therof, and how we ought to refrayne the m&ebar;bres of oure body fr&obar; euell.

Chap. V. He exorteth vnto wy&esset;d&obar;e, and to bewarre of harlottes: he telleth what harme maye folowe therout, wh&ebar; men medle with soch: he teacheth men, louyngly to cleue vnto their maried wyues, and descrybeth the ende of the vngodly.

Chap. VI. He warneth men to bewarre of suertishipe, exorteth the slouthfull to laboure, sheweth the wikednesse of false tonges, and requyreth men to bewarre of aduoutry, because it is more perlous then theft or felony.

Chap. VII. He exorteth vnto wi&esset;dome, sheweth the condicions of harlottes, and what hurt happeneth vnto soch as enclyne to the prouocaci&obar;s and desyres of the flesh.

Chap. VIII. Wy&esset;dome calleth men swetely vnto her, and telleth them what treasure and power she hath. A c&obar;mendacion and prayse of wi&esset;dome, wherout euery m&abar; is exorted to cleue vnto her.

Chap. IX. Wy&esset;dome crieth vp&obar; the ignora&ubar;t, and promiseth them greate thinges. The foolish maner of a light woman.

Chap. X. From this chapter forth vnto the XXXI, there are described many swete, louely and wyse sentences, which teach men wy&esset;dome and what profit commeth of it: Agayne, how men maye auoyde foolishnesse, and the hurte therof.

Chap. XXXI Wy&esset;dome warneth us to bewarre of euell women, and descrybeth the c&obar;uersacion, maner, & behauoure of an honest maried wyfe.

These are the prouerbes of Salomon the sonne of Dauid kynge of Israel: to lerne wy&esset;dome nurtoure, vnderstondinge, prudence, rightuousnesse, iudgment and equite. That the very babes might haue wyt, and that yonge men might haue knowlege and vnderstondinge. By hearinge, the wyse m&abar; shal c&obar;me by more wysdome: and by experience, he shal be more apte to vnderstonde a parable, and the interpretacion therof: the wordes of the wyse, and the darcke speaches of the same.
^noteThe feare of the LORDE is the begynnynge of wysdome. But fooles despyse wysdome and nurtoure. The first Chapter.

A   My sonne, heare thy fathers doctryne, and forsake not the lawe of þi; mother: for that shal brynge grace vnto thy heade, ∧ shalbe a cheyne aboute thy necke. ^noteMy sonne, c&obar;sente not vnto synners, yf they entyse the, and saye: come wyth us, let us laye wayte for bloude, ∧ lurke preuely for the innoc&ebar;t wythout a cause: ^note let us swalowe th&ebar; vp like þe; hell, let us deuoure th&ebar; quycke and whole, as those that go downe in to the pytt. So shal we fynde all maner of costly riches, and fyll oure houses wyth spoyles. Cast in thy lott amonge us, we shal haue all one purse.

^noteMy sonne, walke not thou &wt; them, refrayne þi; fote fr&obar; their wayes. For their fete r&ubar;ne to euell, ∧ are haistie to shed bloude. B   But in vayne is þe; net layed forth before the byrdes eyes. Yee they th&ebar; selues laye wayte one for anothers bloude, and one of th&ebar; wolde slaye another. These are the wayes of all soch as be couetous, that one wolde rauysh anothers life.

^noteWy&esset;dome crieth without, ∧ putteth forth hir voyce in the stretes. She calleth before þe; congregacion in þe; open gates, and sheweth hir wordes thorow þe; cite, sayenge: O ye childr&ebar;, how l&obar;ge wil ye loue childyshnesse? how longe wil þe; scorners delyte in scornynge, ∧ þe; vnwyse be enemies vnto knowlege? O turne you vnto my correccion: lo, I wil expresse my mynde vnto you, and make you vnderst&obar;de my wordes. ^note C   Seinge then that I haue called, and ye refused it: I haue stretched out my honde, and no m&abar; regarded it, but all my co&ubar;cels haue ye despysed, and set my correcci&obar;s at naught. Therfore shal I also laugh in yo&highr; destruccion, and mocke you, when þe; thinge that ye feare c&obar;meth vpon you: euen wh&ebar; þe; thinge that ye be afrayed of, falleth in sodenly like a storme, and yo&highr; misery like a tempest: yee wh&abar; trouble and heuynesse c&obar;meth vpon you. Then shal they call vp&obar; me, but I wil not heare: they shal seke me early, but they shal not fynde me: And þt; because they hated knowlege, and receaued not þe; feare of þe; LORDE, but abhorred my councell, and despysed my correccion. Therfore shal they eate þe; frutes of their owne waye, and be fylled &wt; their owne councels: for þe; turnynge awaye of þe; vnwyse shal slaye th&ebar;, ∧ þe; prosperi of fooles shalbe their owne destrucci&obar;. But who so harkeneth vnto me, shal dwell safely, and haue ynough without eny feare of euell. ^note The II. Chapter.

A   My sonne, yf thou wilt receaue my wordes, and kepe my c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes by the, that thine eare maye herken vnto wysdome, applie thine herte then to vnderst&obar;dinge. For yf thou criest after wy&esset;dome, ∧ callest for knowlege: yf thou sekest after her as after money, and dyggest for her as for treasure: Th&ebar; shalt thou vnderstonde þe; feare of the LORDE, and fynde þe; knowlege of God. ^noteFor it is the LORDE that geueth wy&esset;dome, out of his mouth commeth knowlege and vnderstondinge. He preserueth þe; welfare of the rightuous, and defendeth them þt; walke innocently: he kepeth them in þe; right path, and preserueth þe; waye of his sayntes. B   Then shalt thou vnderstonde rightuousnesse, iudgment and equite, yee and euery good path. Yf wy&esset;dome entre in to thine herte, and þi; soule delyte in knowlege: then shal councell preserue the, and vnderstondinge shal kepe the. That thou mayest be delyuered fr&obar; þe; euell waye, and from the man þt; speaketh frowarde thinges. From soch as leaue the hye strete, and walke &ibar; þe; wayes of darcknesse: which reioyse in doynge euell, and delyte &ibar; wicked thinges: whose wayes are croked, and their pathes slaunderous.

^noteThat thou mayest be delyuered also from the straunge woman, and from her that is not thine owne: C   which geueth swete wordes, forsaketh the hu&esset;bande of hir youth, and forgetteth the couenaunt of hir God. For hir house is enclyned vnto death, and hir pathes vnto hell. All they that go in vnto her, come not agayne, nether take they holde of the waye of life.

That thou mayest walke in þe; good waye, and kepe the pathes of the rightuous. For the iust shal dwell in the londe, and the innocentes

shal remayne in it: but the vngodly shalbe roted out of þe; londe, and the wicked doers shalbe taken out of it. The III. Chapter.

A    ^noteMy sonne, forget not my lawe, but se þt; thine hert kepe my c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes. For they shal prol&obar;ge þe; dayes ∧ yeares of þi; lyfe, ∧ brynge þe; peace. Let mercy ∧ faithfulnes neuer go from þe;: bynde th&ebar; about þi; necke, ∧ wryte them in the tables of thine herte. So shalt thou fynde fauo&highr; and good vnderstondinge in þe; sight of God and men. Put thy trust in þe; LORDE with all thine herte, and leane not vnto thine owne vnderstondinge. In all thy wayes haue respecte vnto him, and he shal ordre thy goinges. ^noteBe not wyse in thine owne conceate, but feare þe; LORDE and departe from euell: so shal thy nauel be whole, and thy bones stronge.

B    ^noteHonoure the LORDE &wt; þi; substaunce, ∧ &wt; þe; firstlinges of all thine encrease: so shal thy barnes be fylled with plenteousnesse, and thy presses shal flowe ouer with swete wyne. My sonne, despyse not the chastenynge of þe; LORDE, nether faynte when thou art rebuked of him. For wh&obar; the LORDE loueth, him he chasteneth: and yet delyteth in him euen as a father in his owne sonne. Well is him that fyndeth wy&esset;dome, ∧ opteyneth vnderstondinge, for the gettinge of it is better then eny marchaundise of syluer, ∧ the profit of it is better then golde. ^noteWy&esset;dome is more worth th&ebar; precious stones, ∧ all þe; thinges þt; thou canst desyre, are not to be compared vnto her. Vpon hir right hande is longe life, ∧ vpon hir left hande is riches ∧ hono&highr;.

^noteHir wayes are pleasaunt wayes, and all hir pathes are peaceable. She is a tre of life to them that laye holde vpon her, and blessed are they that kepe her fast.

C   With wy&esset;dome hath þe; LORDE layed the fo&ubar;dacion of þe; earth, ∧ thorow vnderstondinge hath he stablished þe; heau&ebar;s. Thorow his wi&esset;dome þe; depthes breake vp, ∧ þe; cloudes droppe downe the dew. My sonne, let not these thinges departe from thyne eyes, but kepe my lawe and my councell: so shal it be life vnto thy soule, ∧ grace vnto þi; mouth.

Then shalt thou walke safely in þi; waye, ∧ thy fote shal not stomble. Yf thou slepest, thou shalt not be afrayed, but shalt take thy rest ∧ slepe swetely. ^noteThou neddest not to be afrayed of eny sodane feare, nether for the violent russhinge in of the vngodly, when it commeth.

For the LORDE shal be besyde the, ∧ kepe thy fote þt; thou be not taken. Refuse not to do good vnto him that shulde haue it, so longe as thine hande is able to do it. D   Saye not vnto thy neghboure: go thy waye ∧ come agayne, tomorow wil I geue the: where as thou hast now to geue him. Intende no hurte vnto thy neghboure, seynge he hopeth to dwell in rest by the. Stryue not lightly &wt; eny man, where as he hath done þe; no harme. ^noteFolowe not a wicked man, and chose none of his wayes: for the LORDE abhorreth the frowarde, but his secrete is amonge the righteous. The curse of the LORDE is in the house of the vngodly, but he blesseth the dwellinges of the righteous

As for the scornefull, he shal laugh th&ebar; to scorne, but he shal geue grace vnto the lowly. The wyse shal haue hono&highr; in possession, but shame is the promoci&obar; that fooles shal haue. The IIII. Chap.

A   Heare (O ye children) the fatherly exortaci&obar;, ∧ take good hede, that ye maye lerne wy&esset;dome. Yee I shal geue you a good rewarde, yf ye wil not forsake my lawe. For when I myself was my fathers deare sonne, and tenderly beloued of my mother, he taught me also, sayenge: let thine herte receaue my wordes, kepe my commaundementes, and thou shalt lyue. ^note

Get the wy&esset;dome, get the vnderstondinge, forget not þe; wordes of my mouth, ∧ shr&ebar;ke not from them. Forsake her not, and she shal preserue the: loue her, and she shal kepe the. The chefe poynte of wy&esset;dome is, that thou be wyllynge to opteyne wy&esset;dome, and before all thy goodes to get the vnderstondynge. ^noteMake moch of her, and she shal promote the: Yee yf thou embracest her, she shal brynge the vnto honoure.

B   She shal make the a gracious heade, and garnish the with þe; crowne of glory. Heare my sonne, and receaue my wordes, that the yeares of thy life maye be many. I wil shewe the þe; waye of wy&esset;dome, and lede the in the right pathes. So that yf thou goest therin, there shal no straytnesse hynder the: and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall. Take fast holde of doctryne, let her not go: kepe her, for she is thy life.

^noteCome not in the path of the vngodly, and walke not in the waye of the wicked.

Eschue it, ∧ go not therin: departe asyde, ∧ passe ouer by it. For they can not slepe, excepte they haue first done some myschefe:

nether take they eny rest, excepte they haue first done some harme. For they eate the bred of wickednesse, and dr&ibar;ke the wyne of robbery. The path of the rightuous shyneth as the light, and is euer brighter ∧ brighter vnto the parfecte daye. But þe; waye of the vngodly is as the darcknesse, wherin m&ebar; fall, or they be awarre.

C    ^noteMy sonne, marcke my wordes, and enclyne thine eare vnto my saynges. Let them not departe from thine eyes, kepe them euen in the myddest of thine herte. For they are life vnto all those that finde th&ebar;, and health vnto all their bodies. Kepe thine hert with all diligence, for there vpon hangeth life. Put awaye from the a frowarde mouth, and let the lippes of slaunder be farre from the. Let thine eyes beholde the thinge þt; is right, ∧ let thine eye lyddes loke straight before the.

^noteP&obar;dre the path of thy fete, so shal all þi; wayes be sure. Turne not asyde, nether to the right hande ner to the lefte, but witholde thy fote from euell. The V. Chapter.

A   My sonne, geue hede vnto my wysdome, ∧ bowe thine eare vnto my prud&ebar;ce: þt; thou mayest regarde good councell, and that thy lippes maye kepe nurtoure.

^noteFor the lippes of an harlot are a droppinge hony combe, and hir throte is softer then oyle. But at þe; last she is as bitter as wormwod, and as sharpe as a two edged swerde. Hir fete go downe vnto death, and hir steppes pearse thorow vnto hell. She regardeth not the path of life, so vnstedfast are hir wayes, that thou canst not knowe them. Heare me therfore (o my sonne) and departe not fr&obar; the wordes of my mouth. Kepe thy waye farre from her, and come not nye þe; dores of hir house. That thou geue not thine hono&highr; vnto another, and thy yeares to the cruell. B   That other men be not fylled with thy goodes, ∧ that thy labours come not in a straunge house. Yee that thou mourne not at the last (when thou hast spent thy body and goodes) and then saye: Alas, why hated I nurtoure? why dyd my hert despyse correccion? Wherfore was not I obedient vnto the voyce of my teachers, ∧ herkened not vnto them that infourmed me? I am come almost in to all mysfortune, in the myddest of the multitude and congregacion. Drinke of the water of thine owne well, and of the ryuers that runne out of thine owne spr&ibar;ges. Let þi; welles flowe out a brode, that there maye be ryuers of water in the stretes. But let them be only thine owne, ∧ not straungers with the. Let thy well be blessed, and be glad with the wife of thy youth. C   Louynge is the hynde, and frendly is the Roo: ^note let her brestes alwaye satisfie the, and holde the euer content with hir loue. My sonne, why wilt thou haue pleasure in an harlot, and embrace the bosome of another wom&abar;? ^noteFor euery m&abar;s wayes are open in the sight of the LORDE, and he p&obar;dereth all their goinges. The wickednesses of the vngodly shal catch himself, and with the snares of his owne synnes shal he be trapped. Because he wolde not be refourmed, he shal dye: and for his greate foolishnesse he shal be destroyed. The VI. Chapter.

A    ^noteMy s&obar;ne, yf thou be suertie for þi; neghboure, thou hast fastened thine h&obar;de &wt; another m&abar;: yee thou art bo&ubar;de with thine owne wordes, and taken &wt; thine owne speach. Therfore (my sonne) do this, discharge thy self, for thou art come &ibar; to þi; neghbours daunger. Go thy waye then soone, ∧ intreate thy neghboure: let not thyne eyes slepe, ner thine eye lyddes slomber. Saue thy self as a doo fr&obar; þe; honde, ∧ as a byrde fr&obar; the h&obar;de of the fouler. Go to the Emmet (thou slogarde) c&obar;sidre hir wayes, ∧ lerne to be wyse

^noteShe hath no gyde, no teacher, no leder: yet in the sommer she prouideth hir meate, ∧ gathereth hir foode together &ibar; þe; haruest. How l&obar;ge wilt thou slepe, thou slogish m&abar;? Wh&abar; wilt thou aryse out of thy slepe? Yee slepe on still a litle, sl&obar;ber a litle, folde thine handes together yet a litle, that thou mayest slepe: B   so shal pouerte come vnto the as one þt; trauayleth by the waye, ∧ necessite like a wapened man. A dissemblynge person, a wicked man goeth with a frowarde mouth: he wyncketh with his eyes, he tokeneth &wt; his fete, he poynteth &wt; his fyngers, he is euer ymageninge myschefe ∧ frowardnesse in his hert, ∧ causeth discorde. Therfore shal his destruccion come hastely vp&obar; him, sodenly shal he be all tobroken, and not be healed.

There be sixe thinges, which the LORDE hateth, ∧ the seuenth he vtterly abhorreth: ^note A proude loke, a dyssemblynge tonge, h&abar;des that shed innocent bloude, an herte þt; goeth aboute &wt; wicked ymaginaci&obar;s, ^note fete that be swift in rennynge to do myschefe, a false wytnesse þt; bringeth vp lyes, ∧ soch one as soweth discorde amonge brethren. C   My sonne, kepe thy fathers c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes, ∧ forsake not þe; lawe of thy mother. Put th&ebar; vp together in thine herte, and bynde th&ebar; aboute thy necke. That they maye lede the where thou goest, preserue the when thou art aslepe, ∧ þt; when

thou awakest, ^note thou mayest talke of th&ebar; (For the commaundement is a lanterne, and the lawe a light: yee chastenynge ∧ nurtoure is þe; waye of life) that they maye kepe the fr&obar; the euell woman, ^note ∧ from the flaterynge tonge of the harlott: þt; thou lust not after her beuty in thine herte, ∧ lest thou be tak&ebar; &wt; hir fayre lokes. An harlot wil make a m&abar; to begg his bred, but a maried woman wil hunt for þe; precious life. Maye a man take fyre in his bosome, and his clothes not be brent? Or can one go vpon hote coales, and his fete not be hurte? Euen so, who so euer goeth in to his neghbours wife, and toucheth her, can not be vngiltie. ^note D   Men do not vtterly despyse a thefe, that stealeth to satisfie his soule, when he is hongerie: but yf he maye be gotten, he restoreth agayne seuen tymes asmoch, or els he maketh recompence with all the good of his house. But who so c&obar;mitteth aduoutrie with a wom&abar;, he is a foole, and bryngeth his life to destruccion. He getteth him self also shame ∧ dishono&highr;, soch as shal neuer be put out. For the gelousy ∧ wrath of the m&abar; will not be &ibar;treated, no though thou woldest ofre him greate giftes to make amendes, he will not receaue them. The VII. Chapter.

A    ^noteMy sonne, kepe my wordes, ∧ laye vp my c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes by the. Kepe my c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes ∧ my lawe, eu&ebar; as the aple of thine eye, ∧ thou shalt lyue. Bynde them vpon thy fyngers, ∧ wryte th&ebar; in the table of thine hert. Saye vnto wysdome: thou art my sister, and call vnderstondinge thy kynswoman: ^note that she maye kepe þe; fr&obar; þe; stra&ubar;ge wom&abar;, ∧ fr&obar; þe; harlot which geueth swete wordes. For out of the wyndowe of my house I loked thorow the trelies, ∧ behelde the simple people: ∧ amonge other yonge folkes I spyed one yonge foole goinge ouer the stretes, by the corner in the waye towarde the harlottes house in the twylight of of the euenynge, when it beg&abar;ne now to be night and darcke. B   And beholde, there mett him a wom&abar; in an harlottes apparell (a disceatfull, w&abar;ton ∧ an vnstedfast wom&abar;: whose fete coude not abyde in þe; house, now is she without, now &ibar; þe; stretes, ∧ lurketh &ibar; euery corner) she caught þe; y&obar;ge m&abar;, kyssed him ∧ was not ashamed, say&ebar;ge: I had a vowe to paye, ∧ this daye I perfourme it. Therfore came I forth to mete the, that I might seke thy face, and so I haue founde the. I haue deckte my bed with coueringes ∧ clothes of Egipte. My bed haue I made to smell of Myrre, Aloes and Cynamom. Come, let vs lye together, ∧ take oure pleasure till it be daye light.

For the good man is not at home, he is gone farre of. He hath taken the bagg of moneye with him, who can tell wh&ebar; he c&obar;meth home? C   Thus with many swete wordes she ouercame him, and with hir flateringe lippes she wanne him. ^note

Immediatly he foloweth her, as it were an oxeled to the slaughter (and like as it were to the stockes, where fooles are punyshed) so longe till she hath wounded his lyuer with hir darte: like as yf a byrde haisted to the snare, not knowinge that the parell of his life lyeth there vp&obar;. Heare me now therfore (o my sonne) and marcke the wordes of my mouth.

Let not thine herte wandre in hir wayes, ∧ be not thou disceaued in hir pathes. For many one hath she wo&ubar;ded and cast downe, yee many a stronge m&abar; hath she slayne. Hir house is the waye vnto hell, where men go downe to the chambers of death. The VIII. Chapter.

A    ^noteDoth not wysdome crie? doth not vnderstondinge put forth hir voyce? Stondeth she not in the hye places in the stretes ∧ wayes? doth she not crie before the whole cite, ∧ in the gates where men go out ∧ in? It is you, o ye men (sayeth she) whom I call. Unto you (o ye childr&ebar; of m&ebar;) lift I vp my voyce. Take hede vnto knowlege o ye ignora&ubar;t, be wyse in herte o ye fooles. Geue eare, for I wil speake of greate matters, ∧ open my lippes to tell thinges that be right. For my throte shal be talkynge of þe; trueth, ∧ my lippes abhorre vngodlynesse. All the wordes of my mouth are rightuous, there is no frowardnesse ner falsede therin. They are all playne to soch as wil vnderst&obar;de, ∧ right to th&ebar; that fynde knowlege. ^noteReceaue my doctryne therfore and not syluer, ∧ knowlege more then fyne golde. For wysdome is more worth then precious stones, yee all the thinges that thou c&abar;st desyre, are not to be compared vnto it.

B   I wysdome haue my dwellynge &wt; knowlege, and prudent councell is myne owne. With me is the feare of the LORDE, and þe; eschuynge of euell. As for pryde, disdayne, an euell waye, ∧ a mouth that speaketh wicked th&ibar;ges, I vtterly abhorre th&ebar;. I can geue councell, and be a gyde: I haue vnderstondinge, I haue strength.

^noteThorow me, kynges reigne: thorow me, pr&ibar;ces make iust lawes. Thorow me, lordes beare rule, and all iudges of þe; earth execute iudgm&ebar;t. I am louynge vnto those that loue me, and they that seke me early, shal fynde me. ^note

Riches ∧ honoure are &wt; me, yee excellent goodes ∧ rightuousnes. My frute is better th&ebar; golde ∧ precious stone, ∧ myne encrease more worth then fyne syluer. I walke in þe; waye of rightuousnes, ∧ in the strete of iudgment. That I maye sende prosperite to those that loue me, ∧ to encrease their treasure.

C   The LORDE himself had me in possessi&obar; in the begynnynge of his wayes, or euer he begame his workes aforetyme. ^noteI haue bene ordened fr&obar; euerlast&ibar;ge, ∧ fr&obar; þe; beginnynge or euer the earth was made. When I was borne, there were nether depthes ner springes of water. Before the foundacions of þe; mountaynes were layed, yee before all hilles was I borne. The earth and all that is vpon the earth was not yet made, no not the grounde it self. ^noteFor when he made the heauens, I was present: wh&abar; he set the depthes in ordre: whan he hanged the cloudes aboue: whan he fastened the sprynges of the depe: ^note Whan he shutt the see within certayne bowndes, that þe; waters shulde not go ouer their marckes. D   When he layed the foundacions of the earth, I was with him, ordringe all thinges, delytinge daylie ∧ reioysynge allwaye before him. As for the ro&ubar;de c&obar;pase of his worlde, I make it ioyfull, for my delyte is to be am&obar;ge the children of men. ^note

Therfore harken vnto me (o ye children) for blessed are they that kepe my wayes.

O geue eare vnto nurtoure, be wyse, and refuse it not. Blessed is þe; man that heareth me, watchinge daylie at my gates, ∧ geuynge attendaunce at the postes of my dores.

For who so fyndeth me, fyndeth life, and shal optayne fauoure of the LORDE. But who so offendeth agaynst me, hurteth his owne soule. All they that hate me, are the louers of death. The IX. Chapter.

A   Wysdome hath buylded herself an house, and hewen out seuen pilers: she hath slaughted, poured out hir wyne, and prepared hir table. She hath sent forth hir maydens to crie vp&obar; the hyest place of the cite: Who so is ignora&ubar;t, let him come hither. And to the vn wise she sayde: O come on youre waye, eate my bred, and drynke my wyne, which I haue poured out for you. Forsake ignora&ubar;ce, and ye shal lyue: and se that ye go in the waye of vnderstondinge.

Who so reproueth a scornefull personne, getteth him self dishonoure: and he that rebuketh the vngodly, stayneth himself.

Reproue not a scorner, lest he owe the euell wil: but rebuke a wyse man, and he wil loue the. B   Geue a discrete man but an occasion, ∧ he wilbe the wyser: teach a rightuous man, and he wil increase. ^noteThe feare of the LORDE is the begynnynge of wysdome, ∧ the knowlege of holy thinges is vnderstondinge. For thorow me þi; dayes shalbe prolonged, and the yeares of thy life shal be many. Yf thou be wyse, þi; wysdome shal do þi; selfe good: but yf thou thynkest scorne therof, it shalbe thine owne harme. A foolish restlesse woman, full of wordes, and soch one as hath no knowlege, sytteth in the dores of hir house vp&obar; a stole aboue in the cite, to call soch as go by and walke straight in their wayes. Who so is ignoraunt (sayeth she) let him come hither, and to the vnwyse she sayeth: stollen waters are swete, ∧ the bred that is preuely eaten, hath a good taist.

But they c&obar;sider not that death is there, and that hir gestes go downe to hell. The X. Chapter. These are prouerbes of Salomon.

A    ^noteA wyse sonne maketh a glad father, but an vndiscrete sonne is the heuynesse of his mother. Treasures that are wickedly gotten, profit nothinge, but rightuousnesse delyuereth from death. ^noteThe LORDE wil not let the soule of the rightuous suffre h&obar;ger, but he putteth þe; vngodly fr&obar; his desyre. An ydle hande maketh poore, but a quycke laboringe hande maketh riche.

Who so gathereth in Sommer, is wyse: but he that is slogish in haruest, bringeth himself to confucion. Louynge and fauorable is the face of the rightuous, but þe; fore heade of the vngodly is past shame, and presumptuous. ^noteThe memoriall of the iust shall haue a good reporte, but the name of the vngodly shal stynke. A wyse man wil receaue warnynge, but a foole wil sooner be smytten in the face. B   He that leadeth an innocent life, walketh surely: ^note but who so goeth a wr&obar;ge waye, shalbe knowne. He þt; wynketh with his eye, wil do some harme: but he that hath a foolish mouth, shalbe beaten. The mouth of a rightuous man is a well of life, but þe; mouth of the vngodly is past shame, ∧ presumptuous. Euell will stereth vp strife, but loue couereth þe; multitude of synnes. ^note

In þe; lippes of him þt; hath vnderst&obar;dinge a m&abar; shal fynde wysdome, but þe; rodde bel&obar;geth to þe; backe of þe; foolish. Wyse m&ebar; laye vp knowlege, but þe; mouth of þe; foolish is nye destrucci&obar;. The rich m&abar;s goodes are his str&obar;ge

holde, but pouerte oppresseth the poore.

The rightuous laboureth to do good, but the vngodly vseth his increase vnto synne.

C   To take hede vnto þe; chastenynge of nurtoure, is þe; waye of life: but he that refuseth to be refourmed, goeth wr&obar;ge. Dissemblynge lippes kepe hatred secretly, and he that speaketh eny slaunder, is a foole. Where moch bablinge is, there must nedes be offence: he that refrayneth his lippes, is wysest of all. An innocent tonge is a noble treasure, but the herte of the vngodly is nothinge worth. The lippes of the rightuous fede a whole multitude, but fooles shal dye in their owne foly. ^noteThe blessynge of the LORDE maketh rich m&ebar;, as for carefull trauayle, it doth nothinge therto. A foole doth wickedly ∧ maketh but a sporte of it: neuertheles it is wysdome for a man to bewarre of soch.

The thinge that the vngodly are afrayed of, shal come vpon them, but the rightuous shal haue their desyre. D   The vngodly is like a tempest that passeth ouer ∧ is nomore sene, but the rightuous remayneth sure for euer. As vyneger is to the teth, and as smoke is vnto þe; eyes, eu&ebar; so is a slogish personne to them that sende him forth. The feare of þe; LORDE maketh a l&obar;ge life, but þe; yeares of þe; vngodly shal be shortened. The pacient abydinge of the rightuous shalbe turned to gladnesse, but the hope of the vngodly shal perish. The waye of the LORDE geueth a corage vnto þe; godly, but it is a feare for wicked doers. The rightuous shal neuer be ouerthrowne, but þe; vngodly shal not remayne in the londe. ^noteThe mouth of the iust wilbe talkynge of wysdome, but the tonge of the frowarde shal perish. The lippes of the rightuous are occupied in acceptable thinges, but the mouth of the vngodly taketh them to the worst. The XI. Chapter.

A    ^noteA false balaunce is an abhominacion vnto the LORDE, but a true weight pleaseth him. Where pryde is, there is shame also and confucion: but where as is lowlynes, there is wysdome. The innocent dealynge of the iust shal lede them, but the vnfaithfulnesse of the despysers shalbe their owne destruccion. ^noteRiches helpe not in the daye of vengeaunce, but rightuousnesse delyuereth fr&obar; death. The rightuousnes of þe; innocent ordreth his waye, but the vngodly shal fall in his owne wickednesse. The rightuousnesse of the iust shal delyuer them, but the despysers shalbe taken in their owne vngodlynesse. When an vngodly man dyeth, his hope is gone, the confydence of riches shal perish. B   The rightuous shalbe delyuered out of trouble, ∧ the vngodly shal come in his steade. Thorow þe; mouth of þe; dyssembler is his neghboure destroyed, but thorow knowlege shal the iust be delyuered. ^noteWhen it goeth well with the rightuous, the cite is mery: and when the vngodly perish, there is gladnesse. When the iust are in wealth, the cite prospereth: but whan the vngodly haue the rule, it decayeth. A foole bryngeth vp a slaunder of his neghboure, but a wyse man wil kepe it secrete. ^noteA dyssemblynge person wil discouer preuy thinges, but he that is of a faithfull hert, will kepe councel. ^noteWhere no good councel is there the people decaye: but where as are many that can geue councell, there is wealth. ^noteHe that is suertye for a straunger, hurteth himself: but he that medleth not with suerteshippe, is sure. C   A gracious wom&abar; manteyneth honestie, as for the mightie, they manteyne ryches. He þt; hath a gentle liberall stomacke, is mercifull: but who so hurteth his neghbo&highr;, is a tyra&ubar;t.

The laboure of the vngodly prospereth not, but he that soweth rightuosnes, shal receaue a sure rewarde. Like as rightuousnes bryngeth life, eu&ebar; so to cleue vnto euell, bryngeth death. The LORDE abhorreth a fayned hert, but he hath pleasure in them that are vndefyled. It shal not helpe þe; wicked, though they laye all their hondes together, but the sede of the rightuous shalbe preserued. A fayre woman without discrete maners, is like a rynge of golde in a swynes snoute. The iust laboure for peace and tr&abar;quylite, but the vngodly for disquyetnesse.

^noteSome man geueth out his goodes, and is the richer, but þe; nygarde (hauynge ynough) wil departe from nothinge, and yet is euer in pouerte. ^noteHe that is lyberall in geuynge, shal haue plenty: and he that watereth, shalbe watered also himself. D   Who so hoordeth vp his corne, shalbe cursed amonge the people: but blessynge shal light vpon his heade that selleth it. He that laboureth for honesty fyndeth his desyre: but who so seketh after myschefe, it shal happ&ebar; vnto him. He that trusteth in his riches, shal haue a fall, but þe; rightuous shal florish as the grene leaf. ^note

Who so maketh disquyetnesse in his owne house, he shal haue wynde for his heretage, and the foole shal be seruaunt to the wyse.

The frute of the rightuous is as the tre of life, a wyse man also wynneth mens soules. ^noteYf þe; rightuous be rec&obar;p&ebar;sed vp&obar; earth how moch more th&ebar; the vngodly ∧ þe; synner?

The XII. Chapter.

A   Who so loueth wy&esset;dome, wil be content to be refourmed: but he that hateth to be reproued, is a foole. ^noteA good man is acceptable vnto the LORDE, but þe; wicked wyl he condempne. A man c&abar; not endure in vngodlynesse, but þe; rote of þe; righteous shal not be moued. A stedfast woman is a crowne vnto hir hu&esset;bonde: but she that behaueth herself vnhonestly, is a corrupcion in his bones. The thoughtes of þe; righteous are right, but the ymaginacion of the vngodly are disceatfull. The talkynge of the vngodly is, how they maye laye wayte for bloude, but the mouth of þe; righteous wil delyuer them. Or euer thou canst turne the aboute, the vngodly shal be ouerthrowne, but the house of the righteous shal st&obar;de. ^note

B   A man shalbe commended for his wy&esset;dome, but a foole shal be despysed. A simple man which laboureth and worketh, is better th&ebar; one that is gorgious and wanteth bred. ^note

A righteous man regardeth the life of his catell, but the vngodly haue cruell hertes. ^noteHe that tilleth his l&obar;de, shal haue plenteousnesse of bred: but he þt; foloweth ydylnes, is a very foole. The desyre of þe; vngodly hunteth after myschefe, but the rote of the righteous bryngeth forth frute. ^noteThe wicked falleth in to the snare thorow þe; malyce of his owne mouth, but the iust shal escape out of parell. Euery man shal enioye good acordinge to the innocency of his mouth, and after the workes of his h&abar;des shal he be rewarded. C   Loke what a foole taketh in honde, he thinketh it well done: but he that is wyse, wyl be co&ubar;celed. A foole vttereth his wrath in all the haist, but a discrete man forgeueth wronge. A iust man will tell the trueth, ∧ shewethe thinge þt; is right: but a false wytnesse disceaueth. A slaunderous personne pricketh like a swerde, but a wyse mans tonge is wholsome. A true mouth is euer const&abar;t, but a dyssemblinge t&obar;ge is soone chaunged. They that ymagin euell in their mynde, wil disceaue: but the councelers of peace shal heaue ioye folowinge th&ebar;. There shal no mysfortune happen vnto the iust, but the vngodly shal be fylled with misery. ^note D   The LORDE abhorreth disceatfull lippes, but they that laboure for treuth, please him. He that hath vnderst&obar;dinge, can hyde his wysdome: but an vndiscrete herte telleth out his foolishnesse. A dilig&ebar;t hande shal beare rule, but the ydle shal be vnder tribute. Heuynesse discorageth þe; herte of man, ^note but a good worde maketh it glad agayne. The righteous is liberall vnto his neghboure, but the waye of the vngodly wil disceaue them selues. A disceatfull man shal fynde no va&ubar;tage, but he that is content &wt; that he hath, is more worth th&ebar; golde. ^noteIn the waye of righteousnesse there is life, as for eny other waye, it is the path vnto death. The XIII. Chapter.

A   A wyse sonne wyll receaue his fathers warnynge, but he þt; is scornefull, wyll not heare when he is reproued. A good m&abar; shal enioye the frute of his mouth, but he that hath a frowarde mynde, shalbe spoyled. He that kepeth his mouth, kepeth his life: but who so speaketh vnaduysed, fyndeth harme. The slogarde wolde fayne haue, and can not get his desyre: but the soule of the diligent shal haue plenty. A righteous man abhorreth lyes, but the vngodly shameth both other and himself. Righteousnesse kepeth the innoc&ebar;t in the waye, but vngodlynesse shal ouerthrowe the synner.

^noteSome men are riche, though they haue nothinge: agayne, some m&ebar; are poore hauynge greate riches. With goodes euery man delyuereth his life, and the poore wyl not be reproued. The light of the righteous maketh ioyfull, ^note but the candle of the vngodly shal be put out. B   Amonge the proude there is euer strife, but amonge those that do all thinges with aduysement, there is wy&esset;dome. Hastely gott&ebar; goodes are soone spent, but they that be gathered together with the hande, shal increase. Longe tarienge for a thinge that is dyfferred, greueth þe; herte: but when the desyre commeth, it is a tre of life. Who so despyseth the worde, destroyeth himself: but he that feareth the c&obar;maundement, shal haue peace. The lawe is a wel of life vnto the wyse, that it maye kepe him from the snares of death. Good vnderstondinge geueth fauoure, but harde is the waye of the despysers. A wyse man doth all thinges with discrecion, but a foole wil declare his foly. An vngodly messa&ubar;ger bryngeth myschefe, but a faithfull embassitoure is wholsome. C   He that thinketh scorne to be refourmed, commeth to pouerte and shame: but who so receaueth correccion, shal come to honoure. When a desyre is brought to passe, it delyteth the soule: ^note but fooles abhorre him that

eschueth euell. He that goeth in the company of wyse men, shal be wyse: but who so is a c&obar;pany&obar; of fooles, shal be hurte. Myschefe foloweth vpon synners, but the rightuous shal haue a good rewarde. Which their childers childr&ebar; shal haue in possessi&obar;, for the riches of the synner is layed vp for þe; iust. ^noteThere is plenteousnesse of fode in the feldes of the poore, ∧ shalbe increased out of measure. ^noteHe that spareth the rodde, hateth his sonne: but who so loueth him, holdeth him euer in nurtoure. The rightuous eateth, and is satisfied, but þe; bely of the vngodly hath neuer ynough. The XIIII. Chapter.

A   A wyse wom&abar; vpholdeth hir house, but a foolish wife plucketh it downe.

Who so feareth the LORDE, walketh in the right path: ∧ regardeth not him that abhorreth the wayes of the LORDE. In the mouth of the foolish is the boostinge of lordshipe, but þe; lippes of þe; wyse wilbe warre of soch. Where no oxen are, there the crybb is emptie: but where the oxen laboure, there is moch frute. A faithfull wytnesse wyl not dyssemble, but a false recorde wil make a lye.

A scornefull body seketh wy&esset;dome, ∧ fyndeth it not: but knowlege is easy to come by, vnto him that wil vnderstonde. Se þt; thou medle not with a foole, ^note ∧ do as though thou haddest no knowlege. The wy&esset;dome of him that hath vnderstondinge is, to take hede vnto his waye, but the foolishnesse of the vnwyse disceaueth. Fooles make but a sporte of synne, but there is fauourable loue am&obar;ge the rightuous. B   The herte of him that hath vnderstondinge wil nether dispare for eny sorow, ner be to presumptuous for eny sodane ioye.

^noteThe houses of the vngodly shalbe ouerthrowne, but the tabernacles of þe; righteus shal florishe. There is a waye, which some men thinke to be right, but the ende therof ledeth vnto death. The herte is soroufull euen in laughter, and the ende of myrth is heuynesse. An vnfaithfull personne shal be fylled with his owne wayes, but a good m&abar; wyl bewarre of soch. An ignora&ubar;t body beleueth all thinges, but who so hath vnderstondinge, loketh well to his goinges. A wyse man, feareth, and departeth from euell, but a foole goeth on presumptuously. An vnpacient man handeleth foolishly, but he that is well aduysed, doth other wayes.

C   The ignora&ubar;t haue foolishnes in possessi&obar;, but the wyse are crowned with knowlege.

The euell shal bowe them selues before þe; good, and the vngodly shal wayte at the dores of the rightuous. The poore is hated euen of his owne neghbours, but the riche hath many frendes. Who so despyseth his neghbo&highr;, doth amysse: ^note but blessed is he that hath pyte of the poore. They that ymagin wickednes, shalbe disapoynted: but they that muse vp&obar; good thinges, vnto soch shal happen mercy and faithfulnesse. Dilig&ebar;t labo&highr; bryngeth riches, but where many vayne wordes are, truly there is scarcenesse.

Riches are an ornament vnto the wyse, but the ignoraunce of fooles is very foolishnesse. A faithfull wytnesse delyuereth soules, but a lyar dysceaueth them. The feare of the LORDE is a str&obar;ge holde, for vnto his he wyl be a sure defence. D   The feare of the LORDE is a well of life, to auoyde the snares of death. The increase and prosperite of the comons is the kynges honoure, but the decaye of the people is the confuci&obar; of the prynce. Pacience is a token of wi&esset;dome, but wrath and haistie displeasure is a token of foolishnesse. A mery herte is the life of the body, but rancoure consumeth awaye the bones. ^noteHe that doth a poore man wr&obar;ge, blasphemeth his maker: but who so hath pitie of the poore, doth honoure vnto God.

The vngodly is afrayed of euery parell, but the rightuous hath a good hope eu&ebar; in death. Wy&esset;dome resteth in the herte of him that hath vnderstondinge, and he wyll teach them that are vnlerned. ^noteRightuousnes setteth vp the people, but wyckednesse bryngeth folke to destruccion. A discrete seruaunt is a pleasure vnto þe; kynge, but one þt; is not honest, prouoketh him vnto wrath. The XV. Chapter.

A    ^noteA softe &abar;swere putteth downe displeasure, but frowarde wordes prouoke vnto anger. A wyse tonge commendeth knowlege, a foolish mouth blabbeth out nothinge but foolishnesse. The eyes of the LORDE loke in euery place, both vpon þe; good and badd. A wholsome tonge is a tre of life, but he that abuseth it, hath a broken mynde. A foole despyseth his fathers correccion, but he þt; taketh hede whan he is reproued, shal haue þe; more vnderst&obar;dinge.

In the house of the rightuous are greate riches, but in the increase of the vngodly there is mysordre. A wyse mouth poureth out knowlege, but þe; herte of the foolish doth not so. ^noteThe LORDE abhorreth þe; sacrifice of the vngodly, but the prayer of the rightuous is acceptable vnto him. The waye of the vngodly is an abhominaci&obar; vnto

þe; LORDE, but who so foloweth righteousnes, him he loueth. B   He that forsaketh þe; right strete, shalbe sore punyshed: ∧ who so hateth correccion, falleth in to death. The hell &wt; hir payne is knowne vnto the LORDE, how moch more then the hertes of men?

^noteA scornefull body loueth not one þt; rebuketh him, nether wil he come amonge þe; wyse. ^noteA mery herte maketh a chearfull countenaunce, but an vnquyet mynde maketh it heuy. A wyse herte wil seke after knowlege, but þe; mouth of fooles medleth with foolishnesse. All the dayes of the poore are miserable, but a quyete herte is as a c&obar;tynuall feast. ^noteBetter is a litle with the feare of the LORDE then greate treasure, for they are not without sorowe. C   Better is a meace of potage with loue, then a fat oxe &wt; euell will.

^noteAn angrie man stereth vp strife, but he þt; is pacient stilleth discorde. The waye of þe; slouthfull is full of thornes, but þe; strete of the rightuous is well clensed. A wyse sonne maketh a glad father, ^note but an vndiscrete body shameth his mother. A foole reioyseth in foolish thinges, but a wyse man loketh well to his owne goinges. Vnaduysed thoughtes shal come to naught, but where as are men þt; can geue councell, there is stedfastnesse. O how ioyfull a thinge is it, a man to geue a conuenient answere? O how pleasaunt is a worde spoken in due season? The waye of life ledeth vnto heau&ebar;, þt; a man shulde bewarre of hell beneth.

The LORDE wyl breake downe þe; house of þe; proude, but he shal make fast þe; borders of þe; wyddowe. D   The LORDE abhoreth þe; ymaginacions of þe; wicked, but pure wordes are pleasaunt vnto him. The couetous man wrutteth vp his owne house, but who so hateth rewardes, shal lyue. A rightuous m&abar; museth in his mynde how to do good, but þe; mynde of the vngodly ymagineth, how he maye do harme. The LORDE is farre from the vngodly, but he heareth þe; prayer of the rightuous. Like as þe; clearnesse of þe; eyes reioyseth þe; herte, so doth a good name fede þe; bones. The eare þt; harkeneth vnto wholsome warnynge, and enclyneth therto, shall dwell amonge þe; wyse. He that refuseth to be refourmed, despyseth his owne soule: but he that submytteth himself to correccion, is wyse. The XVI. Chapter.

A   The feare of þe; LORDE is þe; right scy&ebar;ce of wy&esset;dome, and lowlynes goeth before hono&highr;. A man maye well purpose a thinge in his harte, but þe; answere of þe; tonge c&obar;meth of þe; LORDE. ^noteA m&abar; thinketh all his waies to be clene, but it is þe; LORDE þt; fashioneth þe; myndes. ^noteCommytte thy workes vnto þe; LORDE, and loke what thou deuysest, it shal prospere. The LORDE doth all thinges for his owne sake, yee ∧ when he kepeth þe; vngodly for þe; daye of wrath.

The LORDE abhorreth all presumptuous ∧ proude hertes, there maye nether strength ner power escape. With louynge mercy ∧ faithfulnesse synnes be forgeuen, and who so feareth þe; LORDE eschueth euell. When a mans wayes please þe; LORDE, he maketh his very enemies to be his frendes. B   Better is it to haue a litle thinge &wt; rightuousnes, th&ebar; greate rentes wrongeously gotten. ^noteA m&abar; deuyseth a waye in his herte, but it is þe; LORDE þt; ordreth his goinges. When þe; prophecy is in þe; lippes of þe; kynge, his mouth shal not go wr&obar;ge in iudgment. ^noteA true measure ∧ a true bala&ubar;ce are þe; LORDES, he maketh all weightes. It is a greate abhominaci&obar; when kynges are wycked, for a kynges seate shulde be holden vp &wt; righteousnesse.

Righteous lippes are pleasa&ubar;t vnto kynges, and they loue him þt; speaketh þe; trueth.

The kynges displeasure is a messaunger of death, but a wyse man wyl pacifie him.

The cherefull countena&ubar;ce of þe; kynge is life, and his louynge fauo&highr; is as the euenynge dewe. ^noteTo haue wy&esset;dome in possession is better then golde, and to get vnderstondynge, is more worth then syluer. C   The path of þe; righteous eschueth euell, ∧ who so loketh well to his wayes, kepeth his owne soule.

Presumptuousnes goeth before destruccion, and after a proude stomake there foloweth a fall. Better it is to be of humble mynde &wt; the lowly, then to deuyde þe; spoyles &wt; þe; proude. He þt; handleth a matter wysely, opteyneth good: ^note ∧ blessed is he, þt; putteth his trust in þe; LORDE. Who so hath a wyse vnderstondinge, is called to councell: but he þt; can speake fayre, getteth more riches. Vnderstondinge is a well of life vnto him þt; hath it, as for þe; chastenynge of fooles, it is but foolishnesse. The herte of the wyse enfourmeth his mouth, and amendeth þe; doctryne in his lyppes.

Fayre wordes are an hony combe, a refreshinge of þe; mynde, ∧ health of þe; bones.

^noteThere is a waye þt; men thinke to be right, but the ende therof leadeth vnto death. A troublous soule disquyeteth hir selfe, for hir owne mouth hath brought her therto. D   An vngodly personne stereth vp euell, and in his lippes he is as an whote burnynge fyre.

A frowarde body causeth strife, and he þt; is a blabbe of his tonge, maketh deuysion amonge prynces. A wicked m&abar; begyleth his neghbo&highr;, ∧ ledeth him þe; waye þt; is not good.

He that wyncketh &wt; his eyes, ymagineth myschefe: and he þt; byteth his lippes, wyl do some harme. ^noteAge is a crowne of worshipe, yf it be founde in the waye of righteousnes.

A pacient man is better then one that is str&obar;ge: and he that can rule him selfe, is more worth then he þt; wynneth a cite. The lottes are cast in to the lappe, but their fall st&obar;deth in the LORDE. The XVII. Chapter.

A    ^noteBetter is a drye morsell &wt; quyetnesse, th&ebar; a full house and many fatt catell &wt; stryfe. A discrete serua&ubar;t shal haue more rule then the sonnes þt; haue no wysdome, and shal haue like heretage &wt; the brethren. ^noteLike as syluer is tried in the fyre and golde in the fornace, euen so doth the LORDE proue the hertes. A wicked body holdeth moch of false lippes, ∧ a dyssemblynge persone geueth eare to a disceatfull t&obar;ge. ^noteWho so laugheth þe; poore to scorne, blasphemeth his maker: and he þt; is glad of another mans hurte, shal not be vnpunyshed. Childers children are a worshipe vnto the elders, and the fathers are the hono&highr; of the children. An eloquent speach bec&obar;meth not a foole, a dyssemblinge mouth also besemeth not a prynce. B   Liberalite is a precious stone vnto him that hath it, for where so euer he bec&obar;meth, he prospereth. Who so couereth another mans offence, seketh loue: but he þt; discloseth the faute, setteth frendes at variaunce. One reprofe only doth more good to him þt; hath vnderst&obar;dinge, then an C. stripes vnto a foole. A sedicious personne seketh myschefe, but a cruell messaunger shal be sent agaynst him. It were better to come agaynst a she Bere robbed of hir whelpes, then agaynst a foole in his foolishnes. ^noteWho so rewardeth euell for good, the plage shal not departe fr&obar; his house. ^noteHe þt; soweth discorde ∧ strife, is like one þt; dyggeth vp a water broke: but an open enemie is like the water þt; breaketh out ∧ r&ebar;neth abrode. C   The LORDE hateth as well him þt; iustifieth þe; vngodly, as him þt; condempneth the innoc&ebar;t. What helpeth it to geue a foole money in his h&obar;de, where as he hath no mynde to bye wy&esset;dome? He is a frende that allwaye loueth, and in aduersite a man shal knowe who is his brother. ^noteWho so promiseth by the hande, ∧ is suertie for another, he is a foole. He þt; loueth strife, delyteth in synne: ∧ who so setteth his dore to hye, seketh after a fall. Who so hath a frowarde herte, opteyneth no good: and he þt; hath an ouerthwarte tonge, shal fall into myschefe. D   An vnwyse body bryngeth himselfe in to sorowe, and þe; father of a foole can haue no ioye. ^noteA mery herte maketh a lusty age, but a sorowfull m&ibar;de dryeth vp þe; bones. The vngodly taketh giftes out of the bosome, to wraist the wayes of iudgment. ^noteWy&esset;dome shyneth in þe; face of him þt; hath vnderstondinge, but þe; eyes of fooles wandre thorow out all l&obar;des. ^noteAn vndiscrete sonne is a grefe vnto his father, and heuynesse vnto his mother þt; bare him. To punysh þe; innocent, and to smyte þe; prynces þt; geue true iudgm&ebar;t, are both euell. He is wyse and discrete, þt; tempereth his wordes: ^note and he is a m&abar; of vnderst&obar;dinge, þt; maketh moch of his sprete. ^noteYee a very foole (when he holdeth his tonge) is counted wyse, and to haue vnderst&obar;dinge, when he shutteth his lippes. The XVIII. Chapter.

A   Who so hath pleasure to sowe discorde, piketh a quarell in euery thinge.

A foole hath no delyte in vnderst&obar;dinge, but only in those thinges wherin his herte reioyseth. Where vngodlynes is, there is also di&esset;dayne: ∧ so there foloweth shame ∧ dishono&highr;. The wordes of a m&abar;s mouth are like depe waters, and the well of wy&esset;dome is like a full streame. ^noteIt is not good to regarde þe; personne of the vngodly, or to put backe þe; righteous in iudgm&ebar;t. A fooles lippes are euer brawlinge, and his mouth prouoketh vnto batayll. A fooles mouth is his owne destruccion, and his lippes are þe; snare for his owne soule. The wordes of a slaunderer are very wo&ubar;des, and go thorow vnto the ynmost partes of the body. Who so is slouthfull and slacke in his labo&highr;, is þe; brother of him þe; is a waister. B   The name of þe; LORDE is a stronge castell, þe; righteous flyeth vnto it, and shalbe saued. But þe; rich m&abar;s goodes are his stronge holde, yee he taketh them for an hye wall ro&ubar;de aboute him. After pryde c&obar;meth destrucci&obar;, and hono&highr; after lowlynes. ^noteHe that geueth sent&ebar;ce in a matter before he heare it, is a foole, and worthy to be confounded. A good stomacke dryueth awaye a m&abar;s disease, but wh&abar; þe; sprete is vexed, who maye abyde it? A wyse herte laboureth for knowlege, and a prudent eare seketh vnderstondinge. Liberalite bryngeth a man to hono&highr; and worshipe, ∧ setteth him amonge greate men.

C   The righteous accuseth h&ibar; self first of all, yf his neghbo&highr; come, he shal fynde him. The lot pacifieth þe; varia&ubar;ce, ∧ parteth þe; mightie asunder. The vnite of brethren is stronger

then a castell, and they that holde together are like the barre of a palace. A mans bely shalbe satisfied with the frute of his owne mouth, and with the increase of his lippes shal he be fylled. Death and life stonde in the power of the tonge, he that loueth it, shal enioye the frute therof. ^noteWho so fyndeth a wife fyndeth a good thynge, ∧ receaueth an wholsome benefite of the LORDE. The poore maketh supplicacion and prayeth mekely, but the riche geueth a rough answere.

A frende that delyteth in loue, doth a man more fr&ebar;dshipe, and sticketh faster vnto him then a brother. The XIX. Chapter.

A    ^noteBetter is the poore that lyueth godly, th&ebar; the blasphemer that is but a foole. Where no discrecion is, there the soule is not well: and who so is swifte on fote, stombleth hastely. Foolishnesse maketh a man to go out of his waye, ∧ then is his herte vnpacient agaynst the LORDE. Riches make many frendes, but the poore is forsak&ebar; of his owne frendes. ^noteA false wytnesse shal not remayne vnpunyshed, and he that speaketh lyes shal not escape. The multitude h&abar;geth vp&obar; greate men, ∧ euery man fauoureth him that geueth rewardes. As for the poore, he is hated amonge all his brethren: yee his owne frendes forsake him, ∧ he that geueth cred&ebar;ce vnto wordes, getteth nothinge. B   He that is wyse, loueth his owne soule: and who so hath vnderstondinge, shal prospere. A false wytnesse shal not remayne vnpunyshed, ∧ he þt; speaketh lyes shal perishe. Delicate ease bec&obar;meth not a foole, moch more vnsemely is it, a bonde man to haue þe; rule of prynces. A wyse man putteth of displeasure, ∧ it is his hono&highr; to let some fautes passe.

^noteThe kynges disfauo&highr; is like þe; roaringe of a Ly&obar;, but his fr&ebar;dshpe is like the dewe vp&obar; þe; grasse. ^noteAn vndiscrete sonne is þe; heuynes of his father, ∧ a braulynge wife is like the topp of an house, where thorow it is euer droppynge. House ∧ riches maye a m&abar; haue by þe; heretage of his elders, ^note but a discrete wom&abar; is the gifte of the LORDE. C   Slouthfulnes bryngeth slepe, ∧ an ydell soule shal suffer h&obar;ger. Who so kepeth the c&obar;maundem&ebar;t, kepeth his owne soule: but he þt; regardeth not his waye, shal dye. He þt; hath pitie vpon the poore, l&ebar;deth vnto þe; LORDE: ∧ loke what he layeth out, it shalbe payed him agayne. Chast&ebar; þi; sonne whyle there is hope, but let not þi; soule be moued to slaye h&ibar;. For greate wrath bryngeth harme, therfore let him go, and so mayest thou teach him more nurtoure. O geue eare vnto good councell, ∧ be content to be refourmed, that thou mayest bewyse here after. ^noteThere are many deuices in a m&abar;s herte, neuertheles the co&ubar;cell of þe; LORDE shal st&obar;de. It is a mans worshipe to do good, ∧ better it is to be a poore m&abar;, then a dyssembler. The feare of the LORDE preserueth the life, yee it geueth pl&ebar;teousnes, D   without the visitaci&obar; of any plage. ^noteA slouthfull body shuteth his honde in to his bosome, so þt; he can not put it to his mouth. Yf thou smytest a scorneful personne, ^note the ignora&ubar;t shal take better hede: ∧ yf thou reprouest one þt; hath vnderstondinge, he wil be þe; wyser. He þt; hurteth his father or shuteth out his mother, is a shamefull ∧ an vnworthy sonne. My sonne, heare nomore the doctrine þt; leadeth the awaye from the wordes of vnderstondinge.

A false wytnes laugheth iudgm&ebar;t to scorne, ∧ the mouth of the vngodly eateth vp wickednes. Punyshmentes are ordened for the scornefull, and stripes for fooles backes. The XX. Chapter.

A    ^noteWyne is a voluptuous thinge, ∧ dr&obar;ckennes causeth sedicion: who so delyteth therin, shal neuer be wyse. ^noteThe kynge ought to be feared as the roaringe of a lyon, who so prouoketh him vnto anger, offendeth agaynst his owne soule. It is a mans honoure to kepe himself from strife, but they þt; haue pleasure in braulinge, are fooles eueryone. A slouthfull body wyl not go to plowe for colde, therfore shal he go abegginge in Sommer, and haue nothinge. Wyse councell in the herte of man is like a water in the depe of the earth, but he that hath vnderstondinge, bryngeth it forth. Many there be that are called good doers, but where shal one fynde a true faithful m&abar;? Who so ledeth a godly and an innocent life, happie shal his children be, whom he leaueth behynde him. ^note

B   A kynge that sytteth in iudgment, and loketh well aboute him, dryueth awaye all euell. Who can saye: my hert is cleane, ^note I am innocent from synne? To vse two maner of weightes, or two maner of measures, both these are abhominable vnto the LORDE.

A childe is knowne by his conuersacion, whether his workes be pure and right. As for the hearinge of the eare ∧ the sight of þe; eye, þe; LORDE hath made th&ebar; both. Delyte not thou in slepe, lest thou come vnto pouerte: but op&ebar; thine eyes, ∧ thou shalt haue bred ynough. It is naught, It is naught (saye men) whan they haue it, but whan it is gone, they geue it a good worde.

A mouth of vnderst&obar;dinge is more worth then golde, many precious stones, and costly Iewels. ^note C   Take his garment that is suertie for a straunger, ∧ take a pledge of him for þe; vnknowne mans sake. Euery m&abar; liketh the bred that is gotten with disceate, but at the last is mouth shalbe fylled with grauell.

Thorow councell the thinges that men deuyse go forwarde: ∧ with discrecion ought warres to be taken in honde. Medle not with him that bewrayeth secretes, and is a slaunderer, and disceaueth with his lippes. ^noteWho so curseth his father and mother, his light shalbe put out in the myddest of darcknesse. The heretage that commeth to haistely at the first, shal not be praysed at the ende. D   Saye not thou: I will recompence euell, but put þi; trust in the LORDE, ∧ he shal defende þe;. ^noteThe LORDE abhorreth two maner of weightes, and a false bala&ubar;ce is an euell thinge. ^noteThe LORDE ordreth euery m&abar;s goinges, for what is he, that vnderstondeth his owne wayes? It is a snare for a man to blaspheme that which is holy, ^note ∧ then to go aboute &wt; vowes. A wyse kynge destroyeth þe; vngodly, ∧ bryngeth the whele ouer them. The lanterne of þe; LORDE is þe; breth of man, ∧ goeth thorow all the inwarde partes of the body. ^noteMercy ∧ faithfulnes preserue the kynge, ∧ with louynge kyndnes his seate is holden vp. The strength of yonge men is their worshipe, ∧ a gray heade, is an hono&highr; vnto þe; aged. Woundes dryue awaye euell, and so do stripes the inwarde partes of the body. The XXI. Chapter.

A    ^noteThe kynges hert is in the hande of the LORDE, like as are the ryuers of water: he maye turne it whyther so euer he wyll. Euery man thinketh his owne waye to be right, but the LORDE iudgeth þe; hertes. ^noteTo do rightuousnesse and iudgm&ebar;t is more acceptable to the LORDE th&ebar; sacrifice.

A presumptuous loke, a proude stomacke, ∧ the lanterne of the vngodly is synne. The deuyses of one that is diligent, brynge plenteousnes: but he þt; is vnaduysed, commeth vnto pouerte. Who so hoordeth vp riches &wt; þe; disceatfulnes of his tonge, he is a foole, ∧ like vnto them that seke their owne death. The robberies of the vngodly shalbe their owne destruccion, for they wolde not do the thynge that was right. B   The wayes of the frowarde are straunge, ^note but þe; workes of him þt; is cleane, are right. It is better to dwell in a corner vnder þe; house toppe, then with a braulinge woman in a wyde house.

The soule of the vngodly wysheth euell, and hath no pitie vpon his neghboure.

When the scornefull is punyshed, the ignoraunt take þe; better hede: ∧ when a wyse man is warned, he wil receaue the more vnderstondinge. The rightuous enfourmeth the house of the vngodly, but þe; vngodly go on still after their owne wickednesse. Who so stoppeth his eare at the cri&ebar;ge of the poore, he shal crie himself and not be herde. ^noteA preuy rewarde pacifieth displeasure, and a gifte in the bosome stilleth furiousnesse.

The iust delyteth in doynge the thynge that is right, but the workers of wickednesse abhorre the same. C   The man that wandreth out of the waye of wy&esset;dome, shal remayne in the c&obar;gregacion of þe; deed. He þt; hath pleasure in banckettes, shal be a poore man: ^note Who so delyteth in wyne and delicates, shal not be riche. The vngodly shalbe geuen for the rightuous, ∧ the wicked for the iust.

^noteIt is better to dwell in a wyldernesse, th&ebar; with a chydinge and an angrie woman. In a wyse mans house there is greate treasure and plenteousnesse, but a foolish body spendeth vp all. Who so foloweth rightuousnesse and mercy, fyndeth both life, rightuousnesse and hono&highr;. A wyse man wynneth the cite of the mightie, and as for the strength þt; they trust in, he bryngeth it downe. D   Who so kepeth his mouth and his tonge, ^note the same kepeth his soule from troubles. He þt; is proude ∧ presumptuous, is called a scornefull m&abar;, which in wrath darre worke maliciously.

The voluptuousnesse of the slouthfull is his owne death, for his h&abar;des wyll not labo&highr;.

He coueteth and desyreth all the daye longe, but the rightuous is allwaye geuynge ∧ kepeth nothinge backe. ^noteThe sacrifice of the vngodly is abhominacion, for they offre the thinge þt; is gotten &wt; wickednes. ^noteA false wytnesse shal perishe, but he þt; wilbe content to heare, shal allwaye haue power to speake himself. An vngodly man goeth forth rashly, but the iust refourmeth his owne waye.

^noteThere is no wy&esset;dome, there is no vnderstondinge, there is no councell agaynst the LORDE. The horse is prepared agaynst þe; daye of battayll, but the LORDE geueth the victory. The XXII. Chapter.

A    ^noteA good name is more worth then greate riches, and louynge fauo&highr; is better then syluer and golde. Whether riches or pouerte do mete vs, it commeth all of God. A wyse man seyth the plage and hydeth himself, but the foolish go on still and are punyshed. The ende of lowlynes ∧ the

feare of God, is riches, hono&highr;, prosperite and health. Speares and snares are in þe; waye of the frowarde, but he þt; wil kepe his soule, let him fle fr&obar; soch. Yf thou teachest a childe in his youth what waye he shulde go, he shall not leaue it when he is olde. The rich ruleth the poore, and þe; borower is seruaunt to þe; lender. He þt; soweth wickednesse, shal reape sorowe, ∧ the rodde of his plage shal destroye him. ^noteA louynge eye shalbe blessed, for he geueth of his bred vnto þe; poore. B   Cast out þe; scornefull man, and so shal strife go out &wt; him, yee variaunce and slaunder shal cease. Who so delyteth to be of a clene herte and of gracious lyppes, þe; kynge shal be his frende.

The eyes of þe; LORDE preserue knowlege, but as for þe; wordes of þe; despyteful, he bryngeth them to naught. The slouthfull body sayeth: there is a ly&obar; &wt; out, I might be slayne in þe; strete. ^noteThe mouth of an harlot is a depe pytt, wherin he falleth that þe; LORDE is angrie withall. Foolishnes sticketh in the herte of þe; lad, but þe; rod of correccion driueth it awaye. Who so doth a poore man wronge to increase his owne riches, geueth (com&obar;ly) vnto the rich, and at the last commeth to pouerte himself. C   My sonne, bowe downe thine eare, and herken vnto the wordes of wy&esset;dome, applye þi; mynde vnto my doctryne: for it is a pleasaunt thinge yf thou kepe it in thine herte, and practise it in thy mouth: that thou mayest allwaye put þi; trust in the LORDE. Haue not I warned þe; very oft with councell and lerninge? þt; I might shewe þe; the treuth and that thou &wt; the verite mightest answere them þt; laye eny thinge against þe;? Se þt; thou robbe not þe; poore because he is weake, and oppresse not þe; simple in iudgment: for þe; LORDE himself wyl defende their cause, and do violence vnto them þt; haue vsed violence.

D   Make no fr&ebar;dshipe with an angrie wylfull man, and kepe no company &wt; þe; furious: lest thou lerne his wayes, and receaue hurte vnto thy soule. ^noteBe not thou one of them þt; bynde ther hande vp&obar; promyse, and are suertie for dett: for yf thou hast nothinge to paye, they shal take awaye thy bed from vnder the.
^noteThou shalt not remoue the lande marcke, which thy fore elders haue sett. Seist thou not, þt; they which be diligent in their busines stonde before kynges, and not amonge the symple people? The XXIII Chapter

A   When thou syttest at the table to eate &wt; a lorde, ordre thy self manerly &wt; þe; thinges that are set before þe; Measure thine appetite: and yf thou wilt rule thine owne self, be not ouer gredy of his meate, for meate begyleth and disceaueth.

^noteTake not ouer greate trauayle and labo&highr; to be riche, bewarre of soch a purpose. Why wilt thou set thine eye vpon þe; thinge, which sodenly vanisheth awaye? For riches make them selues wynges, and take their flight like an Aegle in to þe; ayre. Eate not thou &wt; þe; envyous, and desyre no his meate, for he hath a maruelous herte. He sayeth vnto þe;: eate and drynke, where as his herte is not &wt; þe;. Yee þe; morsels that thou hast eaten shalt thou perbreake, and lese those swete wordes. Tel nothinge in to þe; eares of a foole, for he wyl despyse the wy&esset;dome of thy wordes. Remoue not þe; olde lande marke, ^note and come not within þe; felde of the fatherlesse: For he þt; deliuereth them is mightie, euen he shal defende their cause agaynst the. B   Applie thine herte vnto lernynge, and thine eare to the wordes of knowlege. ^noteWitholde not correccion from þe; childe, for yf thou beatest him &wt; the rodde, he shal not dye therof. Thou smytest him &wt; the rodde, but thou delyuerest his soule from hell. My sonne, yf þi; herte receaue wy&esset;dome, my herte also shal reioyce: yee my reynes shalbe very glad, yf þi; lyppes speake the thinge þt; is right. ^noteLet not thine herte be gelous to folowe synners, but kepe þe; still in the feare of the LORDE all the daye l&obar;ge: for the ende is not yet come, and thy pacient abydinge shal not be in vayne. My sonne, ue eare ∧ be wyse, so shal thine hert prospere in the waye. Kepe no company &wt; wyne bebbers and ryotous eaters of flesh: for soch as be dronckardes and ryotous, ^note shal come to pouerte, ∧ he that is geuen to moch slepe, shal go &wt; a ragged cote. Geue eare vnto thy father that begat the, and despyse not thy mother whan she is olde. Labo&highr; for to get þe; treuth: sell not awaye wy&esset;dome, nourto&highr; ∧ vnderst&obar;dinge (for a righteous father is maruelous glad of a wyse sonne, ∧ delyteth in h&ibar;) so shal thy father be glad, and thy mother that bare the, shal reioyse. C   My sonne, geue me thyne herte, and let thine eyes haue pleasure in my wayes. ^noteFor an whore is a depe graue, and an harlot is a narow pytt. She lurketh like a thefe, and those that be not awarre she br&ibar;geth vnto her. Where is wo? where is sorow? where is strife? where is braulynge? where are woundes without cause? where be reed eyes? Euen amonge those that be euer at the wyne, and seke out where the best is. Loke not thou vpon the wyne, how reed it is, and what a colo&highr; it geueth in the glasse.

It goeth downe softly, but at the last it byteth

like a serp&ebar;t, and styngeth as an Adder.

So shal thine eyes loke vnto straunge women, ∧ thine herte shal muse vpon frowarde thinges. Yee thou shalt be as though thou slepte, in þe; myddest of þe; see, or vp&obar; þe; toppe of the mast. They wounded me (shalt thou saie) but it hath not hurte me, they smote me, but I felt it not. Wh&ebar; I am wel wakened, I wil go to þe; drynke agayne. The XXIIII. Chapter.

A    ^noteBe not thou gelous ouer wicked m&ebar;, ∧ desyre not thou to be amonge them.

For their herte ymagineth to do hurte, ∧ their lippes talke of myschefe. Thorow wy&esset;dome an house shalbe buylded, ∧ &wt; vnderstondinge it shalbe set vp. Thorow discrecion shal þe; ch&abar;bers be fylled &wt; all costly ∧ pleasaunt riches. A wyse m&abar; is str&obar;ge, yee a m&abar; of vnderst&obar;dinge is better, th&ebar; he þt; is mightie of str&ebar;gth. For with discrecion must warres be tak&ebar; in honde, and where as are many þt; can geue councell, there is þe; victory. Wy&esset;dome is an hie thinge, yee eu&ebar; to þe; foole, for he darre not op&ebar; his mouth in þe; gate. He þt; ymagineth myschefe, maye wel be called an vngracious personne. The thoughte of þe; foolish is synne, ∧ þe; scornefull is an abhominacion vnto m&ebar;. B   Yf thou be ouersene ∧ neclig&ebar;t in tyme of nede, th&ebar; is thy str&ebar;gth but small. Delyuer th&ebar; þt; go vnto death, ∧ are led awaie to be slaine, ∧ be not neclig&ebar;t therin. Yf thou wilt saye: I knewe not of it. Thynkest thou þt; he which made þe; hertes, doth not c&obar;sidre it? ∧ þt; he which regardeth þi; soule, seith it not? Shal not he rec&obar;pence euery man acordinge to his workes? My sonne, thou eatest hony ∧ þe; swete hony c&obar;be, because it is good ∧ swete in thy mouth. Euen so shall þe; knowlege of wysdome be vnto þi; soule, as soone as thou hast gott&ebar; it. And there is good hope, yee þi; hope shal not be in vayne. C   Laye no preuy waite wickedly vpon þe; house of þe; rightuous, ∧ disquiete not his restinge place. ^noteFor a iust m&abar; falleth seuen tymes, ∧ ryseth vp agayne, but þe; vngodly fall in to wickednes. Reioyce not thou at þe; fall of thine enemie, ^note and let not thine herte be glad whan he stombleth.

Lest þe; LORDE (when he seyth it) be angrie, ∧ turne his wrath from him vnto the. ^noteLet not þi; wrath ∧ gelousy moue þe;, to foolow þe; wicked and vngodly. And why? þe; wicked hath nothinge to hope for, ^note ∧ þe; c&abar;dle of the vngodly shall be put out. My sonne, feare thou þe; LORDE ∧ þe; kinge, ∧ kepe no c&obar;pany &wt; þe; slaunderous: for their destruccion shal come sodenly, ∧ who knoweth þe; fall of th&ebar; both?

These are also þe; sai&ebar;ges of þe; wyse.

^noteIt is not good, to haue respecte of any personne in iudgm&ebar;t. D   He þt; saieth to þe; vngodly: thou art rightuous, him shall the people curse, yee þe; com&obar;tie shal abhorre him. But they þt; rebuke þe; vngodly shalbe c&obar;mended, ∧ a riche blessinge shal come vp&obar; th&ebar;. He maketh him self to be well loued, that geueth a good answere. First make vp þi; worke þt; is &wt; out, ∧ loke well vnto þt; which thou hast in þe; felde, ∧ th&ebar; buylde thine house. Be no false wytnesse agaynst þi; neghbo&highr;, ∧ hurte him not &wt; þi; lyppes Saye not: ^note I wil h&abar;dle him, eu&ebar; as he hath dealte &wt; me, ∧ wil rewarde euery m&abar; acordinge to his dedes. I wente by þe; felde of þe; slouthfull, ∧ by þe; vynyarde of the foolish m&abar;. And lo, it was all couered &wt; nettels, ∧ stode full of thistles, ∧ þe; stone wall was brok&ebar; downe. This I sawe, ∧ c&obar;sidered it wel: I loked vp&obar; it, ∧ toke it for a warnynge. ^noteYee slepe on still a litle, sl&obar;bre a litle, folde thine h&obar;des together yet a litle: so shall pouerte come vnto the as one þt; trauayleth by þe; waye, ∧ necessite like a wapened man. The XXV. Chapter.

A   These also are Salomons prouerbes, which the men of Ezechias kinge of Iuda gathered together. It is the hono&highr; of God to kepe a thinge secrete, ^note but þe; kinges hono&highr; is to search out a thinge. The heauen is hie, þe; earth is depe, and þe; kinges hert is vnsearcheable. Take þe; drosse from þe; syluer, ∧ there shalbe a cleane vessell therof. Take awaye vngodlinesse fr&obar; þe; kynge, ∧ his seate shal be stablished &wt; rightuousnes.

Put not forth þi; self in þe; presence of þe; kynge, ∧ prease not in to þe; place of greate men.

B    ^noteBetter it is þt; it be sayde vnto þe;: come vp hither, then thou to be set downe in þe; presence of þe; prynce, whom thou seyst with thine eyes. ^noteBe not haistie to go to the lawe, lest happlie thou ordre þi; self so at þe; last, þt; thy neghbo&highr; put þe; to shame. Handle thy matter &wt; þi; neghbo&highr; himself, ∧ discouer not another mans secrete: lest whan men heare therof, it turne to þi; dishono&highr;, ∧ lest thine euell name do not ceasse. A worde spoken in due season, is like apples of golde in a syluer dyshe.

The correccion of the wyse is to an obedient eare, a golden cheyne and a Iewel of golde. Like as the wynter coole in the haruest, so is a faithfull messaunger to him that sent him, ∧ refre&esset;sheth his masters mynde.

C   Who so maketh greate boastes ∧ geueth nothinge, is like cloudes ∧ wynde without rayne. ^noteWith pacience maye a prynce be pacified, ∧ &wt; a soft tonge maye rigorousnes be brok&ebar;. Yf thou findest hony, eate so moch as is suffici&ebar;t for þe;: lest thou be ouer full, ∧ perbreake it out againe. Withdrawe þi; foote fr&obar;

thy neghbours house, lest he be weery of the, and so abhorre the. Who so beareth false wytnesse agaynst his neghboure, he is a very speare, a swearde ∧ a sharpe arowe. The hope of the vngodly in tyme of nede, is like a rotten toth and a slippery foote. Who so syngeth a songe to a wicked herte, clotheth h&ibar; with ragges in the colde, and poureth vyneger vpon chalke. D   Yf thine enemie honger, fede him: ^note yf he thyrst, geue him drynke: for so shalt thou heape coales offyre vp&obar; his heade, and the LORDE shal rewarde the. The north wynde dryueth awaye the rayne, euen so doth an earnest sober countena&ubar;ce a backbyters tonge. ^noteIt is better to syt in a corner vnder the rofe, then &wt; a braulynge woman in a wyde house. A good reporte out of a farre countre, is like colde water to a thyrstie soule. A righteous man fallynge downe before the vngodly, is like a troubled well and a sprynge þt; is destroyed. ^noteLike as it is not good to eate to moch hony, euen so he that wyll search out hye thynges, it shal be to heuy for him. He that can not rule himself, is like a cite, which is broken downe, and hath no walles. The XXVI. Chapter.

A   Like as snowe is not mete in sommer, ner rayne in haruest: euen so is worshipe vnsemely for a foole. Like as þe; byrde and the swalowe take their flight and fle here and there, so the curse that is geuen in vayne, shal not light vpon a man. ^noteVnto the horse belongeth a whyppe, to the Asse a brydle, and a rodde to the fooles backe. Geue not the foole an answere after his foolishnesse, lest thou become like vnto him: but make þe; foole an answere to his foolishnesse, lest he be wyse in his owne c&obar;ceate. He is lame of his fete, yee droncken is he in vanite, that c&obar;mitteth eny thinge to a foole. Like as it is an vnsemely th&ibar;ge to haue legges ∧ yet to halte, eu&ebar; so is a parable in þe; fooles mouth.

He þt; setteth a foole in hye dignite, þt; is eu&ebar; as yf a man dyd cast a precious stone vp&obar; þe; galous. B   A parable in a fooles mouth, is like a thorne þt; pricketh a droncken man in þe; hande. A man of experience discerneth all thinges well, but whoso hyreth a foole, hyreth soch one as wyl take no hede. ^noteLike as the dogg turneth agayne to his vomite, euen so a foole begynneth his foolishnesse agayne afresh. Yf thou seyest a man þt; is wyse in his owne conceate, there is more hope in a foole then in h&ibar;. ^noteThe slouthfull sayeth: there is a leoparde in þe; waye, and a lyon in þe; myddest of the stretes. Like as the dore turneth aboute vpon the tresholde, euen so doth the slouthfull welter himself in his bedd. ^noteThe slouthfull body thrusteth his h&obar;de in to his bosome, and it greueth him to put it agayne to his mouth. The slogarde thinketh him self wyser, then vij. men that sytt and teach.

Who so goeth by and medleth with other mens strife, he is like one þt; taketh a dogg by þe; eares. C   Like as one shuteth deadly arowes and dartes out of a preuy place, ^note euen so doth a dyssembler with his neghboure, And then sayeth he: I dyd it but in sporte. Where no wodd is, there the fyre goeth out: ^note and where the bacbyter is taken awaye, there the strife ceaseth. Coles kyndle heate, and wodd þe; fyre: euen so doth a braulinge felowe stere vp variaunce. A slaunderers wordes are like flatery, but they pearse þe; inwarde partes of þe; body. Venymous lippes ∧ a wicked herte, are like a potsherde couered &wt; syluer drosse. An enemie dyssembleth with his lippes, and in the meane season he ymagineth myschefe: but wh&abar; he speaketh fayre, beleue him not, for there are seuen abhominaci&obar;s in his herte. Who so kepeth euell will secretly to do hurte, his malyce shalbe shewed before the whole congregacion. ^noteWho so dyggeth vp a pytt, shal fal therin: and he þt; weltreth a stone, shal stomble vpon it hymselfe.

A dyssemblynge tonge hateth one that rebuketh him, and a flater&ibar;ge mouth worketh myschefe. The XXVII. Chapter.

A    ^noteMake not thy boost of tomorow, for thou knowest not what maye happen todaye. Let another m&abar; prayse the, ∧ not thine owne mouth: yee other folkes lippes, and not thyne. The stone is heuy, and the sonde weightie: but a fooles wrath is heuyer then they both. Wrath is a cruell th&ibar;ge, and furiousnesse is a very tempest: yee who is able to abyde envye? An open rebuke is better, then a secrete loue.
^noteFaithfull are the woundes of a louer, but þe; kysses of an enemie are disceatfull. He that is full, abhorreth an hony combe: but vnto him that is h&obar;grie, euery sower thinge is swete. He that oft tymes flytteth, is like a byrde þt; forsaketh hir nest. The herte is glad of a swete oyntment and sauoure, but a stomacke that c&abar; geue good councell, reioyseth a mans neghboure. B   Thyne owne frende and thy fathers frende se thou forsake not, but go not in to thy brothers house in tyme of thy trouble.

Better is a frende at h&obar;de, then a brother farre of. My sonne, be wyse, and thou shalt make me a glad herte: so that I shal make answere vnto my rebukers. A wyse man seynge the plage wyl hyde him self, as for fooles they go on still, and suffer harme. ^noteTake his garment that is suertie for a straunger, ∧ take a pledge of him for the vnknowne mans sake. He that is to hastie to praise his neghboure aboue measure, ^note shalbe taken as one þt; geueth him an euell reporte. A brawlynge woman and the rofe of the house droppynge in a raynie daye, maye well be compared together. He that refrayneth her, refrayneth the wynde, and holdeth oyle fast in his h&obar;de. C   Like as one yr&obar; whetteth another, so doth one man comforte another. Who so kepeth his fyge tre, shal enioye the frutes therof: he that wayteth vpon his master, shal come to honoure. Like as in one water there apeare dyuerse faces, eu&ebar; so dyuerse men haue dyuerse hertes. ^noteLike as hell ∧ destruccion are neuer full, euen so the eyes of m&ebar; can neuer be satisfied. Syluer is tryed in the moulde, ∧ golde in the fornace, ∧ so is a man, whan he is openly praysed to his face. Though thou shuldest bray a foole &wt; a pestell in a morter like otemeell, yet wil not his foolishnesse go from him. ^noteSe þt; thou knowe the nombre of thy catell thy self, and loke well to thy flockes. For riches abyde not allwaye, ∧ the crowne endureth not for euer. The hay groweth, þe; grasse c&obar;meth vp, ∧ herbes are gathered in þe; mountaines.

The lambes shal clothe the, ∧ for the goates thou shalt haue money to þi; hu&esset;bondry.

Thou shalt haue goates mylck ynough to fede the, to vpholde thy husholde, ∧ to susteyne thy maydens. The XXVIII. Chapter.

A    ^noteThe vngodly flyeth no man chasynge him, but the rightuous stondeth stiff as a lyon. Because of synne þe; londe doth oft chaunge hir prynce: but thorow men of vnderstondinge ∧ wy&esset;dome a realme endureth longe. One poore man oppressinge another by violence, is like a contynuall rayne that destroyeth þe; frute. They that forsake the lawe, prayse þe; vngodly; but soch as kepe the lawe, abhorre them. ^noteWicked men discerne not the thinge þt; is right, but they that seke after the LORDE, discusse all thinges. ^noteA poore man ledynge a godly life, is better then the riche that goeth in frowarde wayes. Whoso kepeth the lawe, is a childe of vnderstondinge: but he þt; fedeth ryotous men, shameth his father. B   Who so increaseth his riches by va&ubar;tage ∧ wynnynge, let him gather them to helpe the poore withall. ^noteHe that turneth awaye his eare from hearinge þe; lawe, his prayer shalbe abhorred. Who so ledeth þe; rightuous in to an euell waye, shal fall in to his owne pytt, but þe; iust shal haue the good in possession.

The rich man thynketh him self to be wyse, but the poore that hath vnderstondinge, c&abar; perceaue him wel ynough. ^noteWhen rightuous men are in prosperite, th&ebar; doth honoure florish: but when the vngodly come vp, þe; state of men chaungeth. He that hydeth his synnes, shall not prospere: but who so knowlegeth them and forsaketh them, shall haue mercy. Well is him that st&obar;deth allwaye in awe: as for him that hardeneth his herte, he shal fall in to mischefe. C   Like as a roaringe lyon and an hongrie beer, euen so is an vngodly prynce ouer the poore people.

Where the prynce is without vnderstondinge, there is greate oppression ∧ wronge: but yf he be soch one as hateth couetousnesse, he shal longe raigne. ^noteHe that by viol&ebar;ce sheddeth eny mans bloude, shal be a rennagate vnto his graue, and no man shal be able to suco&highr; him. ^noteWho so leadeth a godly and an innoc&ebar;t life, shalbe safe: but he that goeth frowarde wayes, shall once haue a fall. ^noteHe þt; tylleth his londe, shal haue plenteousnesse of bred: but he that foloweth ydilnesse, shal haue pouerte ynough. A faithfull man is greatly to be comm&ebar;ded, but he that maketh to moch haist for to be riche, ^note shal not be vngiltie. To haue respecte of personnes in iudgment is not good: And why? he will do wronge, yee euen for a pece of bred. D   He that will be rich all to soone, hath an euell eye, and considereth not, that pouerte shall come vpon him. He that rebuketh a man, shall fynde more fauoure at þe; last, th&ebar; he that flatreth him. ^noteWho so robbeth his father and mother, and sayeth it is no synne: the same is like vnto a mortherer.

He that is of a proude stomacke, stereth vp strife: but he that putteth his trust in þe; LORDE, shalbe well fedd. He that trusteth in his owne hert, is a foole: ^note but he that dealeth wisely, shalbe safe. He that geueth vnto the poore, shal not wante: but he that turneth awaye his eyes from soch as be in necessite, shall suffre greate pouerte himself.

^noteWhan the vngodly are come vp, men are fayne to hyde them selues: but wh&ebar; they perish, the rightuous increase. The XXIX. Chapter.

A   He that is stiffnecked ∧ wyll not be refourmed, shal sodenly be destroyed &wt; out eny helpe. ^noteWhere þe; rightuous haue the ouer hande, þe; people are in prosperite: but where the vngodly beareth rule, there þe; people mourne. Who so loueth wy&esset;dome, maketh his father a glad man: ^note but he þt; kepeth harlottes, sp&ebar;deth awaye þt; he hath. With true iudgment þe; kynge setteth vp the londe, but yf he be a man þt; taketh giftes, he turneth it vpsyde downe. Who so flatreth his neghbo&highr;, layeth a nette for his fete. The synne of þe; wicked is his owne snare, but þe; righteous shal be glad and reioyse. The righteous considreth the cause of the poore, but the vngodly regardeth no vnderstondynge. Wicked people brynge a cite in decaye, but wyse men set it vp agayne. Yf a wyse man go to lawe with a foole (whether he deale with him frendly or roughly) he getteth no rest. B   The bloudethyrstie hate the rightuous, but the iust seke his soule. A foole poureth out his sprete alltogether, but a wyse man kepeth it in till afterwarde.

If a prynce delyte in lyes, all his seruauntes are vngodly. The poore and the lender mete together, the LORDE lighteneth both their eyes. ^noteThe seate of the kinge þt; faithfully iudgeth the poore, shal continue sure for euermore. The rodde and correccion mynistre wy&esset;dome, but yf a childe be not loked vnto, he bryngeth his mother to shame. When the vngodly come vp, wickednesse increaseth: but the rightuous shall se their fall. Nurtoure thy sonne with correccion, and he shal comforte the, yee he shal do the good at thine hert. Where no prophet is, there the people perishe: but well is him that kepeth the lawe. C   A serua&ubar;t wil not be the better for wordes, for though he vnderstonde, yet wil he not regarde them.

Yf thou seyst a man that is haistie to speake vnaduysed, thou mayest trust a foole more then him. He that delicately bryngeth vp his seruaunt from a childe, shal make him his master at length. An angrie man stereth vp strife, and he that beareth euell wyll in his mynde, doth moch euell. After pryde commeth a fall, ^note but a lowly sprete bryngeth greate worshipe. Who so kepeth company &wt; a thefe, hateth his owne soule: he heareth blasphemies, ∧ telleth it not forth.

He that feareth men, shal haue a fall: but who so putteth his trust in the LORDE, shal come to hono&highr;. Many there be that seke þe; prynces fauoure, but euery mans iudgment commeth from the LORDE.
The rightuous abhorre the vngodly: but as for those that be in þe; right waye, þe; wicked hate them. The XXX. Chapter. The wordes of Agur the sonne of Iake.

A   The prophecie of a true faithfull man, wh&obar; God hath helped, whom God hath c&obar;forted ∧ norished. For though I am þe; leest of all, ∧ haue no m&abar;s vnderst&obar;d&ibar;ge (for I neuerlerned wi&esset;dome) yet haue I vnderst&obar;dinge ∧ am wel enfourmed in godly thinges. Who hath clymmed vp &ibar; to heauen? Who hath come downe from thence?

Who hath holden þe; wynde fast in his h&abar;de? Who hath c&obar;prehended þe; waters in a garment? Who hath set all the endes of þe; worlde? What is his name, or his sonnes name? Canst thou tell? ^noteAll the wordes of God are pure ∧ cleane, for he is a shylde vnto all them, that put their trust in him. ^notePut thou nothinge therfore vnto his wordes, lest he reproue the, and thou be founde as a lyar.

Two thinges I requyre of the, that thou wilt not denye me before I dye. Remoue fro me vanite and lyes: geue me nether pouerte ner riches, only graunte me a necessary lyuynge. Lest yf I be to full, I denye þe;, ∧ saye: ^note what felowe is þe; LORDE? And lest I beinge constrayned thorow pouerte, fall vnto stealinge, and forsweare the name of my God.

B   Accuse not a seruaunt vnto his master, lest he speake euell of the also, and thou be hurte. He that bryngeth vp an euell reporte vp&obar; the generacion of his father and mother, is not worthy to be commended.

The generacion that thynke them selues cleane, shal not be clensed from their fylthynesse. There are people þt; haue a proude loke, and cast vp their eye lyddes. This peoples tethe are swerdes, and with their chaft bones they consume and deuoure the symple of the earth, and the poore from amonge m&ebar;.

This generacion (which is like an horsleche) hath two doughters: þe; one is called, fetch hither: the other, brynge hither.

There be thre thinges that are neuer satisfied, and the fourth saieth neuer hoo. The hell, a womans wombe, ^note and the earth hath neuer water ynough. As for fyre, it sayeth neuer: hoo. ^noteWho so laugheth his father to scorne, and setteth his mothers comma&ubar;dement at naught: the rauens pycke out his eyes in the valley, and deuoured be he of the yongle Aegles.

^noteThere be thre thinges to hye for me, and as for the fourth, it passeth my knowlege.

The waye of an Aegle in þe; ayre, þe; waye of a serpent ouer þe; stone, þe; waye of a shippe in þe; see, ∧ þe; waye of a m&abar; &wt; a yonge wom&abar;. Soch is the waye also of a wyfe þt; breaketh wedlocke, which wypeth hir mouth like as wh&abar; she hath eat&ebar;, ∧ sayeth: As for me, I haue done no harme. C   Thorow thre thinges the earth is disquieted, ∧ the fourth maye it not beare: Thorow a serua&ubar;t þt; beareth rule, thorow a foole þt; hath greate riches, thorow an ydle houswife, ∧ thorow an handmayden þt; is heyre to hir mastres. There be foure thinges in the earth, the which are very litle: but in wy&esset;dome they exceade the wyse. ^noteThe Emmettes are but a weake people, yet gather they their meate together in þe; haruest.

The conyes are but a feble folke, yet make they their couches amonge the rockes. The greshoppers haue not a gyde, yet go they forth together by heapes. The spyder laboureth &wt; hir h&abar;des, ∧ þt; in þe; kynges palace.

There be thre thinges þt; go stiffly, but the goinge of the fourth is the goodliest of all. A Lyon which is kynge of beastes, ∧ geueth place to no man: A cock ready to fight: A r&abar;me: And a kynge þt; goeth forth &wt; his people.

Yf thou be so foolish to magnifie þi; self, or medlest &wt; eny soch thinge, th&ebar; laye thine h&abar;de vpon þi; mouth. Who so chyrneth mylck, maketh butter: he that rubbeth his nose, maketh it blede, and he that causeth wrath, bryngeth forth strife. The XXXI. Chapter.

A   These are the wordes of Kynge Lamuel, ∧ þe; lesson þt; his mother taught him. My sonne, thou sonne of my body: O my deare beloued sonne, geue not ouer thy substaunce ∧ mynde vnto women, which are the destrucci&obar; eu&ebar; of kynges. O Lamuel, geue kinges no wyne, geue kynges ∧ prynces no stronge drynke: lest they beinge dronken forget the lawe, ∧ regarde not þe; cause of the poore, ∧ of all soch as be in aduersite. Geue stronge drynke vnto soch as are condempned to death, ∧ wyne vnto those þt; mourne: that they maye drynke it, ∧ forget their misery ∧ aduersite. Be thou an aduocate ∧ stonde in iudgment thyself, to speake for all soch as be d&obar;me ∧ sucourles. With þi; mouth defende þe; thinge þt; is laufull and right, and þe; cause of þe; poore and helplesse.

B   Who so fyndeth an honest faithful wom&abar;, she is moch more worth th&ebar; perles. The herte of hir husbande maye safely trust in her, so that he shal haue no nede of spoyles.

She wil do him good ∧ not euel all þe; dayes of hir life. She occupieth woll ∧ flax, ∧ laboureth gladly &wt; hir handes. C   She is lik&ebar; a marchauntes shippe, that bryngeth hir vytayles from farre. She is vp in þe; night season, to prouyde meate for hir housholde, ∧ foode for hir maydens. She considreth l&obar;de, ∧ byeth it, and &wt; the frute of hir handes she planteth a vynyarde. She gyrdeth hir loynes with strength, and courageth hir armes. And yf she perceaue that hir houswifrie doth good, hir candle goeth not out by night. She layeth hir fyngers to the spyndle, ∧ hir hande taketh holde of þe; rocke.

She openeth hir hande to þe; poore, yee she stretcheth forth hir h&abar;des to soch as haue nede. She feareth not þt; the colde of wynter shal hurte hir house, for all hir housholde folkes are duble clothed. She maketh hir self fayre ornam&ebar;tes, hir cloth&ibar;ge is whyte sylke ∧ purple. D   Hir hu&esset;b&abar;de is moch set by in þe; gates, wh&ebar; he sytteth amonge þe; rulers of þe; londe. She maketh cloth of sylke ∧ selleth it, and delyuereth a gyrdle vnto þe; marcha&ubar;t.

Str&ebar;gth and honoure is hir clothinge, ∧ in the latter daye she shal reioyse. She openeth hir mouth with wy&esset;dome, ∧ in hir t&obar;ge is the lawe of grace. She loketh wel to the wayes of hir housholde, ∧ eateth not hir bred with ydilnes. Hir children arise ∧ call hir blessed, ∧ hir hu&esset;bande maketh moch of her. Many daughters there be þt; gather riches together, but thou goest aboue th&ebar; all.

As for fauo&highr;, it is disceatfull, and beutie is a vayne thinge: but a woman that feareth the LORDE, she is worthy to be praysed. Geue her of the frute of hir handes, and let hir owne workes prayse her in the gates. The ende of the prouerbes of Salomon.

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