Many and greate m&ebar; haue declared wysdome vnto vs out of the lawe, out of the Prophetes and oute of other that folowed them. In the which thynges Israell ought to be commended, by the reason of doctryne and wysdome: Therfore, they that haue it and reade it, shuld not onely them selues be wyse there thorow, but serue other also with teachynge and wrytynge.

After that my graundefather IESUS had geue diligent laboure to reade the lawe, the Prophetes and other bokes that were left vs of oure fathers, &abar;d had well exercised hym selfe therin: he purposed also to wryte some thyng of wysdome ∧ good maners, to the intent that they which were willynge to learne and to be wyse, myght haue þe; more vnderstandynge, and be the more apte to leade a good conuersacyon.

Wherfore, I exhorte you to receaue it louyngly, to reade it with diligence, ∧ to take it in good worth, though oure wordes be not so eloquent as the famous oratours. For the thyng þt; is wrytten in the Hebrue tonge, soundeth not so well when it is translated into another speache. Not onely this boke of myne, but also the law, the Prophetes &abar;d other bokes sounde farre other wyse, then they do, wh&ebar; they are spok&ebar; in their awne language.

Now in the .xxxviii. yeare When I came into Egypte in the tyme of Ptolomy Euerges ∧ continued there all my lyfe, I gat libertye to reade and wryte many good th&ibar;ges.

Wherfore, I thought it good and necessary, to bestowe my diligence and trauayle to interprete this boke. And consyderynge that I had tyme, I laboured and dyd my best to perfourme thys boke, and to brynge it vnto lyght: that the straungers also which are dysposed to lerne, myght applye them selues vnto good maners and lyue accordynge to the lawe of the Lorde. ¶ Ecclesiasticus. ¶ The fyrst Chapter. ¶ Wysdome proceadeth and commeth of God. A prayse of the feare of God. Ryghteousnes is a degre to come by wysdome.

A   All wysdome ^note commeth of God the Lorde, and hath bene euer with hym, and is before all tyme. Who had nombred the sande of the see, þe; droppes of þe; rayne, ∧ the dayes of tyme? Who hath measured þe; heygth of heauen, þe; bredth of the earth, ∧ the depnesse of the see? Who hath sought out þe; grounde of Goddes wysdome, which hath bene before all thynges? ^noteWysdome hath bene before all thynges, and the vnderstandynge of prudence from euerlastynge. (Gods worde in the heygth is the well of wysdome, and the euerlasting c&obar;maundementes are the entra&ubar;ce of her.)

Unto whom hath the rote of wysdome bene declared? Or who hath known&ebar; her wyt? Unto wh&obar; hath þe; doctrine of wysdome bene discouered ∧ shewed? &abar;d who hath vnderstande þe; many folde entra&ubar;ce of her?

B   There is one: euen the Hyest, the maker of all thynges, the Allmyghtye, the kyng, of power (of whom men ought to stande greatly in awe) which sytteth vpon his trone, beinge a God of domini&obar;: He hath created her thorow the holy goost: he hath sene her, nombred her, &abar;d measured her: He hath poured her out vpon all hys workes, and vpon all flesh accordynge to hys gyft: he geueth her rychely vnto th&ebar; that loue hym: The feare of the Lorde is worshyppe and triumphe, gladnesse and a ioyfull crowne: The feare of the Lord maketh a mery hert, geueth gladnesse, ioye and longe lyfe. Who so feareth the Lorde, it shall go well wyth hym at the last, and in þe; daye of hys death he shall be blessed.

C   The loue of God is honorable wysdome: loke vnto whom it appeareth, they loue yt, for they se what wonderous th&ibar;ges it doth. ^noteThe feare of the Lorde ys þe; begynn&ibar;g of wysdome, &abar;d was made with the faythfull in the mothers wombe: yt shall go wyth the chosen wemen, and shalbe knowne of the ryghteous and faythfull. The feare of the Lorde is the ryght Gods seruyce, that preserueth

and iustifieth the herte, and geueth myrth ∧ gladnesse. Who so feareth þe; Lord shall be happie, and when he hath nede of c&obar;forte, he shall be blessed. To feare God is the wysdome that maketh rich, and br&ibar;geth all good with her. She fylleth the whole house with her gyfttes, and the garners with her treasure. The feare of the Lord is the crowne of wysdome, and geueth plenteous peace and health. He hath sene her ∧ nombred her: (both these are the giftes of God) knowledge and vnderstandinge of wisdome hath he poured out as rayne, and th&ebar; that helde her fast, hath he brought vnto honour.

D   The feare of the Lord is the rote of wysdome, and her braunches are longe lyfe. In the treasures of wisdome is vnderst&abar;dinge and deuocyon of knowledge, but wysdome is abhorred of synners. The feare of þe; Lord dryueth out synne: for he that is without feare cannot be made righteous, and his wylfull boldnes is his awne destruccyon. A pacient man wyll suffre vnto the tyme, ∧ then shall he haue þe; rewarde of ioye. A good vnderstandinge wyll hide his wordes for a tyme, ∧ many mens lippes shall speake of his wysdome. In the treasurs of wysdome is þe; declaracyon of doctryne, but the synner abhoreth the worshippe of God. My sonne, yf thou desire wisdome, kepe the commaundement, and God shall geue her vnto the: for the feare of the Lorde is wysdome and nurture, he hath pleasure in fayth and louynge mekenesse, ∧ he shall fill the treasures therof. Be not obstinate and vnfaythfull to the feare of the Lorde, and come not vnto hym with a double hert. Be not an ypocrite in þe; syght of m&ebar;, and take good hede what thou speakest. Marcke well these thynges, lest þu; happ&ebar; to fall and brynge thy soule to dishonoure, and so God discouer thy secretes, and cast the downe in the middest of the congregacyon: because thou woldest not receaue þe; feare of God, and because thy herte is full of faynednes and disceate. ¶ The .ii. Chapter. ¶ He exhorteth the seruauntes of God to ryghteousnes, loue, vnderstandynge, and pacience, ∧ exhorteh him that feareth God, to beleue, to hope, and to loue, because God nether confoundeth ner forsaketh them þt; trust in hym. A cursse vpon the sotell, fearce, and impacyent of herte.

A   My sonne, ^note yf thou wilt come into þe; seruice of God, stande fast in righteousnes and feare, and arme thy soule to t&ebar;tacyon: settle thyne hert and be pacyent: bowe downe thyne eare, receaue the wordes of vnderstandynge, and shryncke not awaye, wh&ebar; thou art entysed. Holde the fast vp&obar; God, ioyne thy selfe vnto him, and suffre that thy life maye encreace þe; last. Whatsoeuer happeneth vnto þe; receaue it: suffre in heuynesse, and be pacient in thy trouble. ^noteFor lyke as golde ∧ syluer are tryed in the fyre, euen so are acceptable m&ebar; in þe; fornace of aduersite. Beleue &ibar; God, ∧ he shall helpe the: ordre thy waye a ryght, and put thy trust in him. Hold fast his feare and growe therin. O ye that feare the Lord take sure holde of his mercy: shrincke not awaye from him, that ye fall not. O ye that feare þe; Lord, beleue him, and your reward shall not be emptie. O ye that feare þe; Lord, put your trust in him, and mercy shall come vnto you for pleasure. O ye þt; feare þe; Lord, set youre loue vpon hym, and youre hertes shalbe lyghtened.

B   Consydre the olde generacions of m&ebar; (O ye children) ∧ marcke them well: ^note was there euer eny one confo&ubar;ded, that put his trust in the Lord? Who euer continued in his feare, and was forsak&ebar;? Or whom dyd he euer despise, that called faithfully vp&obar; him? For God is gracyous ∧ mercyfull, he forgeueth sinnes in the tyme of trouble, and is a defender for all them that seke him in the trueth. Wo be vnto him, þt; hath a double hert, wycked lippes and euell occupied handes, and to the sinner that goeth two maner of wayes. Wo be vnto th&ebar; þt; are loose of herte, which put not their trust in God, ∧ therfore shall they not be defended of hym. Wo be vnto th&ebar; that haue lost pacience, forsaken þe; right wayes, and are turned back into frowarde wayes. What will they do, when the Lord shall begynne to vyset them?

C   They that feare the Lord, wyll not mistrust his worde, and they þt; ^note loue him wyll kepe his commaundem&ebar;t. They that feare the Lord, will seke out the thinges, that are pleasaunt vnto him, ^note ∧ they that loue him: shall fulfyll hys lawe. They that feare the Lord, wyll prepare theyr hertes, and humble their soules in his sight. They that feare þe; Lord, kepe hys commaundem&ebar;tes, and will be pacient tyll they se him self, saying: ^note better it is for vs to fall into þe; h&abar;des of þe; Lorde, then into the handes of men: for hys mercy is as greate as hym selfe. ¶ The .iii. Chapter. ¶ To oure father and mother ought we to geue double honour. Of the blessynge and cursse of the father and mother. No m&abar; ought ouer curyously to searche out the secretes of God.

A   The chyldren of wysdome are a congregacion of the righteous, and their excercyse is obedience and loue. Heare me youre father (O my deare chyldren) and do there after, that ye maye be safe.

^noteFor þe; Lorde wyll haue the father honoured of the children: and loke what a mother comma&ubar;deth her childr&ebar; to do, he will haue it kepte. Who so honoureth hys father, his synnes shall be forgeuen him: ^note ∧ he that honoureth

his mother is lyke one þt; gathereth treasure together. Who so honoureth his father, shall haue ioye of his awne chyldren: ∧ wh&ebar; he maketh his prayer he shall be herde. He þt; honoureth his father, shall haue a l&obar;ge lyfe: and he that is obedyent for the Lordes sake, his mother shall haue ioye of hym.

B   He that feareth the Lorde, honoureth his father ∧ mother, and doth th&ebar; seruyce, as it were vnto the Lord him selfe. Honoure thy father in dede, in worde ∧ in all paci&ebar;ce, that thou mayest haue Gods blessinge, ∧ his blessinge shall abyde with the at the last.

^noteThe blessing of the father buyldeth vp the houses of the childr&ebar;, but þe; mothers curse roteth out the foundacions. Reioyse not wh&ebar; thy father is reproued, for it is not honoure vnto the, but a shame. For the worshipe of a m&abar;s father is his awne worship, ∧ where the father is without honour, it is the dishonesty of the sonne. My s&obar;ne, make moch of thy father &ibar; his age, and greue him not as longe as he liueth. And yf his vnderstandynge fayle, haue pacyence wyth hym, and despise him not in thy strength. For the good dede þt; thou shewest vnto thy father, shal not be forgott&ebar;, and when thou thy self wantest, it shall be rewarded the (∧ for thy mothers offence thou shalt be recompensed with good, yee it shall be founded for the in ryghteousnes) and in the daye of trouble þu; shalt be remembred: thy synnes also shall melt awaye, like as the yse in the fayre warme wether.

C   He that forsaketh hys father, shall come to shame: and he that defieth his mother, is cursed of God. My sonne, perfourme thy worckes with louynge mekenesse, so shalt þu; be loued aboue other m&ebar;. The greater thou art, þe; more humble thy self (in all thinges) and thou shalt fynde fauour in the syght of God. For greate power bel&obar;geth onely vnto God, and he is honoured of the lowlye.

^noteSeke not out the thynges þt; are aboue thy capacite, and search not the grounde of soch thinges as are to myghtye for the: but loke what God hath comma&ubar;ded the: thynke vpon that all waye, and be not curyous in many of his worckes. For it is not nedefull for the, to se wyth thyne eyes the thynges þt; are secrete. Make not thou to moche search in superfluous thinges, and be not curious &ibar; many of his workes: for many thinges are shewed vnto the all ready, which be aboue the capacite, of men. The medlinge &wt; soch hath begiled many a man, and tangled their wittes in vanite. Now he that loueth parell, shall perish therin.

D   An harde herte shall fare euell at the last: (and he that loueth daunger, shall peryshe therin) an hert that goeth two wayes, shall not prospere: and he that is froward of hert wyll euer be worse and worsse. A wycked hert shalbe laden with sorowes, and the vngodly synner wil heape one synne vp&obar; an ather. The co&ubar;cel of þe; proude hath no health for the plante of synne shall be roted out in th&ebar;, and not knowne. The hert of hym that hath vnderst&abar;dinge shall perceaue hye thinges, and a good eare will gladly herken vnto wisdome. An herte that is wise and hath vnderst&abar;dinge, will abstayne from synnes, and increase &ibar; the worckes of righteousnes. Water quencheth burnynge fyre, ^note ∧ mercy reconcileth synnes. God hath respecte vnto him that is thanckfull: he thyncketh vpon him agaynst þe; tyme to come: so that wh&ebar; he falleth, he shall fynde a stronge holde. ¶ The .iiii. Chapter. ¶ Almes must be done with all meakenes. The studye of wysdome ∧ her frute. A iudge ought to be mercyfull. An exhortacyon to eschue euell and to do good.

A   My sonne, ^note defraude not þe; poore of hys almes, and turne not awaye thine eyes fr&obar; hym that hath nede. Despise not an hongrye soule, and defie not the poore in his necessite: greue not the herte of him that is helplesse, and withdrawe not the gift from the nedefull. Refuse not þe; prayer of one that is in trouble, turne not awaye thy face from the nedy. Cast not thyne eyes asyde from þe; poore, for anye euell wyll, that thou geue hym not occasion to speake euell of the. For yf he complayne of the in þe; bytternes of his soule, his prayer shall be herde: euen he that made him, shall heare him. Be curteous vnto the company of the poore, h&ubar;ble thy soule vnto the elder, and bowe downe thy head to a man of worshippe. Let it not greue the to bowe downe thine eare vnto þe; poore, but paye thy dett, and geue him a frendly answere, and that &wt; mekenesse.

B    ^noteDelyuer him that suffreth wronge from the h&abar;de of the oppressour, and be not faynt harted when thou syttest in iudgement. Be mercyfull vnto the fatherlesse as a father, ∧ be in steade of an husbande vnto their mother: so shalt thou be as an obedi&ebar;t sonne of the Hiest, and he shall loue the more th&ebar; thy mother doth: Wysdome bretheth lyfe into her children, receaueth them that seke her, ∧ will go before th&ebar; in the waye of righteousnes. He that loueth her, loueth life: and they that seke her dilygently, shall haue greate ioye. They that kepe her, shall haue the heritage of lyfe: for where she entreth in, there is the blessyng of God. They that honoure her, shall be the seruauntes of the holy one: and they that loue hyr, are beloued of God. Who so geueth eare vnto her, shall iudge þe; Heath&ebar;: and he that hath respecte vnto her, shall dwell safely.

C   He that beleueth her, shal haue her in possession, and hys generacion shall endure: for when he falleth, she doth go with hym, and choseth him among the best. Feare, drede ∧ temptacion shall she brynge vpon him, and trye him in her doctrine: tyll she haue so proued him in his thoughtes, that he commytt his soule vnto her. Then shall she stablishe hym, bryng the ryght waye vnto hym, make him a glad man, shewe him her secretes, and heape vpon him the treasures of knowledge, vnderstandynge and ryghteousnes. But yf he go wrong, she shall forsake him, and geue hym ouer into the handes of hys enemye.

D   My sonne, make moch of thy tyme, eschue the thinge that is euell, and for thy lyfe shame not to saye the trueth. For there is a shame that bringeth synne, and ther is a shame that bringeth worshyppe and sauour. ^noteAccepte no person after thyne awne wyll, that thou be not confounded to thyne awne decaye. Be not a shamed of thy neyghboure in his aduersite, and kepe not back thy co&ubar;cell when it maye do good, nether hyde thy wysdome in her bewty. For in the t&obar;ge is wysdome knowne, so is vnderstandyng knowledge and lerninge in the talkyng of þe; wise, ∧ stedfastnesse in the worckes of ryghteousnes. In no wyse speake agaynst the worde of treuth, but be ashamed of the lyes of thine awne ignora&ubar;ce. Shame not to c&obar;fesse thyne erroure, and submytte not thy selfe vnto euery man because of synne. Withst&abar;de not the face of the mighty, ∧ striue þu; not against þe; streame. But for ryghteousnes take paynes with all thy soule, ∧ for the trueth stryue thou vnto death, and God shall fyght for the agaynst thyne enemyes. Be not hastye in thy tong, nether slack and neglig&ebar;t in thy worckes. Be not as a lyon in thyne awne house, destroying thy housholde folkes, and oppressing th&ebar; that are vnder the. ^noteLet not thyne hande be stretched out to receaue, and shut when thou shuldest geue. ¶ The .v. Chapter. ¶ In ryches maye we not put any confydence. The vengeaunce of God ought to be feared, and to repentaunce maye we not be slowe.

A   Trust not vnto thy riches, ^note ∧ saye not: tush, I haue ynough for my lyfe. (For it shall not helpe in the tyme of vengeaunce and temptacyon.) Folowe not the lust of thyne awne hert in thy strength, and saye not: tush, how haue I had strength, or who will bringe me vnder because of my worckes? for doutles God shall auenge it. And saye not. I haue commytted no synnes, but what euell hath happened me? For the almyghtye is a paci&ebar;t rewarder. ^noteBecause thy synne is forgeu&ebar; the, be not therfore without feare, nether heape one sinne vp&obar; another. ^noteAnd saye not tush, the mercy of the Lord is great, he shall forgeue me my synnes, be they neuer so many. ^noteFor lyke as he is mercyfull, so goeth wrath from hym also, and hys indignacyon commeth downe vpon synners.

Make no taryeng to turne vnto þe; Lord, and put not of from daye to daye: for sodenly shall his wrath come, and in the tyme of v&ebar;gea&ubar;ce he shall destroye the. ^noteTrust not in wycked riches for they shall not helpe the in the daye of punishem&ebar;t ∧ wrath. B   Be not not caried about to euery wynde, ∧ goo not into euery waye: for so doth the synner that hath a double t&obar;ge. St&abar;de fast in the waye of the Lord, be stedfast in thy vnderst&abar;ding, abyde by the worde, &abar;d folowe the worde of peace and righteousnes. Be gentle to heare the worde of God, that thou mayest vnderstande it, ∧ make a true answere with wisdome. ^noteBe swyft to heare, but slowe ∧ pacyent in geuynge answere. If thou hast vnderstandyng, shape thy neyghboure an answere: If no, laye thine h&abar;d vp&obar; thy mouth: lest thou be trapped in an vndiscrete worde, and so confounded. Honour and worshyppe is in a mans wyse talking, but the tonge of the vndiscrete is his awne destrucci&obar;. ^noteBe not a preuy accuser as longe as thou lyuest, and vse no sclaunder wyth thy tonge. For shame and sorow goeth ouer the chefe, ∧ an euell name ouer him that is double tonged: but he þt; is a preuy accuser of other m&ebar;, shalbe hated, enuyed and confounded. Se þt; thou iustifie the small and greate alyke. ¶ The .vi. Chapter. ¶ It is þe; propertye of a synner to be euell tonged. The doctrine ∧ good co&ubar;cell of þe; wyse is to be embraced, wysdome shuld be searched for. The proffet therof

A   Be not thy neyghbours enemye for thy frendes sake: for who so is euel shal be the heyre of rebuke and dishonoure, and whosoeuer beareth enuye ∧ a double tonge offendeth. ^noteBe not proude in the deuyce of thyne awne vnderst&abar;dyng (lest thy str&ebar;gth be hurt by foolyshnes, and) lest thy leaues wither, &abar;d thy frute be destroyed, &abar;d so thou be left as a drie tree (in the wildernes.) For a wycked soule destroyeth him that hath it, maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemyes, (∧ bryngeth hym to the porci&obar; of the vngodly.) ^noteA swete worde multyplyeth frendes, and pacifieth them that be at variaunce, ∧ a th&abar;kfull tonge will be plenteous in a good man. Holde frendshippe with many, neuertheles haue but one counceler of a thousande.

B   Yf thou gettest a fr&ebar;de, ^note proue him fyrst, and be not hastye to geue hym cred&ebar;ce. For some man is a fr&ebar;de, but for a tyme, ∧ wyll not abyde in the daye of trouble. And there

is some frende that turneth to enemyte, and taketh parte agaynst þe;: ∧ yf he knowe eny hurt by þe;, he telleth it out. ^noteAgayne, some frende is but a companyon at the table, and in the daye of nede he continueth not. But a sure frende wyll be vnto the euen as thyne awne selfe, ∧ deale faythfully with thy housholde folke. If thou suffre trouble and aduersyte, he is with the, and hydeth not hym self from the. Departe from thine enemyes, yee and beware of thy frendes.

C   A faythfull frende is a stronge defence, who so f&ibar;deth soche one, f&ibar;deth a treasure. A faythfull frende hath no peare, þe; weight of golde and syluer is not to be compared to þe; goodnesse of his fayth. A faythfull fr&ebar;de is a medicyne of lyfe, and they þt; feare the Lord, shall fynde h&ibar;. Who so feareth þe; Lord, shall prospere with frendes: and as he is him self, so shall his frende be also. My sonne, receaue doctrine from thy youth vp, so shalt thou fynde wysdome tyll thou be olde. Go to her as one þt; ploweth, and soweth, and wayte paci&ebar;tly for hir good frutes. For thou shalt haue but litle labour in hir worke, but thou shalt eate of hir frutes right soone. O how exceadinge sharpe is wysdome to vnlerned men? an vnstedfast body wyll not remayne in her. Unto soch, she is as it were a touch stone, and he casteth her from him in all the haste, for wysdome is with him but in name there be but fewe þt; haue knowledge of her. (But with them þt; know her, she abydeth euen vnto the apperynge of God.)

Geue eare (my sonne) receaue my doctrine, and refuse not my councell. Put thy fote into her lynckes, ^note ∧ take her yock vpon thy neck: bowe downe thy shoulder vnder her, beare her paciently, and be not wery of her b&abar;des. Come vnto her with thy whole hert, ∧ kepe her wayes with all thy power. Seke after her, and she shalbe shewed the: and when thou hast her, forsake her not. For at the last thou shalt finde rest in her, and that shall be turned to thy great ioye. D   Then shal her fetters be a stronge defence for the, and her yock a glorious rayment. For þe; bewtye of lyfe is in her, and her handes are the couplynge together of saluaci&obar;. Yee a glorious rayment is it, thou shalt put it on, and þe; same crowne of ioye shalt thou were.

My sonne, yf thou wylt take hede, thou shalt haue vnderstanding, and yf thou wylt applye thy mynde, þu; shalt be wyse. If thou wylt bowe downe thyne eare, thou shalt receaue doctrine, and yf thou delite in hear&ibar;g, thou shalt be wise. Stande with the multitude of soch elders as haue vnderstandinge, and consente vnto their wisdome with thyne hert: ^note þt; thou mayest heare all godly sermons, and that þe; worthy sentences eskape the not. And yf thou seyst a man of dyscrete vnderstandinge, gett the soone vnto hym, ∧ let thy fote treade vp&obar; the steppes of his dores. ^noteLet thy mynde be vpon the c&obar;maundementes of God, and be earnestly occupied in his lawes: so shall he stablysh thy herte, ∧ geue the wisdome at thine awne desire. ¶ The .vii. Chapter. ¶ We must forsake euell, and yet not iustifie our selues. The behaueour of the wyse towarde his wyfe, hys frende, his chyldren, his seruauntes, his father and mother, the prestes, ∧c.

A   Do no euell, so shall ther no harme happen vnto the. Departe awaye from the thynge that is wycked, ∧ no mysfortune shall medle with þe;. My sonne, sowe no euell thynges in the forowes of vnrighteousnes, so shalt thou not reape th&ebar; seuen folde. Laboure not vnto m&abar; for any lordshype, nether vnto the kyng for the seat of honour. ^noteIustifie not thy self before God (for he knoweth the herte) and desire not to be reputed wyse in the presence of þe; king. Make no labour to be made a iudge excepte it so were, that thou couldest myghtely put downe wyckednes: for yf thou shuldest stande in awe of the presence of þe; myghtye, thou shuldest fayle in geuynge sent&ebar;ce. Offende not in the multitude of the citye, ∧ put not thy selfe amonge þe; people. ^noteBynde not two synnes together, for in one synne shalt thou not be vnpunyshed. Saye not: tush, God wyll loke vpon the multytude of my oblacions, and when I offre to the hyest God, he will accepte it.

B   Be not faynt harted when thou makest thy prayer, nether slack in geuyng of almes Laugh no man to scorne in the heuynesse of his soule, for God (which seyth all thinges) is he ^note that can brynge downe, and sett vp agayne. Accepte no lesyng agaynst thy brother, nether do the same agaynst thy frende. Use not to make any maner of lye, for the customes therof is not good. Make not many wordes, when þu; art amonge þe; elders: ^note ∧ wh&ebar; thou prayest, make not moch bablyng. ^noteLet no labourious worke be tedious vnto the, nether the housbandrie whych the allmighty hath created. Make not thy boast &ibar; the multitude of thy wyckednes, but h&ubar;ble thy selfe eu&ebar; from thine herte: ∧ remembre þt; the wrath shal not be longe in tariynge, and that the vengeaunce of the flesh of the vngodly is a very fire ∧ worme. Geue not ouer thy frende for eny good, ner thy faythfull brother for the best golde.

C   Departe not fr&obar; a discrete and good woman, that is fallen vnto the for thy porcion in the feare of þe; Lord, for þe; gift of her honesty is aboue golde. ^noteWhere as thy seruaunt worcketh truly, intreate him not euell, ner the Hirelinge that is faythful vnto þe;. Loue a dyscrete seruaunte as thyne awne soule,

defraude him not of his lybertie, nether leaue him a poore man. ^noteIf þu; haue catell, loke well to them: and yf they be for thy profyt, kepe them. ^noteIf thou haue sonnes, bring th&ebar; vp in nourture and lerning, and holde them in awe from their youth vp. If thou haue daughters, kepe theyr body, and shewe not thy face chereful towarde them. Marie thy daughter, ∧ so shalt þu; perfourme a weightie matter: but geue her to a man of vnderstanding. If thou haue a wyfe after thyne awne mynde: forsake her not: (but commytte not thy selfe to the hatefull.)

^noteHonoure thy father fr&obar; thy whole hert: ∧ forget not the soroufull trauayle that thy mother had with þe;: remembre þt; thou wast borne thorow them, and how canst thou recompense them the thynges that they haue done for the? D   Feare the Lorde with all thy soule, ∧ honoure hys minysters. Loue thy maker with all thy strength, ^note ∧ forsake not his seruauntes. Feare þe; Lorde with all thy soule, ∧ honoure his Prestes. ^noteGeue them their porcion of the fyrsi frutes and increase of the earth, lyke as it is commaunded the: (and reconcile thy selfe of thy necglig&ebar;ce &wt; the lytle flock) geue them the shoulders, and their appoynted offringes and fyrstlynges. Reache thyne hande vnto the poore, þe; God maye blesse the &wt; plenteousnes. ^noteBe lyberall vnto all m&ebar; lyuinge, ^note yet let not but do good euen to them that are deed.

^noteLet not them þt; wepe, be wythout comforte, but mourne &wt; soch as mourne. ^noteLet it not greue þe; to vpset the sick, for that shal make þe; to be beloued. Whatsoeuer thou takest in hande, remembre the ende, and thou shalt neuer do amysse. ¶ The .viii. Chapter. ¶ Agaynst thy better is no stryuyng. Of the deeth of thyne enemye mayste þu; not reioyce, ner despyse thy neyghbours, ner the wordes of the wyse.

A   Stryue not wyth a myghtye man, lest thou chaunse to fall into hys h&abar;des. ^noteMake no variaunce with a rich m&abar;, lest he happen to bringe vp an harde quarell agaynst þe;. ^noteFor golde and siluer hath vndone many a m&abar;, yee eu&ebar; the hertes of Kynges hath it made to fall. Stryue not with a man that is full of wordes, and laye no styckes vpon his fyre. Kepe no company with the vnlerned, lest he geue thy kinred an euell reporte. ^noteDespyse not a man that turneth him self awaye from synne, and cast him not in the teeth withall, but remembre that we are frayle euerychone.

^noteThyncke scorne of no m&abar; in his olde age, for we waxe olde also. Be not glad of the death of thyne enemye, but remembre þt; we must dye all the forte of vs (and fayne wold we come into ioye.) ^noteDespise not þe; serm&obar;s of soch elders as haue vnderstandynge, but acquaynte thy selfe with the wyse sent&ebar;ces of them: for of them thou shalt lerne wysdome and the doctrine of vnderstandynge, and how to serue greate m&ebar; without c&obar;plainte.

B   Go not from the doctryne of the elders, for they haue lerned it of their fathers. For of them thou shalt lerne vnderstandinge, so that thou mayest make answere in the time of nede. Kyndle not the coales of synners, (whan thou rebukest them) lest thou be br&ebar;t in the fyrie flammes of their sinnes. Resyst not the face of the blasphemer, that he laye not wayte for thy mouth. ^noteLende not vnto him that is myghtier then thy selfe: If thou lendest him, co&ubar;te it but lost. Be not suerty aboue thy power: yf thou be, then thyncke surely to paye it. Go not to lawe with the iudge: for he wyll iudge accordynge to hys awne honoure. ^noteTrauaylle not by þe; waye with hym that his braynelesse, lest he do the euell: for he foloweth his awne wylfulnes, and so shalt thou perish thorow his foly.

C    ^noteStryue not with hym þt; is angrie and cruell, and go not with him into the wildernes: for bloude is nothinge in his syght, and where there is no helpe, he shal murther the ^note Take no co&ubar;cel at fooles, for they loue nothinge but the thinges that please them selues. Make no councel before a stranger for thou c&abar;st not tell what will come of it. Op&ebar; not thyne hert vnto euery man, lest he be vnthanckfull to the, and put the to reprofe. ¶ The .ix. Chapter. ¶ The ieopardyes of chastenes are to be escheued. An olde feynde is to be preferred before a new. The glory and rychesse of synners. Ryghtwes men shulde be bydden to gest. Laboure is the chefe thynge in a worcke man, and wysdome in a prynce.

A   Be not gelous ouer þe; wyfe of thy bosome, þt; she shewe not some shrewed poynte of wicked doctrine vpon the. ^noteGeue not the power of thy life vnto a wom&abar;, lest she come in thy str&ebar;gth, and so thou be confounded. Loke not vpon a woman þt; is desyrous of many men, lest thou fall into her snares. Use not the company of a wom&abar; þt; is a player and a daunser, ∧ heare her not, lest thou perish thorow her entysynge. Beholde not a mayd&ebar;, that thou be not hurt in her bewty. ^noteCast not thy mynde vpon harlottes in eny maner of thynge, lest thou destroye both thy selfe and thine heritage. Go not aboute gasyng in euery lane of the citye nether w&abar;dre thou abrode in þe; stretes therof. ^noteTurne awaye thy face from a bewtyfull woman, and loke not vpon the fayrnes of other.

B    ^noteMany a man hath perished thorow the bewtye of wemen, for thorow it the desyre is kyndled as it were a fyre. (An aduouterous woman shalbe troaden vnderfote as

myre, of euery one that goeth by the waye: Many a man wondrynge at the bewtye of a stra&ubar;ge woman, hath bene cast out, for her wordes kindle as a fyre. Sytt not with another mans wyfe by eny meanes, lye not &wt; her up&obar; the bedd, make no wordes with her at the wyne: lest thyne hert c&obar;sent vnto her, and so thou with thy bloud fall into the destruccion. Forsake not an old fr&ebar;de, for the new shall not be lyke hym.

A new frende is new wyne: let him be old and thou shalt dryncke hym with pleasure. Desire not the honoure and ryches of a synner, for thou knowest not what destruccion is for to come vpon hym. Delite not thou in the thinge that the ungodly haue pleasure in, beinge sure, that the ungodly shal not be accepted vntyll theyr graue.

C   Kepe the from the man that hath power to slaye, so nedest thou not to be afrayed of death. And yf thou comest vnto hym make no faute, lest he happen to take awaye thy lyfe. Remembre that thou goest in the myddest of snares, and vp&obar; the bulworckes of thy citye. Beware of thy neyghboure as nye as thou canst, ^note ∧ medle with soch as be wise and haue understandynge. Let iust m&ebar; by thy gestes, let thy myrth be in the feare of God, let the remembra&ubar;ce of God be in thy mynde, ^note ∧ let all thy talkyng be in þe; commaundementes of the Hyest. In the handes of craftesmen shall the worckes be commended, ^note so shal the princes of the people in the wysdome of their talkynge. A man full of wordes is perelous in hys citye: ∧ he that is rasshe in his talkynge, shalbe abhorred. ¶ The .X. Chapter ¶ OF Kynges and Iudges. Pryde and couetousnes are to be abhorred. Labour is praysed.

A   A Wyse iudge will ordre his people with discrecion: and where a man of vnderstandynge beareth rule, there goeth it well. ^noteAs the iudge of the people is him selfe, ev&ebar; so are his officiers: and loke what maner of m&abar; the ruler of the citie is, soch are they that dwel therin also. ^noteAn unwyse kyng destroyeth his people ^note but where they that be in auctorite are men of vnderstandinge: there the citye prospereth.

The power of the earth is in the hande of God (and all iniquyte of the people is to be abhorred) and when his tyme is, he shall set a profytable ruler vpon it. In the hande of God is the power of man, ∧ vpon the Scribes shall he laye his honour. ^noteRem&ebar;bre no wronge of thy neyghboure, and medle thou with no vnrighteous workes. Pryde is hatefull before God and man, and all wyckednes of þe; heathen is to be abhorred. ^noteBecause of vnryghteous dealynge, wronge, blasphemies and diuerse disceate, a realme shall be translated from one people to another.

B   There is nothing worse then a couetous m&abar;. Why art thou proude, O thou earth ∧ asshes? There is not a more wycked thyng, th&ebar; to loue moneye. And why? soch one hath his soule to sell: yet is he but fylthye donge whyle he lyueth.

And though the phisicion shewe his helpe neuer so longe, yet in conclusion it goth after thys maner, to daye a kyng, to morowe deed. For when a man dyeth, he is the heyre of serpentes, beastes, and wormes. The begynnynge of mans pryde, is to fall awaye from God: ∧ why? his hert is gone from his maker, for pryde is the originall of all synne. Who so taketh hold therof, shalbe filled with cursinges, and at last it shall ouerthrowe him. Therfore hath þe; lord brought the congregacyons of the wycked to dyshonoure, and destroyed them vnto the ende.

C    ^noteGod hath destroyed þe; seates of proude pr&ibar;ces, and sett vp the meke in their steade. God hath withered the rotes of the proude heathen, ∧ planted the lowly amonge them. ^note God hath ouerthrowne þe; landes of þe; Heathen, and destroyed them vnto the ground. He hath caused th&ebar; to wither a waie, he hath brought them to naught, and made the memorial of th&ebar; to ceasse from oute of þe; earth. (God hath destroyed the name of þe; proude, and left the name of the humble of mynde.) Pryde was not made for m&abar;, nether wrothfulnes for mens chyldren. The sede of men that feareth God, shalbe brought to honour but the sede which tr&abar;sgresseth þe; comma&ubar;dementes of the Lorde, shalbe shamed. He that is the ruler amonge brethren, is holden in honoure amonge them, ∧ he þt; regardeth soch as feare the Lord. The glory of þe; riche of the honorable, and of the poore is the feare of God.

D   Despise not thou the iust poore man, and magnifie not the riche vngodly. Great is þe; iudge and mighty in honour, yet is there none greater, then he that feareth God ^note Unto the serua&ubar;t that is discrete, shall the free do seruyce. ^noteHe that is wise ∧ well nurtoured, will not grudge when he is refourmed, and an ignora&ubar;t body shall not come to honour. Be not proude to do thy worcke, and dispare not in the tyme of aduersyte. ^noteBetter is he that laboureth, and hath plenteousnes of all thynges, then he that is gorgeous, and wanteth bred.

E   My sonne, kepe thy soule in mekenes, and geue her her due honoure. Who shal iustifie hym, that synneth agaynst him selfe? Who wyll honoure hym, that dishonoureth hys awne soule? The poore is honoured for hys faythfulnes and trueth, but the riche is had in reputaci&obar; because of his goodes. He that

ordreth hym selfe honestly in pouerte, how moch more shal he behaue him self honestly in riches? And who so ordreth him selfe unhonestly in ryches, how moch more shall he behaue him selfe vnhonestly in pouerte? ¶ The .xi. Chapter. ¶ The prayse of humilitie. After outwarde apperaunce ought we not to iudge. Of heady and rashe iudgement. The ryche is not without offence. All thinges come of God. All men are not to be brought into thyne house.

A   The wysdome of hym that is brought lowe, shall lyft vp his head and shall make him to sytt amonge greate m&ebar;. Commende not thou a man in his bewtye, nether despise a man in his utter apperaunce. The Bee is but a smal beast amonge the foules, yet is her frute exceading swete. Be not proude of thy raym&ebar;t, ^note ∧ exalte not thy selfe in the daye of thy honour: for the worckes of the Hyest onely are wonderfull: yee gloryous, secrete ∧ vnknowne are his workes. Many trya&ubar;tes haue bene fayne to sitt downe vpon the earth, ^note and the unlickly hath worne þe; a crowne. Many mighty men haue bene brought lowe, and the honorable haue bene delyuered into other m&ebar;s h&abar;des. ^noteCond&ebar;ne no m&abar;, before þu; haue tried out þe; matter: and wh&ebar; thou hast made inquisici&obar;, then refourme ryghteously. ^noteGeue no sentence, before þu; hast herde the cause, but fyrst let men tell out theyr tales.

B   Stryue not for a matter that toucheth not thy selfe, and stande not in þe; iudgement of sinners. My sonne, medle not with many matters: ^note ∧ yf thou wilt be rych; thou shalt not get it: ∧ though thou ronnest thy waye afore, yet shalt thou not escape. ^noteThere is some man that laboureth, and the more he weeryeth him selfe, the lesse he hath. Agayne, some m&abar; is slouthfull, hath nede of helpe: wanteth strength, and hath greate pouerte, and Gods eye loketh vpon him to good, setteth him vp from his lowe state, ^note ∧ lifteth vp his head: so þt; many m&ebar; maruell at hym, and geue honoure vnto God.

C    ^noteProsperite and aduersite, life and death, pouerte and rychesse come all of the Lorde. Wysdome, nurtoure and knowledge of the lawe, are with God: loue and the wayes of good are with him. Erroure and darckenes are made for synners (and they that exalte th&ebar;selues in euell, waxe olde in euell.) The gyft of God remayneth for the ryghteous, and his good wyll shall geue prosperite for euer. Some man is rych by lyuinge nygardly, and that is the porcion of hys rewarde, in that he sayeth: ^note now haue I gott&ebar; rest, ∧ now wyll I eate and drynke of my goodes my selfe alone. And yet he consydreth not, þt; the time draweth nye (∧ death approcheth) þt; he must leaue all these thinges vnto other men, and dye him selfe. Stande thou fast in thy couena&ubar;t, and excercise thy selfe therin, and remayne in þe; worcke vnto thy age. C&obar;tinue not in the worckes of Sinners, but put thy trust in God, ∧ byde in thyne estate: for it is but an easy thinge in the syght of God, to make a poore man riche, and that sod&ebar;ly. D    The blessynge of God hasteth to the rewarde of the righteous, and maketh hys frutes soone to florish ∧ prospere. Saye not: what helpeth it me? ∧ what shall I haue þe; whyle? Againe, saie not: I haue ynough, how can I wante? ^noteWhen thou art in wellfare, forget not aduersite: and when it goeth not well &wt; the, haue a good hope, that it shall be better For it is a small thing vnto God, in þe; daye of death to rewarde euery man accordynge to his wayes. The aduersyte of an houre maketh one to forget all pleasure: &abar;d when a man dyeth, his worckes are discouered. Prayse no body before his death, for a man shalbe knowne in his chyldren.

E   Brynge not euery man into thine house, for the dysceatfull layeth wayte dyuersly. Lyke as a partrych in a ma&ubar;de; so is þe; hert of the proude: &abar;d lyke as a spye, that loketh vpon the fall of his neyghboure. For he turneth good vnto euell, and sclaundreth þe; chosen. Of one sparck is made a great fyre. (&abar;d of one disceatfull m&abar;, is bloude increased) ∧ an vngodly man layeth wayte for bloude. Beware of þe; disceatfull, for he ymagyneth wycked thynges, to brynge the into a perpetuall shame. If thou takest an alea&ubar;t vnto the, he shall destroye the in vnquietnes, and dryue the from thyne awne wayes ¶ The .xii. Chapter ¶ Unto whom we ought to do good. Enemyes ought to be eschued.

A   When thou wylt do good, knowe to whom thou doest it, ∧ so shalt thou be greatly thanked for thy benefytes. ^noteDo good vnto the righteous, ∧ þu; shalt fynde great rewarde, though not of hym, yet (no doute) the Lord him selfe shall rewarde þe;. He standeth not in a good case that is all waye occupied in euell, ∧ geueth no almes: for þe; Hyest hateth the synners, and hath mercy vpon them that shew the worckes of rep&ebar;taunce. Geue thou vnto soch as feare God, and receaue not a synner. As for þe; vngodly ∧ synners, he shal rec&obar;pense v&ebar;geaunce vnto th&ebar; ∧ kepe th&ebar; to the daye of wrath. Geue thou vnto the good, ∧ receaue not the synner: do well vnto him that is lowly, but geue not to þe; vngodly. Let not þe; bread be geu&ebar; him, that he be not myghtier th&ebar; thy self therin. For so shalt þu; receaue twyse as moch euell, in all þe; good that thou doest vnto him. And

why? þe; Hyghest hateth sinners, and shal rewarde vengeaunce to the vngodly.

In prosperite, a fr&ebar;de shall not be knowne and in aduersite an enemye shall not be hyd. For wh&ebar; a man is in wealth, it greueth his enemyes: but in heuynes and trouble a man shall knowe his frende. Trust neuer thyne enemy, for lyke as an yron rusteth, so doth his wickednes. B   And though he make moche croutching and knelyng, yet kepe well thy mynde, and beware of him. Set him not by the, nether let him syt at thy right hand: lest he turne him, gett into thy place, take thy rowme and seke thy seate, and so thou at þe; last remembre my wordes, ∧ be prycked at my sayinges.

^noteBinde not two sinnes together, for there shall not one be vnpunished. Who will haue pitie of þe; charmer, that is stynged of the serpent, or of all soch as come nye the beastes? Eu&ebar; so is it &wt; him þt; kepeth company with a wycked man, and lappeth him selfe in his sinnes. C   For a season wyll he byde wyth the, but yf thou stomble, he tarieth not. ^noteAn enemy is swete in his lippes, he c&abar; make many wordes ∧ speake many good th&ibar;ges: Yee he can wepe with hys eyes, but in hys herte he ymagineth, how to throwe the into þe; pytt: ∧ yf he may fynde oportunite, he will not be satisfied with bloud. If aduersite come vp&obar; þe;, thou shalt fynde him there first, ∧ though he pret&ebar;de to do the help, yet shall he vndermine the. He shal shake his head, and clappe his h&abar;des ouer þe; for very gladnes: ∧ whyle he maketh many wordes, he shall desguyse his countenaunce. ¶ The .xiii. Chapter. ¶ The companies of the proude and of the ryche are to be escheued. The loue of God: Lyke do company with theyr lyke.

A   Who so toucheth pytch, shalbe fyled withall: and he that is familiar &wt; the proude, shal clothe him selfe &wt; pryde. He taketh a burthen vpon him, that accompanyeth a more honorable man then him self. Therfore, kepe no familiarite with one that is richer then thy selfe. How agree the ketell aud the pot together? for yf the one be smytten agaynst the other, it shall be brok&ebar;. The rych dealeth vnryghteously, ∧ threateneth withal: but þe; poore beyng oppressed ∧ wrongeously dealt withall, suffreth scarcenes, ∧ geneth fayre wordes. If thou be for hys profyt, he vseth the: but yf thou haue nothynge, he shall forsake þe;. As longe as thou hast eny thing of thyne awne, he shal be a good felow with the: yee, he shal make the a bare man, and not be sory for the. If he haue nede of the, he shall defraude the: and (with a preuy mocke) shall he put the in an hope, and geue the all good wordes and saye: what w&abar;test thou? Thus shall he shame the in his meate, vntill he haue supte the cleane vp twise or thryse, &abar;d at þe; last shall he laugh þe; to scorne. Afterward, when he seyth that thou hast nothynge, he shal forsake the, and shake his heade at the. (Submytte thy selfe vnto God, and wayte vpon hys hande.)

B   Beware, that thou be not disceaued and brought downe in thy symplenesse. Be not to h&ubar;ble in thy wisdome: lest when thou art brought lowe, þu; be disceaued thorow foolyshnes. If thou be called of a myghtye man, absent thy selfe, so shall he call the to him þe; more oft. Preasse not þu; vnto him, that thou be not shutt out: but goo not þu; farre of, lest he forgett þe;. Withdraw not thy self fr&obar; his speach, but beleue not his many wordes.

For &wt; moch c&obar;municaci&obar; shall he t&ebar;pte the, ∧ (with a preuy mock) shall he questyon the of thy secrettes. The vnmercyfull minde of his shal marck thy wordes, he shal not spare to do þe; hurte, ∧ to put þe; in preson. Beware, &abar;d take good hede to thy selfe, for þu; walkest in parel of thy ouerthrowyng.

C   Now when thou hearest his wordes, make þe; as though thou werest in a dreame, and wake vp. Loue God all thy lyfe longe, and call vp&obar; him in thy nede. Euery beast loueth his like, eu&ebar; so let euery m&abar; loue his neyghbour. All flesh will resorte to their lyke, and euery man will kepe company with soch as he is him self. But as þe; wolfe agreeth with the lambe, so doth þe; vngodly with the righteous. ^noteWhat felyshyp shulde an holy man haue with a dogge. How can the rych ∧ the poore agree together? The wilde Asse is the lyons praye in the wyldernesse, euen so are poore men the meate of the ryche. Lyke as the proude maye not awaye wyth lowlynes, euen so doth the ryche abhorre the poore: If a ryche man fall, hys frendes set hym vp agayne: but when the poore falleth, hys aquayntaunce forsake hym. If a ryche man fall into an erroure, he hath many helpers: he speaketh proude wordes, and yet men iustifye hym.

D   But yf a poore man go wronge, he is punyshed: yee though he speake wisely, yet can it haue no place. When the ryche man speaketh euery body holdeth his t&obar;ge: and loke what he saieth, they prayse it vnto the cloudes. But yf the poore m&abar; speake, they saye: What felowe is thys? and yf he do amysse, they shal destroye him. Riches are good vnto him that hath no synne in his conscience, and pouerte is a wicked thing in the mouth of the vngodly. The herte of man cha&ubar;geth his countenaunce, whether it be in good or euell. A chearfull countenaunce is a token of a good herte, for els it is an harde thynge to knowe the thought.

¶ The .xiiii. Chapter. ¶ The offence of the tonge. Man is but a vayne thyng. Happy is he that c&obar;tynueth in wysdome.

A   Blessed is þe; man, ^note that hath not fallen &wt; the worde of his mouth, and is not pricked with þe; consci&ebar;ce of sinne. Happie is he that hath no heuynes in his mynde, and is not fallen from his hope. It bec&obar;meth not a couetous man and a nygarde, to be ryche: and what shulde a nygarde do &wt; golde? He that with al his carefulnes heapeth together vnryghteously, gathereth for other folckes, ∧ another man shal make good chere &wt; his goodes. He that is wicked vnto hym selfe, how shulde he be good vnto other men? How can soch one haue eny pleasure of his goodes: There is nothyng worse, then wh&ebar; one disfauoureth hym self, and this is a rewarde of his wyckednes. If he do eny good, he doth it not knowynge therof, and agaynst his wyll, and at the last he declareth his vngraciousnes. A nygarde hath a wycked eye, he turneth awaye his face, ∧ despyseth his awne soule. ^noteA couetous m&abar;s eye hath neuer ynough in the porcyon of wyckednes vntyll the tyme that he wyther awaye, and haue lost his awne soule.

B   A wycked eye spareth bred, and there is scarcenes vp&obar; his table. My sonne, do good to thy selfe of þt; thou hast, and geue the Lorde his due offerynges. Rem&ebar;bre that death tarieth not, ∧ how that þe; couenaunt of the graue is shewed vnto the: for þe; couenaunt of this world shall dye þe; death. ^noteDo good vnto thy frynde before thou dye, and accordyng to thy abylite reach out thyne hand, and geue vnto þe; poore. Be not disapoynted of the good daye, and let not the porcyon of the good daye ouerpasse the. Shalt thou not leaue thy trauayles and labours vnto other men? In the deuydynge of the herytage geue ∧ take ∧ sanctyfye thy soule. Worcke thou ryghteousnes before thy death, for in the hell there is no meat to fynde. ^noteAll flesh shal fade awaye lyke grasse, and lyke a florishyng leafe in a grene tre. Some growe, some are cast downe: euen so is þe; generacyon of flesh and bloude: one commeth to an ende, another is borne.

C   All transytory thynges shall fayle at the last, and þe; worcker therof shall go withal. Euery chosen worke shalbe iustified, and he that medled withal, shal haue honour therin. Blessed is þe; man þt; kepeth hym in wysdome, &abar;d exercyseth hym selfe in vnderstandynge, and with dyscrecyon shall he thynke vpon the fore knowledge of God. Which consydereth the wayes of wysdome in hys hert, hath vnderstandynge in her secretes, goeth after her (as one that seketh her out) and c&obar;tinueth in her wayes. He loketh in at her wyndowes, and herkeneth at her dores. He taketh his rest besyde her house, ∧ fasteneth his stake in her walles. He shall pitch his tente nye vnto her hand, and in his tent shall good thynges rest for euermore. He shall set his chyldren vnder her couering, and shall dwell vnder her braunches. Under her couering shall he be defended from the heat, and in her glory shall he rest. ¶ The .xv. Chapter. ¶ The goodnes that foloweth hym which feareth God, God reiecteth and casteth of the synner. God is not the auctor of euell.

A   He þt; feareth God, will do good: ∧ who so kepeth the lawe, shall optayne wysdome. As an honorable mother shall she mete hym, ∧ as a virgyn shall she receaue him. ^noteWith þe; bred of lyfe ∧ vnderst&abar;dyng shall she fede hym, ^note ∧ geue him þe; water of wholsome wysdome to dryncke. If he be const&abar;t in her, he shall not be moued: ∧ yf he holde hym fast by her, he shall not come to confusyou. She shall brynge hym to honoure amonge his neyghboures, and in the myddest of the congregacyon shall she open his mouth. With þe; sprete of wysdome and vnderst&abar;dyng shall she fyll hym, and clothe hym &wt; the garm&ebar;t of glory. She shall heape the treasure of myrth ∧ ioye vpon hym, and geue hym an euerlastynge name to heritage. Folysh men will not take holde vp&obar; her: but soch as haue vnderstandyng, wyll mete her (Folysh men shall not se her) for she is farre from pryde ∧ disceate. Men þt; go aboute &wt; lyes, wyll not remembre her: but men of trueth shalbe founde in her, and shall prospere euen vnto the beholdyng of God. Prayse is not semely in þe; mouth of the vngodly, for he is not sent of the Lord. For of God c&obar;meth wysdome, and the prayse shall stande by the wysdome of God, and shall be plenteous in a faythfull mouth, and þe; Lorde shall geue her vnto hym.

B   Saye not þu;: It is the Lordes faute that I am gone by, for þu; shalt not do the thyng þt; God hateth. Saye not þu;: he hath caused me to do wr&obar;ge, for he hath no nede of þe; vngodly. God hateth all abhominacion of errour, ∧ they that feare God wyll loue none soch. ^noteGod made man fr&obar; the begynnynge, ∧ left him in þe; hand of his councell. He gaue him his c&obar;maundementes ∧ preceptes: yf þu; wylt obserue þe; c&obar;ma&ubar;dem&ebar;tes, ∧ kepe acceptable faithfulnes for euer, they shall preserue the. ^noteHe hath sett water ∧ fire before the, reach out thyne h&abar;de vnto which þu; wilt. Before man is lyfe ∧ death, good ∧ euell: loke what him lyketh, shalbe geuen him. For þe; wysdome of God is greate and myghty in power, ∧ beholdeth all men contynually. The eyes of þe; Lorde are vpon them that feare hym,

and he knoweth all the worckes of man. He hath c&obar;maunded no man to do vngodly: nether hath he geuen eny man space to synne. ¶ The .xvi. Chapter. ¶ Of vnhappye and wycked chyldren. No man can hyde hym selfe from God. An exhortacyon to the receauynge of instruccyon.

A   Delyte not thou in the multytude of vngodly chyldren, and haue no pleasure in them, yf they feare not God. Trust not þu; to theyr lyfe, &abar;d regarde not theyr labours: for one sonne þt; feareth God, is better, th&ebar; a thousande vngodly. And better it is for a man to dye without chyldren, then to leaue behynde hym soch chyldren as are vngodly. For by one þt; hath vnderst&abar;dynge, maye a whole cytie be vpholden, but though þe; vngodly be many, yet shal it be wasted thorow them. Many soch thynges hath myne eye sene, ∧ greater thynges th&ebar; these haue I herde with myne eares. ^noteIn the congregacyon of þe; vngodly shall a fyre burne, ∧ am&obar;g vnfaythfull people shall the wrath be kyndled.

B    ^noteThe olde gyauntes optayned no grace for theyr synnes, which were destroyed, trusting to theyr awne str&ebar;gth. Nether spared he th&ebar; am&obar;g wh&obar; Loth which was a ^note stra&ubar;ger, but smot th&ebar; ∧ abhorred th&ebar; because of the pride of theyr wordes. He had no pytie vpon th&ebar;, but destroyed all þe; people, þt; were so stoute in synne. ^noteAnd for so moch as he ouersawe not the syxe hundreth thousande, that gathered th&ebar; selues together in þe; hardenes of their herte: it were maruell yf one beynge hardenecked, shuld be fre. ^noteFor mercy ∧ wrath is &wt; hym: he is both myghtye to forgeue and to poure out displeasure. Lyke as his mercy is greate, euen so is his punyshem&ebar;t also, he iudgeth a man according to his workes. The vngodly shall not escape in his spoyle, ∧ the l&obar;ge paci&ebar;ce of him that sheweth mercye, shall not byde behinde. All mercye shall make place vnto euery man according to þe; worthynes of his worckes, ∧ after þe; vnderst&abar;dinge of his pylgremage.

C   Saye not thou: I wyll hyde my selfe fr&obar; God, for who wyll thyncke vpon me from aboue? I shall not be knowne &ibar; so greate a heape of people, for what is my soule am&obar;g so many creatures? Beholde, þe; heauen, yee the heauen of heauens, the depe, the earthe, and all that therin is, shall be moued at hys presence: the mountaynes, the hylles, ∧ the foundacy&obar;s of þe; earth shall shake for feare, when God visyteth them. These thynges doth no herte vnderst&abar;de, but he vnderst&abar;deth euery herte, ∧ who vnderstandeth hys wayes? No man seyth his stormes, and the moost part of hys worckes are secrete. Who wyll declare the workes of his ryghteousnes? Or who shalbe able to abyde them? For the couenaunt is farre from some, and tryenge out of men is in the ende. He that is humble of herte, thynketh vpon soche thynges: but an vnwyse and erroneous man casteth hys mynde vnto folysh thynges.

D   My sonne, herken thou vnto me, and lerne vnderst&abar;dynge, and marcke my wordes with thyne herte. I wyll geue the a sure doctryne, ∧ playnely shal I instructe the (marke my wordes th&ebar; in thyne hert: for in ryghteousnes of þe; sprete do I speak of the wonders that God hath shewed am&obar;g hys workes from the begynnynge. And in þe; trueth do I shew þe; knowlege of hym.) God hath sett hys worckes in good ordre from the begynnynge, and parte of them hath he sundered from the other. He hath garnyshed hys workes from euerlastynge, and theyr begynnynges, according to their generacy&obar;s. None of th&ebar; hyndered another, nether was any of them dysobedient vnto hys wordes. After thys, God loked vpon þe; earthe, and fylled it with hys goodes. With all maner of lyuynge beastes hath he couered the grounde, and they all shalbe turned vnto earthe agayne. ¶ The .xvii. Chapter. ¶ The creacyon of man, and the goodnes that God hath done vnto hym. Of aulmes and repentaunce.

A   God ^note shope man of the earth, and made hym after his owne ymage, ∧ turned hym vnto earthe agayne, and clothed him with his awne strength. He gaue him the nombre of dayes and certayne tyme, yee ∧ gaue him power of þe; thynges that are vpon earthe. He made all flesh to stande in awe of hym, so that he had the domynyon of all beastes and foules. ^noteHe made out of hym an helper lyke vnto him selfe, ∧ gaue them dyscrecyon and t&obar;ge, eyes ∧ eares, and a herte to vnderstande, and fylled them with instruccyon ∧ vnderstandynge. He created for them also the knowledge of the sprete, fylled their hertes with vnderstandyng, ∧ shewed them good ∧ euell. He sett his eye vpon theyr hertes, declaringe vnto them his greate and noble worckes: that they shulde prayse hys holy name together, reioyse of his wonders, ∧ be tellynge of hys noble actes. ^noteBesyde thys he gaue them instruccyon, and the lawe of lyfe for an heritage.

He made an euerlastyng couenaunt with them, and shewed them hys ryghtuousnes ∧ iudgementes. They sawe his glory with theyr eyes, and theyr eares hearde the maiesty of his voyce. And he sayde vnto them: beware of all vnryghtuous thynges. He gaue euery man also a commaundement concernynge

his neyghboure.

B   Theyr wayes are euer before hym, ∧ are not hyd from his eyes. ^noteHe hath set a rular vpon euery people, ^note but Israel is þe; lordes porcyon. All their worckes are as þe; S&ubar;ne, in þe; syght of God, and his eyes are alwaye lokynge vpon theyr wayes. All theyr vnrighteousnesses are manifest vnto him, and all their wyckednesses are op&ebar; in his syght. ^noteThe mercy þt; a man sheweth is as it were. a purse &wt; him, and þe; grace that is geuen to man preserueth hym as the aple of an eye. ^noteAt the last shal he awake, ∧ reward euery man vpon hys head, ∧ shall turne them together into þe; nether most partes of þe; earth. ^noteBut vnto them þt; wyl repent, he hath geuen the waye of ryghteousnes. As for soch as be weake, he c&obar;forteth them, suffreth th&ebar;, and sendeth them the porcyon of the verite. O turne then vnto the Lorde, forsake thy synnes, make thy prayer before the Lord, do the lesse offence, turne agayne vnto þe; Lord, forsake thyne vnryghteousnes, be an vtter enemye to abhominacyon, lerne to knowe the ryghteousnesse ∧ iudgementes of God, stande in þe; porcion that is set forth for the and in the prayer of the moost hye God. Go in the porcion of the holy worlde, with soch as be lyuynge and geue th&abar;kes vnto God.

C    ^noteWho wyll prayse the Lorde in the hell? Abyde not thou in the errour of the vngodly, but geue him thanckes before death. As for the deed, thanckfullnesse peryshed from hym as nothynge. Geue thou thanckes in thy lyfe, yee whyle thou art lyuynge ∧ wholy shalt thou geue thanckes, ∧ prayse God, and reioyse in his mercy. O how great is þe; louynge kyndnesse of the Lorde, ∧ his mercyfull goodnesse vnto soch as turne vnto hym? For all thynges maye not be in man: and why þe; sonne of man is not immortall, ∧ he hath pleasure in the vanyte of wyckednes. What is more cleare then the Sunne? Yet shall it fayle. Or what is more wycked then the thyng that flesh ∧ bloud hath ymagyned? and that same shalbe reproued. The Lorde seyth þe; power of the hye heauen, and all are but earth ∧ asshes. ¶ The .xviii. Chapter. ¶ The meruelous worckes of God, the mysery and wretchednes of man. Agaynst God ought we not to complayne. Praye must we contynually.

A   He that lyueth for euermore, ^note made all thynges together. God onely is righteous, ∧ remayneth a victoryous k&ibar;g for euer. ^noteWho shalbe able to expresse þe; worckes of hym? Who wyll seke out þe; grounde of his noble actes? Who shall declare the power of his greatnesse? Or, who wyll take vpon hym to tell out his mercy? As for the wonderous workes of the Lorde, there maye nothyng be taken from them, nothinge maye be put vnto them, nether maye the grounde of them be founde out. But when a man hath done his best, he must begynne agayne: and when he thyncketh to become to an ende, he must go agayne to his laboure. What is m&abar;? Wher to is he worth? What good or euel can he do? ^noteIf the nombre of a mans dayes be almost an hundreth yeare, it is moch.

B   Lyke as þe; droppes of rayne are vnto the see, and as a grauell stone is in c&obar;paryson of the sande: ^note so are these few yeares to the dayes of euerlastyng. Therfore is þe; Lorde pacy&ebar;t with them, and poureth out his mercye vpon them. He sawe and perceaued the thoughtes and ymagynaci&obar;s of theyr hert, that they were euell: therfore heaped he vp hys mercyfull goodnes vpon them, and shewed them the waye of ryghteousnes. The mercy þt; a man hath, reacheth to his neyghbour: but þe; mercy of God is vpon all flesh. He chasteneth, he teacheth ∧ nourtoureth: yee euen as a shepherde turneth agayne his flock, so doth he all them that receaue chastenyng, nurtoure and doctryne. ^noteMercyfull is he vnto th&ebar;, that stande in awe of his iudgementes.

C   My sonne, when thou doest good, make no grudynge at it: and whatsoeuer thou geuest, speake no dysc&obar;fortable wordes. Shal not þe; dew coole the heate? euen so is a word better then a gyft. ^noteIs not a frendly worde, a good honest gyft? but a gracyous man geueth them both. ^noteA foole shall cast a man in the teeth, and that roughly, and a gyft of the nygarde putteth out the eyes. Get the ryghteousnesse before thou come to iudgement. Lerne before thou speake, and goo to physyck or euer þu; be syck: ^note examen ∧ iudge thy selfe, before the iudgement come, and so shalt thou fynde grace in the syght of God. H&ubar;ble thy selfe afore thou be syck, ∧ in tyme of thy dysease shewe thy conuersacyon. ^noteLet not to praye all waye ∧ stande not in feare to be refourmed vnto death, for the rewarde of God endureth for euer. Before þu; prayest, prepare thy soule, ∧ be not as one that tempted God. Thynke vpon þe; wrathfull indygnacyon that shalbe at þe; ende, and the houre of vengeaunce, when he shall turne awaye hys face. ^noteWhen þu; hast ynough, remembre the tyme of honger: ∧ when thou art rych, thynck vpon the tyme of pouerte and scarsnesse.

D   From the mornynge vntyll the euenyng the tyme is cha&ubar;ged, ∧ all soch thynges are soone done in þe; syght of God. A wyse man feareth God in all thynges, ∧ in þe; dayes of transgressyon he kepeth him selfe fr&obar; synne. A discrete man hath pleasure in wysdome, and he þt; fyndeth her, maketh moch of her.

They that haue had vnderstandynge, haue dealt wysely in wordes, haue vnderstande the trueth ∧ ryghteousnes, and haue sought out wyse sent&ebar;ces and iudgementes. ^noteFolowe not thy lustes, but turne the from thyne awne wyll. For yf thou geuest thy soule her desyers, it shall make thyne enemyes to laugh the to scorne. Take not thy pleasure in greate volupteousnes, and medle not to moch wythal. Make not to greate cheare of þe; thyng that thou hast wonne by auauntage, lest thou fall into pouerte, ∧ haue nothynge in thy purse. ¶ The .xix. Chapter. ¶ Wyne and whordome brynge men to pouertye In thy wordes must thou vse discrecyon. The differaunce of the wysdome of God and man, wherby þu; mayst knowe what is in a man. Correccyon must be vsed without anger.

A   A labouryng man þt; is geuen vnto dronck&ebar;nes, shall not be ryche: and he that maketh not moch of small thynges, shall fall by lytle ∧ lytle. ^noteWyne ∧ wemen ^note make wyse men rennagates, and put men of vnderstandyng to reprofe: and he that accompanieth aduouterers, shall become a wycked man. Mothes ∧ wormes shall haue hym to heretage, yee he shall be set vp to a greater example, and hys soule shalbe roted out of the nombre. ^noteHe that is hastye to geue cred&ebar;ce, is lyght mynded, ∧ doth agaynst him selfe. Who so reioyseth in wyckednes, shalbe punyshed: he þt; hateth to be refourmed, hys lyfe shalbe shortened, ∧ he that abhorreth bablyng of wordes, quencheth wyckednes. He that offendeth agaynst hys awne soule, shall repent it: and he that reioyseth in wyckednes, shalbe punyshed.

B   Rehearse not a wycked ∧ churlysh word twyse, and þu; shalt not be hyndered. Shew thy secretes nether to frende ner foo: and yf thou hast offended, tell it not out. For he shall herken vnto the ∧ marck þe;: and when he fyndeth oportunite, he shall hate þe; (and so shall he be allwaye aboute þe;.) ^noteIf thou hast herde a worde agaynst thy neyghbour, let it be deed wythyn the: and be sure, thou shalt haue no harme therby. A foole trauayleth with a word, lyke as a woman that is payned with bearynge of a chylde. Lyke as an arowe shot in a dogges thyghe, so is a worde in a foles herte. ^noteTell thy fr&ebar;de hys faute, lest he be ignoraunt, and saye: I haue not done it, or yf he haue spoken, that he do it nomore. Reproue thy neyghboure, that he kepe his tonge, ∧ yf he haue spoken, that he saye it nomore.

C   Tell thy neyghbour his faute, for oft tymes an offence is made, ∧ geue not credence to euery worde. A man falleth somtyme with his tonge, but not with his wyll. For ^note what is he, that hath not offended in hys tonge: geue thy neyghbour warnynge, before thou threaten him, ∧ geue place vnto the lawe of the Lord. The feare of God is all wysdome, and he that is a ryght wyse man, kepeth þe; lawe. As for the doctryne of wyckednesse, it is no wysdome, and the prud&ebar;ce of synners is no good vnderstandyng: it is but wyckednes, ∧ abhominacyon ∧ a blasphemyng of wysdome. A symple man of small vnderst&abar;dyng þt; feareth God, is better then one þt; hath moch wysdome, ∧ tr&abar;sgresseth þe; lawe of þe; Hyest. A crafty sottell man can be wyse, D   but he is vnryghteous, ∧ with gyftes he wrasteth the open ∧ manifest lawe. A wycked man can behaue hym selfe humbly, and can douke with his head, ∧ yet is he but a dysceauer wythyn. He hydeth his face, ^note ∧ dysguyseth it: ∧ because he shulde not be knowne, he preuenteth the.

And though he be so weake that he can do þe; no harme, yet when he may fynde oportunite, he shall do some euell. A man may be knowne by hys face, ∧ one þt; hath vnderst&abar;dyng, may be perceaued by þe; loke of hys countenaunce. ^noteA mans garm&ebar;t, laughter, ∧ goynge, declare what he is. ¶ The .xx. Chapter. ¶ Of correccyon and repentaunce. Of the gyft of the wyse man, and of the fole. Of lyinge.

A   Some man ^note reproueth his neyghbour oft tymes, but not in due season: Agayne, some m&abar; holdeth his tong, ∧ he is wyse ∧ dyscrete. It is moch better to geue warnyng and to reproue, then to beare euell wyll: for he þt; knowledgeth him self op&ebar;ly, shalbe preserued fr&obar; hurt ∧ destruccyon. Lyke as when a gelded man thorow desyre ∧ lust defyleth a mayden, euen so is it with him that vseth viol&ebar;ce: and vnryghteousnes in þe; lawe. O how good a thynge is it, a man that is reproued to shew openly his repentaunce: for so shalt thou escape wylfull synne.

Some man kepeth silence, and is founde wyse: but he that is not ashamed what he sayeth, is hatefull. Some man holdeth hys tonge, because he hath not þe; vnderst&abar;dyng of the language: ∧ some man kepeth silence, waytyng a c&obar;uenient tyme. ^noteA wyse man wyll holde hys tonge tyll he se oportunyte, but a w&abar;ton and vndyscrete body shall regarde no tyme. He that vseth many wordes, shall hurte his awne soule: ∧ he that taketh auctoryte vpon hym vnryghteously, shalbe hated. Some m&abar; hath oft tymes prosperite in wycked thynges: Agayne, some man getteth moch, and hath harme ∧ losse. There is some gift þt; is noth&ibar;g worth: Againe there is some gyft, whose rewarde is double. Some man getteth a fal for beyng to proude, ∧ some c&obar;meth to worshipe fr&obar; lowe

estate. Some man byeth moch for a lytle pryce, and must paye for it seuen folde.

B    ^noteA wyse man with hys wordes maketh him selfe to be loued, but the fauoure of fooles shalbe poured out. The gyft of the vnwyse shall do the no good, for hys eyes are seuenfolde. ^noteHe shall geue lytle, and saye he gaue moch: he openeth hys mouth and cryeth out, as it were one that cryeth out wyne. To daye he l&ebar;deth, to morow asketh he agayne, and soch a man is to be hated. The foole sayeth: I haue no frende, I haue no thancke for all my good dedes: yee euen they þt; eat my bread, speake no good of me. O how oft, ∧ of how many shall he be laughed to scorne? He taketh a more perelous fall by soch wordes then yf he fell vpon the grounde: euen so shall the falles of wycked men come hastely. In þe; mouth of hym that is vntaught, are many vnconuenient ∧ vnmete wordes. A wyse sentence shal not be alowed at þe; mouth of the foole, for he speaketh it not in due season.

C   Some man synneth not, because he hath not wher withall, and in his reast he shalbe stynged. Some man there is þt; destroyeth his awne soule with shame, and for an vnwyse bodyes sake destroyeth he it, and with acceptynge of personnes shall he vndo hym selfe. Some man promiseth his fr&ebar;de a gyft for very shame, and getteth an enemye of hym for naught. A lye is a wycked shame in a man, yet shall it be euer in the mouth of the vnwyse. A thefe is better, then a man þt; is accustomed to lye, but they both shall haue destruccyon to herytage. The condicyons of lyers are vnhonest, and theyr shame is euer with them.

D   A wyse man shall bryng hym selfe to honour with hys wordes, ^note and he that hath vnderst&abar;dynge, shall be set by am&obar;ge greate men. ^noteHe that tylleth his l&abar;de shall encrease hys heape of corne: he that worcketh ryghteousnes, shalbe exalted, and he that pleaseth great men, shall escape moch euell. ^noteRewardes and gyftes blynde the eyes of the wyse, ∧ make hym domme, that he cannot tell men theyr fautes. ^noteWysdome þt; is hyd, and treasure that is hoorded vp, what profyt is in them both? Better is he that kepeth hys ignoraunce secrete, then a man that hydeth hys wysdome. ¶ The .xxi. Chapter. ¶ Of the rep&ebar;taunce of synne. We may not heape synne vpon synne. The boldnesse of an heretyke. The ende of synners. Of the foole and of the wyse man. Of hym that cursseth the deuell.

A   My sonne, yf thou hast synned, do it nomore: ^note but praye for thy foresynnes, that they maye be forgeuen the. Fle from synne, euen as from a serpent: for yf thou c&obar;mest to nye her, she wyll byte the The tethe therof are as the teeth of a lyon to sley the soules of men. The wyckednes of man is as a sharpe two edged swerde, which maketh soch woundes that they cannot be healed.

Stryfe and wrongeous dealynge shall waste awaye a mans goodes, ∧ thorow pride a rych house shalbe brought to naught so the ryches of þe; proude shalbe roted out. ^noteThe prayer of the poore goeth oute of the mouth, and c&obar;meth vnto the eares, and hys v&ebar;geaunce (or defence) shall come, and that hastely. Whoso hateth to be refourmed, it is a token of a vngodly personne: but he þt; feareth God, wyll rem&ebar;bre him self. A myghtye man is knowne a farre of by hys tonge: but he that hath vnderst&abar;dynge, perceaueth that he shall haue a fall.

B   Who so buyldeth hys house wyth other mens cost, is lyke one that gathereth stones in wynter. ^noteThe c&obar;gregacyon of þe; vngodly is lyke stubble gathered together, theyr ende is a fl&abar;me of fyre. The waye of þe; vngodly is set with stones, but in theyr ende is hel, darcknes, ∧ paynes. He that kepeth the lawe, wyll holde fast the vnderst&abar;dyng therof, and the ende of the feare of God is wysdome ∧ vnderstandyng. He that is not wyse, wyll not be taught in good: but þe; vnwyse man aboundeth in wyckednesse: and where bytternes is, there is no vnderstandynge. The knowledge of þe; wyse shall flowe lyke water that renneth ouer, ∧ his co&ubar;cell is lyke a fountayne of lyfe.

C   The hert of a foole is lyke a broken vessel, he can kepe no wysdome. When a man of vnderst&abar;dynge heareth a wyse worde, he shal comm&ebar;de it, and make moch of it. But yf a voluptuous man heare it, he shall haue no pleasure therin, but cast it behynde hys back. The talckynge of a foole is lyke an heuy burthen by þe; waye: but to heare a wyse m&abar; speake, it is a pleasure. Where a doute is in the congregacyon, it is asked at the mouth of þe; wyse, and they shall pondre hys wordes in theyr hertes. Lyke as is a house that is destroyed, euen so is wysdome vnto a foole. As for the knowledge of þe; vnwyse, it is but darke wordes. Doctryne is vnto hym that hath no vnderstandynge, euen as fetters aboute hys fete, and lyke manycles vpon his ryght hand. ^noteA foole lyfteth vp his voyce with laughter, but a wyse man shall scarse laugh secretly.

D   Lernynge is vnto a wyse man a Iewel of golde, ∧ lyke an armelet vpon hys ryght arme. A foolyshe mans fote is soone in hys neyghbours house, but one that hath experience, shalbe ashamed at þe; personne of the myghty. A foole wyll pepe in at þe; wyndow into þe; house, but he that is wel nourtured,

wyll stande without. A foolysh man standeth herkenynge at the dore, but he that is wyse, wyll be ashamed.

The lyppes of the vnwyse wylbe telling foolysh thynges, but the wordes of soch as haue vnderst&abar;dyng, shalbe weyed in the bala&ubar;ce. The hert of fooles is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wyse is in their herte. When the vngodly curseth the blasphemer he curseth hys awne soule. ^noteA preuy accuser of other men shall defyle hys awne soule, and be hated of euery man: (but he that kepeth hys tonge ∧ is dyscrete, shall come to honoure.) ¶ The .xxii. Chapter. ¶ The purgacyon of the slouthfull. Of þe; foolyshe sonne and daughter, we must haue dyscrecyon how and to whom we ought to preache, of sorowyng vpon þe; deed. A foole is not to be moch talked with all. Iniuries and wronges do breake frendshyh and amytye.

A   A Slouthfull body is moulded of a stone of claye, and euery man wyll speake to his disprayse. A slouthful body is made of the donge of oxen and euery one that toucheth him must wash hys handes agayne. A mysnurtored sonne is the dyshonoure of þe; father. A foolysh daughter shalbe lytle regarded. A wyse daughter is an heritage vnto her husbande: but she that c&obar;meth to dyshonesty, bryngeth her father in heuynes. A daughter that is past shame, dyshonoureth both her father and her husdand: þe; vngodly shall regarde her, but they both shall despise her. The playenge of Musycke is not mete where heuynes is, eu&ebar; so is the correccyon and doctryne of wysdome euer vnpleasaunt vnto fooles.

B   Whoso teacheth a foole, is euen as one þt; gleweth a potsherde together: as one that telleth a tale to hym that heareth him not, ∧ as one that rayseth a man out of an heuy slepe. Who so telleth a foole of wysdome, is euen as a man, whych speaketh to one that is a slepe. When he hath tolde hys tale, he sayeth: what is þe; matter? When one dyeth, lamentacyon is made for hym, because the lyght fayleth hym: euen so let men mourne ouer a foole: for he wanteth vnderst&abar;dyng. Make but lytle wepyng because of þe; deed: for he is come to rest, but the lyfe of the fole is worse then þe; deeth. Seuen dayes do men mourne for hym that is deed, but þe; lam&ebar;tacyon ouer þe; vnwyse ∧ vngodly shuld endure all the dayes of theyr lyfe.

C   Talke not moch with a foole, and go not with hym that hath no vnderst&abar;dyng. Bewarre of him, lest it turne the to trauayle, and thou shalt not be defyled &wt; hys synne. Departe from him, ∧ thou shalt fynde rest, and shalt not be drawen back into hys folyshnes. What is heuyer then leade? And what shuld a foole be called els but leade? ^noteSande, salt, ∧ a lumpe of yron is easier to beare then an vnwyse, folysh, ∧ vngodly man. Lyke as þe; band of wood bo&ubar;de together in þe; fo&ubar;dacion of þe; house c&abar;not be lowsed: euen so is it with þe; hert that is stablyshed in þe; thought of councell. The thought of the wyse shall nether feare, ner be offended at any tyme.

D   Lyke as a fayre playstred wall in a wynter house; ∧ an hye buyldyng, may not abyde þe; wynde ∧ storme: euen so is a foles hert afrayed in his ymagynacyon, he feareth at euery thynge, and cannot endure. (A waueryng hart in þe; ymaginacyon of a fole wyll not euer stond in awe, but he that abydeth in þe; c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes of God, wyll allwaye feare.) He þt; nyppeth a mans eye, bryngeth forth teares: and he þt; prycketh þe; hert, bryngeth forth þe; meanyng ∧ thought. Who so casteth a stone at the byrdes, frayeth them awaye: ∧ he þt; blasphemeth his frend, breaketh the frendshyppe: though thou drewest a swerde at thy frende, yet dispayre not, for thou mayest come agayne to thy frende. If he speake sowrely, feare not, for ye maye be agreed together agayne: excepte it be that þu; blaspheme him, disdayne him, open his secretes and wo&ubar;de him traytorously: for all soch thynges shall dryue a waye a frende.

E   Be faythfull vnto thy neyghbour in his pouerte, that thou mayest reioyse with him also in his prosperyte. Abyde stedfast vnto hym in the tyme of hys trouble, that thou mayest be heyre with hym in hys heritage. Lyke as the vapour and smoke goeth out at the ouem before þe; fyre, euen so euell wordes, rebukes and threatenynges go before bloudsheddyng. Be not ashamed to defende thy frende: as for me, I wyll not hyde my face from hym, though he shulde do me harme. Whosoeuer heareth it, shall beware of hym. ^noteWho shall set a watch before my mouth, ∧ a sure seale vpon my lyppes, that I fall not with them, and that my tonge destroye me not? ¶ The .xxiii. Chapter. ¶ A prayer agaynst pryde, lechery, and glotony. Of othes, blasphemy, and of wyse communycacyon. Of the thre kyndes of synnes. Many synnes proceade of aduoutrye. Of the feare of God.

A   O Lorde, father and gouernoure of my lyfe, leaue me not in theyr ymaginacyon and councell. Oh lett me not fall in soch reprofe. Who wyll kepe my thought with the scourge, and the doctryne of wysdome in myne herte? that he spare not myne ignoraunce, that I fall not with them, lest myne ignoraunces increase, that myne offences be not many in nombre, and þt; my synnes exceade not: lest I fall before myne enemyes, ∧ so my aduersary reioyse. O Lord þu; father ∧ God of my lyfe, leaue me

not in their ymaginacyon. O let me not haue a proude looke, but turne awaye all volupteousnes fro me. Take fro me þe; lustes of þe; body, let not the desyres of vnclennes take holde vpon me, and geue me not ouer into an vnshamefast ∧ obstynate mynde.

B   Heare me (O ye chyldr&ebar;) I wyll geue you a doctrine, how ye shall ordre your mouth: who so kepeth it, shall not perish thorow his lyppes, ner be hurt thorow wicked worckes. As for þe; synner, he shall be taken &ibar; his awne vanyte: he þt; is proude ∧ cursed, shall fall therin. ^noteLet not thy mouth be acustomed &wt; swearynge, for in it there are many falles. Let not the namyng of God be continually in thy mouth: (and medle not &wt; the names of sayntes, for þu; shalt not be excused of th&ebar;) for lyke as a serua&ubar;t which is oft punyshed cannot be without some sore, euen so whatsoeuer he be þt; sweareth ∧ nameth god, shall not be cleane pourged fr&obar; synne. A m&abar; that vseth moch swearyng, shalbe fylled &wt; wyckednes, ∧ the plage shall neuer go from his house. If he begyle his brother, his faute shalbe vpon hym: yf he knowledge not his synne, he maketh a doble offence, ∧ yf he sweare in vayne, he shall not be fo&ubar;de ryghteous for his house shall be full of plages.

C    ^noteThe wordes of the swearer bryngeth deeth (God gra&ubar;te þt; it be not founde in the house of Iacob.) But they that feare God, eschue all soch, ∧ lye not weltrynge &ibar; synne. ^noteUse not thy mouth to vnhonest and fylthy talkynge, for in it is þe; worde of synne. Remembre thy father ∧ thy mother, when thou art set among great men: lest God forget the in theyr syght, and lest thou dotynge in thy custome, suffre rebuke, ∧ wysh not to haue bene borne, and so curse the daye of thy natyuite. ^noteThe man þt; is accustomed with the wordes of blasphemy, wyll neuer be refourmed all the dayes of his lyfe. To synne twyse is to moch, but the thyrd brynget wrath ∧ destruccyon. An hote stomack cannot be quenched (euen lyke a burnynge fyre) tyll it haue swalowed vp somthyng: euen so an vnchast man hath no rest in hys flesh, tyll he haue kyndled a fyre.

D   All bred is swete to an whoremonger, he wyll not leaue of, tyll he haue hys purpose. A man that breaketh wedlock, ∧ regardeth not his soule, but sayeth: ^note Tush, who seyth me? I am compassed aboute with darcknes þe; walles couer me, no body seyth me: whom nede I to feare? The Hyest wyll not rem&ebar;bre my synnes. He vnderstandeth not þt; his eyes se all thynges, for all soch feare of men dryueth awaye the feare of God from hym: for he feareth onely the eyes of men, and c&obar;sydereth not that the eyes of the Lorde are clearer then the Sunne, beholdynge all the wayes of men and the grounde of the depe, and lokynge euen to mens hertes in secrete places. The Lorde God knewe all thynges or euer they were made, and after they be brought to passe also he loketh vp&obar; th&ebar; all. ^noteThe same man shalbe openly punyshed in the stretes of þe; cyte: ∧ shalbe chased abrode lyke a yonge horse foale: and when he thynketh lest vp&obar; it, he shalbe taken. This shall he be put to shame of euery man, because he wolde not vnderst&abar;de þe; feare of the Lorde. And thus shal it go also with euery wyfe, that leaueth her husbande, ∧ getteth enherytaunce by a stra&ubar;ge mariage. ^noteFirst, she hath bene vnfaythfull vnto the lawe of the Hyest: Sec&obar;dly, she hath forsaken her awne husbande. E   Thyrdly, she hath played the whore in aduoutry, and gotten her chyldr&ebar; by another man. She shalbe brought out of the c&obar;gregacyon, and her chyldren shalbe loked vpon. Her chyldren shall not take rote: ∧ as for frute, her braunches shall brynge forth none. A shamefull reporte shal she leaue behynde hyr, and hyr dyshonoure shal not be put out. And they þt; remayne, shall knowe, that there is nothynge better, then the feare of God: and that there is nothynge sweter then to take hede vnto the c&obar;ma&ubar;dementes of the Lorde. A great worshyppe is it to folowe the Lorde, for l&obar;ge lyfe shalbe receyued of hym. ¶ The .xxiiii. Chapter. ¶ A prayse of wysdome proceadyng forth of the mouth of God. Of her worckes ∧ place where she reasteth.

A   Wysdome shall prayse her self, and be honoured in God, ∧ reioyse in the myddest of his people: In the c&obar;gregacy&obar;s of þe; Hyest shall she open her mouth, and tri&ubar;phe in the beholdyng of his power: In the myddest of her people shal she be exalted, and wondred at in the holy fulnesse. In the multitude of the chosen she shalbe c&obar;m&ebar;ded, and amonge soch as be blessed she shalbe praysed, and shal saye: I am come out of the mouth of the Hyest, fyrst borne before all creatures. I caused þe; lyght that fayleth not to aryse in þe; heauen, and couered al the earth as a cloude. My dwellyng is aboue in the heyth, and my seate is in þe; pyler of the cloude. I my selfe alone haue gone rounde aboute þe; c&obar;passe of heauen, ∧ pearsed þe; grounde of þe; depe: I haue walked in þe; floudes of the see, and haue stande in all landes: my domynion is in euery people ∧ in euery nacion, ∧ with my power haue I troden downe the hertes of al, both hye ∧ lowe.

B   In all these thynges also I sought rest, and a dwellynge in some euheritaunce. So the creator of all thynges gaue me a c&obar;ma&ubar;dem&ebar;t: and he that made me, appointed me a tabernacle, and sayde vnto me: Lett thy dwelling be in Iacob, ∧ thyne inheritaunce

in Israel, ∧ rote thy selfe amonge my chosen. ^noteI was created from the begynnynge, and before þe; worlde, and shall not leaue of vnto the world to come. ^noteIn þe; holy habytacyon haue I serued before hym, ∧ so was I stablyshed in Syon. ^noteIn þe; holy cytie rested I in lyke maner: and in Ierusalem was my power, I toke rote in an honorable people, euen in þe; porcyon of the Lorde ∧ in hys herytage, and kepte me in the fulnes of the saynctes. I am set vpan hye lyke a Ceder vpon Lybanus, and as a Cypers tre vpon the mo&ubar;t Hermon. I am exalted lyke a palme tre in Cades, ∧ as a rose plante in Iericho. As a fayre Olyue tre in the felde, ∧ am exalted lyke as a planteyne tre by þe; water syde. I haue geuen a smel in the stretes, as the Cynamon ∧ Balme, that hath so good a sauoure: yee a swete odoure haue I geuen as it were Myrre of the beest.

C   I haue made my dwellynges to smell as it were of rosin, Galbanum, of Cloues, and Incense, and as Libanus when it is not hewen downe, and myne odoure is as the pure Balme. As þe; Terebynte haue I stretched out my braunches, and my braunches are þe; bra&ubar;ches of honoure ∧ louynge fauour. &cross2; ^noteAs þe; vyne haue I brought forth frute of a swete sauour, and my floures are þe; frute of honoure and ryches. I am the mother of bewtye, of loue, of feare, of knowledge and of holy hope. ^noteIn me is all grace of lyfe and trueth. In me is all hope of lyfe ∧ vertue. O come vnto me all ye þt; be desyrous of me ∧ fyll your selues with my frutes: for my sprete is sweter then hony, and so is my inherytaunce more then þe; hony combe: the rem&ebar;braunce of me endureth for euermore. They that eate me, shall haue the more h&obar;ger, and they þt; dryncke me, shall thyrst the more. Who so herkeneth vnto me, shall not come to c&obar;fusyon: ∧ they that worke in me, shall not offende. They that make me to be knowen, shall haue euerlastynge lyfe. &cross3;

All these thynges are þe; boke of lyfe, the couenaunt of the Hyest, and the knowledge of the trueth. ^noteMoses c&obar;maunded þe; lawe in the preceptes of ryghteousnes for an herytage vnto the house of Iacob, and c&obar;mitted þe; promyses vnto Israel. ^note(Out of Dauid hys seruaunt he ordened to rayse vp a most myghtye kynge, syttyng in the seat of honour for euermore.) ^noteThys fylleth with wysdome lyke as the floude of Physon, and as the floude of Tygris, when the new frutes are a growynge.

D    ^noteThys bryngeth a plenteous vnderstandyng lyke Euphrates: and fylleth it vp, as Iordane in the tyme of haruest. Thys maketh nourture to breake forth as the lyght, ∧ as þe; water Gyhon in þe; haruest. The fyrst hath not knowne her perfectly, nomore shall þe; last seke out þe; ground of her. For her thought is fuller then the see, and her councell is profounder then the greate depe.

I wysdome haue cast out floudes. I am as a great waterbroke out of þe; ryuer. I am as the ryuer Dorix, and as a water condyte am I come out of the garden of pleasure. I sayde: I wyll water þe; garden of my yonge plantes, and fyll the frute of my byrth. So my water broke became exceadynge greate, ∧ my ryuer approched vnto the see. For I make doctrine to be vnto all men as lyght as the fayre mornyng, ∧ I shall make it to be euer þe; clearer. I wyll pearse thorow all the lower partes of þe; earthe, I wyll loke vpon all soch as be a slepe, ∧ lyghten all them þt; put theyr trust in the Lorde. I shall yet powre out doctrine, lyke as prophecye, ∧ leaue it vnto soch as seke after wysdome, ∧ their generacy&obar;s shall I neuer fayle, vnto the holy euerlastyng world. ^noteBehold, how that I haue not laboured for my selfe onely but for all them that seke after the treuth. ¶ The .xxv. Chapter. ¶ Of thre thynges whych please God, and of thre whych he hateth. Of nyne thynges that be not to be suspect, and of the tenth: cheafely of the malyce of a woman.

A   Thre thinges there are, that my sprete fauoureth, which be also alowed before God and men. ^noteThe vnyte of brethren, ^note þe; loue of neyghbours, ^note a man and wyfe that agree wel together.

Thre thynges there be which my soule hateth, and I vtterly abhorre the lyfe of them. A poore man that is proude. A rych man that is a lyar, ^note and an olde body that doteth, and is vnchaste.

If thou hast gathered nothynge in thy youth, what wilt þu; fynde then in thyne age. O how pleasaunt a thinge is it, when gray headed men are discrete, ∧ when þe; elders can geue good councell: O how comely a thyng is wysdome vnto aged men: yee vnderstandyng ∧ councell is a gloryous thyng. The crowne of olde men is to haue moch experi&ebar;ce: ∧ the feare of God is theyr worshyppe.

B   There be nyne thynges, whych I haue iudged in my herte to be happye, ∧ the t&ebar;th wyll I tell forth vnto men with my tonge. A man þt; whyle he lyueth, hath ioye of his chyldren, and seyth þe; fall of hys enemyes. Well is hym that dwelleth with an houswyfe of vnderst&abar;dyng, ^note and that hath not fallen with his tonge, ∧ that hath not bene fayne to serue soch as are vnmete for hym. Well is hym, þt; fyndeth a faythfull frende: and well is him, which talketh of wysdome to an eare that heareth him. O how great is he, þt; fyndeth wysdome and knowledge? Yet is he not aboue hym, þt; feareth þe; Lorde.

The feare of God hath set it selfe aboue all thynges. Blessed is the man, vnto whom it is graunted to haue the feare of God. Unto wh&obar; shal he be lyckened, that kepeth it fast? The feare of God is the begynnynge of his loue, and the begynnynge of fayth is to cleue fast vnto it. The heuines of the hert is al the punyshment, ∧ the wyckednes of a woman goeth aboue al. All punishment ∧ plage is not nothyng in comparison of the plage of the hert, euen so all wyckednes is nothynge to the wyckednesse of a woman.

C   Whatsoeuer happeneth vnto a m&abar; is nothynge in c&obar;parison of it, that his euell willers do vnto hym: and all vengeaunce is nothynge to the vengeaunce of the enemye.

There is not a more wycked heade then the heade of the serpent, ∧ there is no wrath aboue the wrath of a wom&abar;. ^noteI wyl rather dwell with a lyon and dragon, then to kepe house wyth a wycked wyfe. The wyckednesse of a wom&abar; chaungeth her face, she shal moffel her countena&ubar;ce as it were a Beare, ∧ as a sack shal she shewe it amonge þe; neghbours. Her husb&abar;de is brought to shame amonge his neghbours, and wh&ebar; he heareth it, it maketh him to syghe. Al wyckednes is but lytle to the wyckednes of a woman, the porcyon of the vngodly shall fall vpon her.

D   Lyke as to clymme vp a sandy waye is to the fete of the aged, euen so is a wyfe full of wordes to a styll quyete man. ^noteLoke not to narowly vp&obar; the bewtye of a wom&abar;, lest thou be prouoked in desire toward her. The wrath of a woman is dishonoure and great confusion. Yf a woman get the mastrye, th&ebar; is she contrary to her husbande. A wycked wyfe maketh a sory herte, an heuy countenaunce and a deed wo&ubar;de. ^note(Weake h&abar;des and feble knees is a wom&abar; that hyr husb&abar;d is not the better for.) Of the woman came the begynnynge of synne, ∧ thorowe her we all are deed. Geue thy water no passage, no not a lytle, nether geue a wycked wom&abar; her wyll. Yf she walcke not after thy hande, she shall confounde the in the syght of thy enemyes. Cut her of then fr&obar; thy flesh, that she do not alwaye abuse the. ¶ The .xxvi. Chapter. ¶ The prayse of a good woman. Of the feare of thre thynges and of the fourth. Of the Ielouze &abar;d droncken woman. Of two thynges that cause sorowe, and of the thyrde which moueth wrath.

A   Happye is the man that hath a verteous wyfe, for the nombre of his yeares shalbe dubble. An honest woman maketh her husbande a ioyfull man, ∧ she shall fyll þe; yeres of his lyfe in peace. A verteous woman is a noble gyft, which shalbe geuen for a good porcion vnto soch as feare God: Whether a m&abar; be rich or poore, he maye haue euer a mery herte, and a chearefull co&ubar;tenaunce. There be thre thinges that my hert feareth, and my face is afrayed of þe; fourth. Treason in a cytye, a sedicious people, and noysome tonges, all these are heuyer then þe; death. But wh&ebar; one is gelous ouer his wyfe, it bryngeth payne and sorowe vnto the hert: and a woman that telleth out all thinges, is a scourge of þe; tunge. When one hath an euell wyfe, it is euen as when an vnlyke payre of oxen must draw together, ^note he that getteth her, getteth a scorpyon. A droncken woman is a greate plage, for she cannot couer her awne shame.

B   The whordome of a wom&abar; maye be knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye lyddes. ^noteYf thy daughter be not shamefast, holde her straytlye, lest she abuse her selfe thorow ouermoch lyberte. Beware of all the dishonestye of her eyes, and maruell not yf she do agaynst the. Lyke as one that goeth by the waye ∧ is thirstie, so shal she op&ebar; her mouth and dryncke of euery nexte water that she maye get. By euery hedge shall she sytt her downe, and open her quyuer agaynst euery arowe. A louynge wyfe reioyseth her husbande, and fedeth hys bones wyth her wysdome. A wom&abar; of fewe wordes is a gyfte of God, and to al well nurtured myndes maye nothynge be compared.

C   An honest and manerly woman is a gyft aboue other gyftes, and there is no weyght to be compared, vnto a mynde that can rule it selfe. Lyke as the Sunne when it ariseth, is an ornament in the hye heau&ebar; of þe; Lorde, so is a verteous wyfe the bewtye of all her house. Lyke as the cleare lyght is vpon the holy candelstick, so is the bewtie of the face vpon an honest body. ^noteLyke as the golden pilers are vp&obar; the sockettes of syluer, so are the fayre legges vpon a woman that hath a constant mynde. Perpetual are the foundacions þt; be layed vpon a whole stonye rocke so are the commaundementes of God vpon the herte of an holy woman.

D   There be two thinges that greue my hert and in the thirde is a displeasure come vpon me. Wh&ebar; an experte man of warre suffreth scarsenes &abar;d pouerte. When men of vnderstandynge ∧ wysdome are not sett by: And when one departeth from ryghteousnes vnto synne. Who so doth soch, the Lorde hath prepared him vnto þe; swerde. There be two maner of thynges, whych me thyncke to be herde and perylous. A marchaunt can not lyghtely kepe him from wr&obar;ge, nether a tauerner hym selfe from synne. ¶ The .xxvii. Chapter.

¶ Of the pore that wolde be ryche. The probacyon of the man that feareth God. The vnconstantnesse of a foole. The secretes of a frynde are not to be vttered. The wycked ymagineth euell, which retourneth vp&obar; hym selfe.

A   Because of pouerte haue many one offended: &abar;d he that seketh to be ryche, turneth hys eyes asyde. Lyke as a nayle in the wall sticketh fast betwyxte two stones, eu&ebar;so doth synne sticke betwyxte the byer and the seller. Yf he holde hym not dilygently in the feare of the Lorde, his house shall soone be ouerthrow&ebar;, Lyke as whan one syfteth the fylthynes remayneth in þe; syue: So remayneth there some vncleane thynge in the thought of man. B   The ou&ebar; proueth þe; potters vessell, ^note so doth temptacion of trouble trye ryghteous men ^note The tre of the felde is know&ebar; by his frute, so is the thought of mans hert knowne by his wordes. Prayse no man except thou haue herde him, for a m&abar; is know&ebar; by his wordes. Yf thou folowest ryghteousnes, thou shalt get her, &abar;d put her vpon the as a fayre garment. And thou shalt dwell with her, &abar;d she shall defende the for euer, and in the daye of knowledge thou shalt finde stedfastnesse. The byrdes resorte vnto theyr like, so doth the trueth turne vnto th&ebar; that be occupyed withall. The lyon wayteth the praye: so do the synners lurke vpon þe; worckers of wyckednes. The talkynge of hym that feareth God, is nothinge but wysdome: as for a fole he cha&ubar;geth as the Moone. Yf þu; be am&obar;g the vndiscrete, kepe thy worde to a c&obar;ueni&ebar;t tyme, but amonge soche as be wyse, speake on hardely. The talkynge of fooles is abhominacion, ∧ their sporte is volupteousnesse &abar;d misnurtoure. ^note C   Moch sweringe maketh the hearre to stande vp: and to stryue wyth soch, stoppeth the eares.

The stryfe of the proude is bloudsheddynge, and theyr blaspheming is heuy to heare. ^noteWho so discouereth secretes, leseth his credence, and fyndeth no frynde after hys wil. Loue thy frinde, &abar;d bynde thy selfe in faythfulnes with hym: but yf thou bewrayest his secretes, thou shalt not gett hym agayne. For lyke as the man is that destroyeth hys enemye, so is he also that dealeth falsly in þe; frendshyp of his neyghboure.

D   Lyke as one that letteth a byrde go out of his hande, cannot take her agayne: Euen so thou, yf thou geue ouer thy frynde, thou canst not get him agayne: Yee thou c&abar;st not come by hym, for he is to farre of. He is vnto the as a Roo escaped out of the snare, for his soule is wo&ubar;ded. As for woundes, they maye be bounde vp agayne, ∧ an euel word maye be reconcyled: but who so bewrayeth the secretes of a frynde, there is no more hope to be had vnto hym.

^noteHe that wyncketh with the eyes, ymagineth some euell, and no man shall take hym from it. Wh&ebar; thou art present, he shal hylie comm&ebar;d and prayse thy wordes: but at the last he shal turne his tayle, and scla&ubar;der thy sayenge. Many thynges haue I hated, but nothynge so euell, for the Lord him selfe also abhorreth soch a one.

E    ^noteWho so casteth a stone on hye, it shall fal vpon hys awne head: and he that smyteth with gyle, woundeth him selfe. Who so diggeth a pyt shall fall therin (∧ he that layeth a stone in his neghbours waye, shal stomble theron) ∧ he that layeth a snare for another, shal be tak&ebar; in it him selfe. ^noteWho so geueth a wicked noysome co&ubar;cel, it shall come vp&obar; hym selfe, &abar;d he shal not knowe fr&obar; whence. The proude blaspheme, and are scornefull, but vengea&ubar;ce lurketh for them as a lyon. They that reioyse at the fal of þe; ryghteous shall be taken in the snare, anguyshe of hert shall consume them before they dye. Anger ∧ rygorousnes are two abhominable thynges, ∧ the vngodly hath th&ebar; both vpon him. ¶ The .xxviii. Chapter. ¶ We ought not to desyre vengeaunce, but to forgeue the offence. Of the vyces of the tonge, and of the daungers therof.

A   He ^note that seketh vengeaunce, shall fynde vengea&ubar;ce of þe; Lord, which shall surely kepe hym hys synnes. ^noteForgeue thy neghboure the hurte that he hath done the, ∧ so shal thy sinnes be forgeu&ebar; the also, wh&ebar; þu; prayest. A man þt; beareth hatred agaynst another, how darre he desyre forgeuenesse of God? He that sheweth no mercy to a man which is lyke hym selfe, how darre he aske forgeuenesse of hys synnes? Yf he that is but flesh, beareth hatred and kepeth it, who wyl intreate for his synnes? Remembre the ende, &abar;d let enmyte passe, which seketh death and destruccion, ∧ abyde thou in the commaundementes. Remembre the commaundement, so shalt thou not be rigorous ouer thy neghboure. B   Thincke vp&obar; the couenaunt of the Hyest, ∧ forgeue thy neyghbours ignoraunce. ^noteBewarre of strife, and þu; shalt make thy sinnes fewer. For an angrie man kindleth variaunce, &abar;d the vngodly disqueteth frendes, and putteth discorde among them that be at peace. ^noteThe more wodd there is, þe; more vehem&ebar;t is the fyre: and the myghtier that m&ebar; be, the greater is the wrath: and the longer þe; strife endureth, the more it burneth.

C   An hastie brawlinge kyndleth a fyre, &abar;d an hastie strife sheddeth bloude: A tong also that beareth false witnesse bryngeth death. Yf thou blowe the sparke it shal burne. Yf þu; spyt vpon it: it shal go forth, and both these out of þe; mouth. ^noteThe scla&ubar;derer ∧ dubble tonged is cursed, for many one þt; be frendes

setteth he at variaunce. The thyrde tonge hath disquieted many one, and driuen them from one lande to another. Stronge cyties of the riche hath it broken downe, and ouerthrowne the houses of greate men. (The strength of þe; people hath it brought downe and bene the decaye of myghtye nacyons.) The thyrde tonge hath cast out many an honest woman, ∧ robbed th&ebar; of theyr labours. Who so herkeneth vnto soch shal neuer finde rest, ∧ neuer dwell safely. The stroke of the rod maketh edders, but the stroke of þe; tonge smyteth the bones in sunder. There be many that haue peryshed with the swerd but many mo thorowe the tonge.

D   Well is hym that is kepte from an euell tonge, and commeth not in the anger therof which draweth not the yock of soche, and is not bounde in the bandes of it. For the yock therof is of yron, and the bande of it of stele. The death therof is a very euell death: hell were better for one, then soch a tonge. But the fyre of it maye not oppresse them that feare God, and the flamme therof maye not burne th&ebar;. Soch as forsake the Lorde, shall fall therin: and it shall burne them, and no man shall be able to quenche it. It shall fall vpon them as a Lyon, and deuoure them as a leoparde. Thou hedgest thy goodes wyth thornes: why doest thou not rather make dores and barres for thy mouth? Thou weyest thy golde and syluer: why doest thou not weye thy wordes also vpon the bal&abar;ce? Bewarre, that thou slyde not in thy tonge, and so fall before thyne enemyes, that laye wayte for the, (and thy fall be incurable, euen vnto death.) ¶ The .xxix. Chapter. ¶ How we ought to lende oure money, and do almes. Of a faythfull man answerynge for his frynde. Of lyberalite and hospytalytye.

A   Who so wyll shewe mercy, ^note lett him lende vnto hys neghboure: and he that is able, let hym kepe the commaundement. Lende vnto thy neghboure in tyme of his nede, ∧ paye thou thy neghbour agayne in due season. Kepe thy worde, and deale faythfully with him, and thou shalt alwaye fynde the thynge that is necessary for the. There haue bene many, that when a thyng was lent them, rekened it to be founde, and made them trauayle and laboure, that had helped them. Whyle they receaue eny thynge, they kysse the handes of soch as gyue them, and for theyr neyghbours good they h&ubar;ble their voyce. But when they shulde paye agayne, they kepe it back, and geue euell wordes, &abar;d make many excuses by reason of the tyme: and though he be able, yet geueth he scarse the halfe agayne; and rekeneth the other to be founde. And yf he with holde not his moneye yet hath he an enemy of hym, and that vndeserued.

B   He payeth hym with cursynge and rebuke, &abar;d geueth him euell wordes for his good dede. Ther be many one which are not glad for to l&ebar;de, not because of euell, but they feare to lese the thynge that they lende. Yet haue thou pacience with the symple, and withholde not mercy from him. Helpe the poore for the commaundem&ebar;tes sake, and let hym not goo emptie from the, because of hys necessite. Lese thy mony for thy brother and neyghbours sake, and burye it not vnder a stone, where it rusteth &abar;d corrupteth. ^noteGather thy treasure after the commaundem&ebar;t of the Hyest, and so shall it bryng the more profyte then golde: ^note Laye vp the almes in the hande of the poore, and it shall kepe the from all euel. ^noteA mans almes is as a purse with hym, and shal kepe a mans fauoure as the apple of an eye: and after warde shall it aryse and paye euery man his rewarde vp&obar; his head. It shall fyght for the agaynst thyne enemyes, better then the shylde of a gyaunte or speare of the myghtye.

C   A good honest m&abar; is suertie for his neghboure, but a wycked personne letteth hym come to shame. Forget not the frendshyp of thy suertye, for he hath geuen his soule for the. The vngodly despiseth the good dede of his suertye, and the vnthanckfull and ignoraunt leaueth his suertie in daunger. Some man promyseth for his neyghboure: &abar;d wh&ebar; he hath lost his honesty, he shall forsake him. Suertishyppe hath destroyed many a riche man, and remoued th&ebar; as the waues in the see. Myghtie people hath it dryuen awaye, and caused the to wandre in straunge countrees. An vngodly man transgressynge the commaundement of the Lorde, shall fall into an euell suertishype: and though he force him self to get out, yet shall he fall into iudgement. Helpe thy neyghbour out after thy power, and beware, that thou thy selfe fall not in soch dett. ^noteThe chefe thynge that kepeth in thy lyfe, is water, &abar;d bred, clothinge and lodgynge, to couer the shame.

D   Better is it to haue a poore lyuynge in a mans awne house, then delycate fare am&obar;g the stra&ubar;ge. ^noteBe it lytle or moch that thou hast, holde the content withall, ∧ thou shalt not be blamed as a vagabo&ubar;de: for a myserable lyfe is it, to go from house to house: ∧ where a man is fremde, he darre not open his mouth. Though one be lodged, &abar;d haue meate and dryncke, yet shall he be taken as vnworthy, and heare many bytter rough wordes, namely thus: Go thy waye thou straunger, and prepare a table for thy selfe, and fede me also of that thou hast. Awaye

thou straunge (so that he regardeth hys honoure no more) my brother c&obar;meth into my house, ∧ so he telleth hym the necessite of his house. These thynges are heuy to a m&abar; that hath vnderstandynge: namely, the forbyddynge of the house, and that the lender casteth hym in the teth. ¶ The .xxx. Chapter. ¶ Of the correccion of chyldren. Of the commodytye of health. Deeth is better then a sorowfull lyfe. Of hydde wysdome. Of the ioye ∧ sorow of the hert.

A   Who so loueth his chylde ^note holdeth him styl vnder correccion, that he maye haue ioye of him afterwarde and that he grope not after his neyghbours dores. ^noteHe þt; teacheth his s&obar;ne shall haue ioye in him, ∧ nede not to be ashamed of him am&obar;ge his aquayntaunce. Who so enfourmeth ∧ teacheth his sonne, greueth the enemye: and before his frendes he maye haue ioye of him. Though þe; father dye, yet is he as though he were not deed: for he hath left one behynde him that is lyke hym. In his lyfe he sawe hym and had ioye in hym, ∧ was not sory in his death, nether was he ashamed before the enemyes. For he left behinde him an auenger agaynst his enemies, and a good doer vnto the frendes. For þe; lyfe of chyldren he shall bynde the wo&ubar;des together, and his hert is greued at euery crye. An vntamed horse wyl be harde, ∧ a want&obar; chylde wylbe wylfull. Yf thou bring vp thy sonne delycately, he shall make þe; afrayed: ∧ yf thou playe with hym, he shall brynge the to heuynes. Laugh not wyth hym, lest thou wepe with him also, and lest thy tethe be set on edge at the last.

B    ^noteGeue hym no lyberte in his youth, ∧ excuse not hys foly. Bowe downe hys necke whyle he is yonge, hyt hym vpon the sydes while he is yet but a child, lest he waxe stubburne, and geue no more force of the, and so shalt thou haue heuines of soule, Teach thy chylde, and be dilig&ebar;t therin, lest it be to thy shame. Better is the poore beyng whole &abar;d stronge, then a man to be ryche, ∧ not to haue his health: Health and welfare is aboue al golde, ∧ a whole body aboue all treasure. There is no ryches aboue a sounde body, &abar;d no ioye aboue the ioye of the hert. Death is better then a wretched lyfe, &abar;d eternall rest better then contynuall sycknes. The good thinges that are put in a close mouth are like as wh&ebar; meate is layed vpon the graue.

C   What good doth the offerynge vnto an Idol? ^noteFor he c&abar; nether eate, tast, ner smel. Euen so is he that is chased of the Lorde, &abar;d beareth the rewardes of iniquytie. He seyth wyth his eyes, ∧ groneth lyke a gelded m&abar;, that lyeth with a vyrgin ∧ sygheth. ^noteGeue not ouer thy mynde into heuynes, and vexe not thy self in thine awne co&ubar;cel, ^note The ioye and chearfulnes of the hert is the life of m&abar;, and a mannes gladnes is the prolonging of his dayes. Loue thine awne soule, and comforte thine hert: as for sorowe and heuynes, dryue it farre fr&obar; þe;, ^note for heuynes hath slayne many a man, &abar;d bryngeth no profit. Zele &abar;d anger shorten the dayes of the lyfe: carefulnes and sorowe bring age before þe; tyme. Unto a mery hert euery thyng hath a good tast that he eateth. ¶ The .xxxi. Chapter. ¶ We ought to geue dilygent hede to honestye. Of them that take payne to gather ryches. The prayse of a ryche man without a faute. We ought to fle dronckenesse and folowe sobernesse.

A   Trauayle ∧ carfulnes for ^note ryches taketh awaye the slepe, &abar;d maketh the flesh to consume. When one lyeth &abar;d taketh care, he waketh euer vp, like as gret sycknes breaketh the slepe. The ryche hath great labour in gathering his ryches together, and then with the pleasure of his ryches he taketh hys rest and is refreshed. But who so laboureth and prospereth not, he is poore: &abar;d though he leaue of, yet is he a begger. He that loueth riches, shall not be iustified: and who so foloweth corruption, shall haue ynough therof. ^noteMany one are come in great misfortune by the reason of gold, ∧ haue founde theyr destruccion before them. It is a tree of fallynge vnto them that offre it vp, and all soch as be foolysh fall theryn. Blessed is the rych, which is found without blemysh, and hath not gone after golde, ner hoped in money ∧ treasures. Where is there soch a one? and we shall commende hym, &abar;d cal hym blessed, for greate thynges doth he among his people. Who so is tryed, ∧ founde perfecte in soch thinges, shalbe c&obar;mended and praysed. Who myght offende, and hath not offended? Who coulde do euel, and hath not done it? Therfore shall his good be stablyshed, and the whole congregaci&obar; shal declare his almesses. Yf thou sytt at a greate mans table, open not thy mouth wyde vp&obar; it, and make not many wordes. Remembre that an euell eye is a shrewe:

B   What thinge created is worse th&ebar; a wicked eye? therfore wepeth it before euery m&abar;s face? Laye not thine hand vpon euery thing þt; thine eye seyth, ∧ stryue not &wt; hym in the dyshe. ^notePonder by thy selfe what thy neyghboure wolde fayne haue, &abar;d be descrete in euery pointe. Eate the thing that is set before the manerly, as it becommeth a man and eate not to moch, lest thou be abhorred. Leaue thou of first of al, because of nurtoure, lest thou be he whom no man maye satisfye which maye turne to thy decaye. When þu; syttest among many men, reach not thine hande out fyrst of all. ^noteO how wel content

is a wyse man with a lytle wyne? so that in slepe þu; shalt not be sycke therof, ner fele eny payne. A swete wholsome slepe shall soch a one haue, &abar;d fele no inward grefe. He ryseth vp by times in the mornyng, ∧ is wel at ease in him selfe. But an vnsaciable eater slepeth vnquietly, and hath ache and payne of the body. Yf thou felest that thou hast eat&ebar; to moch, aryse, goo thy waye, cast it of thy stomack, and take thy rest: and it shall ease the, so that thou shalt brynge no sycknesse vnto thy body.

C   My sonne, heare me, and despyse me not: ∧ at the last thou shalt fynde as I haue told the. ^noteIn all thy workes be diligent ∧ quycke, so shall there no sycknes happ&ebar; vnto þe;. ^noteWho so is liberal in dealyng out his meate, many men shall blesse him, ∧ prayse hym with theyr lyppes: &abar;d the same is a sure token of his loue &abar;d faythfulnes. But he that is vnfaythfull in meate, the whole citie shal complayne of hym: and that is a sure experience of his infidelite &abar;d wyckednes. ^noteBe not thou a wyne bybber, for wyne hath destroyed many a man. The fyre proueth the hard yron, eu&ebar; so doth wyne proue hertes of the proude, when they be droncken.

D    ^noteWyne sobrely dronck&ebar;, quyckeneth the lyfe of man. Yf thou drynckest it measurably, thou shalt be t&ebar;perate. What lyfe is it, that maye continue without wyne? (What taketh awaye the lyfe? euen death.) Wyne was made fr&obar; the begynnynge to make m&ebar; glad (&abar;d not for dronkennes) Wyne measurably dr&obar;k&ebar; is a reioysing of þe; soule ∧ body. (A measurable drinkynge is health to soule and body.) But yf it be dronken with excesse, it maketh bytternes and sorowe vnto the mynde. Dronkennes fylleth the mynde of the foolysh with shame and ruyne, minysheth the strength, and maketh woundes. ^noteRebuke not thy neyghboure at the wyne, &abar;d despyse him not in his myrth. Geue hym no despytefull wordes, and preasse not vp&obar; hym with contrary sayenges. ¶ The .xxxii. Chapter. ¶ Of the discrecyon and prayse of the preacher, and of the hearer. Of the feare, fayth, and confidence in God.

A   Yf thou be made a ruler, ^note pryde not thy selfe therin, but be thou as one of þe; people. ^noteTake diligent care for th&ebar; and loke wel therto: ∧ when thou hast done all thy dewtye, syt the downe, that þu; mayest be mery wyth th&ebar;, and receaue a crowne of honoure. Talke wysely and honestly, for wysdome bec&obar;meth the ryght well. Hynder not musicke. Speake not, where there is no audyence: ^note ∧ poure not forth wysdome out of tyme, at an importunite. Lyke as þe; Carbuncle stone shyneth that is set in golde, so doth a songe garnysh the wyne feast: and as the Smaragde that is set in golde, so is the swetnes of Musicke by the myrth of wyne. (Geue eare, and be still, and for thy good behaueour thou shalt be loued.)

B   Thou yonge man, speake that bec&obar;meth the, and that is profytable, ∧ yet scarse wh&ebar; thou art twyse asked. Comprehende moche with fewe wordes. In many thynges be as one that is ignoraunt, geue eare, and holde thy tonge withall. Yf thou be amonge men of hyer auctorite, desyre not to c&obar;pare thy selfe vnto them: &abar;d when an elder speaketh make not þu; many wordes therin. Before þe; thonder goeth lyghteninge, and before nurtoure and shamefastnesse goeth loue &abar;d fauoure. Stande vp by tymes and be not the last: but get the home sone, ∧ there take thy pastime, ∧ do what thou wylt: so that thou do no euell, ∧ defye no man, but for all thynges geue th&abar;ckes, vnto him that hath made the, and replenished the with his goodes.

C   Who so feareth the Lorde, wyll receaue his doctrine: and they that get them to him by tymes, shall fynde grace. He that seketh the lawe, shall be fylled withall: As for him that is but fayned, he wil be offended ther at They that feare the Lorde shall fynde the iudgement, and theyr ryghteousnes shalbe kindled as a lyght. An vngodly man wyll not be refourmed, but c&abar; helpe him self with the example of other in his purpose. A man of vnderstandynge despyseth no good councell: but a wylde and proude body hath no feare. (Ye eu&ebar; when he hath dealt rashly &wt; another man, but his awne doynges shal be his rebuke.) My sonne, do nothing without aduisement, so shal it not repent the after þe; dede. Go not in the waye wher thou mayest fal, ner where thou mayest stomble against the stone. Geue not thy self into a laborious slyppery waye, and beware of thyne awne chyldren, (and take hede of them that be of thyne awne housholde.) In all thy workes put thy trust in God, fr&obar; thy whole hert, for that is the kepynge of the commaundementes. Who so beleueth Gods worde, taketh hede to the commaundements: aud he that putteth hys trust in the Lorde, shall wante nothynge. ¶ The .xxxiii. Chapter. ¶ The delyueraunce of hym that feareth God. The answere of þe; wyse. The lyttell discrecion of a foole. Man is in the hande of God, as the earth is in the hand of the potter. We ought not to dyspose our selues, to become subiect to other.

A   There shal no euel happ&ebar; vnto him that feareth God: but wh&ebar; he is in t&ebar;ptacion, the Lorde shal delyuer him ∧ kepe hym fr&obar; euell. A wyse man hateth not the lawe, but an ypocrite is as a shyp in ragynge water. A man of vnderstandynge geueth cred&ebar;ce vnto the lawe

of God, and the lawe is faythful vnto him. Be sure of þe; matter, then talke therof: Be fyrst well instruct, th&ebar; mayest thou geue answere, The hert of the foolish is lyke a cartwhele, and his thoughtes runne about like the axel tre. Lyke as a wilde horse þt; neyeth vnder euery one that sytteth vp&obar; him, so is it &wt; a scorneful frende. Why doth one daye excell another, seyng al the dayes of þe; yeare come of the Sunne? The wysdome of the Lorde hath so parted them a sunder, and so hath he ordened the tymes &abar;d solempne feastes. Some of them hath he chosen and halowed before other dayes. And all men are made of the ^note grounde, and out of the earth of Adam.

B   In the multitude of science hath the Lord sundered them, &abar;d made their wayes of dyuerse fashyons. Some of them hath he blessed, made moch of them, halowed them, and claymed them to himselfe. But some of th&ebar; hath he cursed, brought th&ebar; lowe, &abar;d put th&ebar; out of theyr estate. ^noteLyke as the claye is in the potters hande, and all the ordringe therof at his pleasure: so are men also in the h&abar;de of him that made th&ebar;, so that he maye geue them as lyketh him best. ^noteAgaynst euell is good, and agaynst death is lyfe: so is, the vngodly against soch as feare God. Beholde these are the workes of the Hyest, ∧ there are euer two agaynst two, ∧ one set against another. I am awaked vp last of all, as one that gathereth after in haruest. In the gyftes of God and in his blessyng I am increased, and haue fylled my wyne presse, lyke a grape gatherer. ^noteBeholde, how I haue not laboured onely for myselfe, but for all soche as loue nurtoure and wysdome.

C   Heare me, O ye greate men of the people and herken with your eares ye rulers of the c&obar;gregacion. Geue not thy sonne and wyfe, thy brother and fr&ebar;de, power ouer the whyle thou lyuest: and geue not awaye thy substaunce and good to another, lest it rep&ebar;t þe;. and thou be faine to begge therfore thy self. As longe as thou lyuest and hast breth, let no man cha&ubar;ge the: For better it is thy children to praye the, then that thou shuldest be fayne to loke in theyr h&abar;des. In al thy worckes be excellent, that thy honoure be neuer stayned. At the tyme when thou shalt ende thy dayes, ∧ fynysh thy lyfe, distrybute thyne inheryta&ubar;ce. The fodder, the whyp, and the burthen bel&obar;geth vnto the Asse: Meat, correction, and worcke vnto the seruaunt.

D   Yf thou set thy seruaunt to laboure, thou shalt fynde rest. But yf thou let him go ydel he shall seke libertie. The yock &abar;d the whyp bowe downe the harde neck, but tame thou thy euell seruaunte with bondes and correccion. Sende hym to laboure, that he go not ydle: For ydelnesse br&ibar;geth moch euel. Set hym to worke, for that bel&obar;geth vnto him, and becommeth him well. Yf he be not obedi&ebar;t, binde his fete: but do not to moch vnto him in any wyse, and without discrecion do nothing. ^noteYf thou haue a (faithful) serua&ubar;t let him be vnto the as thyne awne soule: (in treate him as a brother) for in bloude hast þu; gotten him. Yf thou haue a seruaunte, holde him as thy selfe, for thou hast nede of him as of thy selfe. Yf thou intreatest him euel, and kepest him harde, ∧ makest him to be proud and to renne away from the, thou canst not tell what waye thou shalt seke hym. ¶ The .xxxiiii. Chapter. ¶ Of dreames, diuinacions, and enchauntementes. We ought to confute vayne hope, and lyinge. The prayse of them that feare God. Of dyuerse worckes of men. God doth not alowe the worckes of an vnfaythfull man.

A   Unwyse people begile them selues with vayne ∧ disceatfull hope, &abar;d foles trust in dreames. Who so regardeth dreames, is like him that will take holde of a shadowe, and folowe after the wynde: Euen so is it with the appearinges of dreames. Before the face is the lycknes of a face. Who c&abar; be clensed of the vncleane? Or what trueth can be spoken of a lyar? Sothsayinge, wythcraft, sorcery and dreamynge is but vanyte: lyke as when a wom&abar; trauayleth with childe, ∧ hath many fantasies in her hert. Where as soch visi&obar;s come not of God, set not thine hert vp&obar; th&ebar;: For dreames haue disceaued many a man, and they fayled, that put theyr trust therin.

B   The lawe shalbe fulfylled without lyes, ∧ wysdome is suffici&ebar;t to a faythful mouth. What knowlege hath he that is not tryed? A wyse man that is well instructe, vnderst&abar;deth moch: and he þt; hath good experi&ebar;ce, can talke of wysdome. He that hath no experience, knoweth lytle: and he that erreth, causeth moch wyckednes. He þt; is not tryed, what thynges knoweth he? Who so foloweth no rule, is full of wyckednes.

When I was yet in erroure, I learned moch also: yee I was so lerned, that I could not expresse it all, and came oft in parell of death therfore, tyll I was delyuered fr&obar; it (thorow the grace of God.) Now I se, that they which feare God haue the right sprete: for theyr hope standeth in him, that c&abar; help them. And the eyes of the Lord are on them that loue him. Who so feareth þe; Lord standeth in awe of no man, and is not afrayed, for the Lorde is his hope and comforte.

C   Blessed is the soule of hym that feareth þe; Lorde: In whom putteth he his trust? Who is his str&ebar;gth? ^noteFor the eyes of þe; Lorde haue respecte vnto them, that loue hym. He is their myghtie protecci&obar;, and stronge gro&ubar;de: A defence for the heate, a refuge for the

hote none daye, a succore for stomblyng, &abar;d an helpe for fallynge. He setteth vp the soule, and lyghteneth the eyes: He geueth lyfe, and blessinge. He that geueth an offering of vnrightuous good, his offering is refused: ∧ the scornefull dealynges of þe; vnryghtuous please not God (The Lorde is theyrs onely þt; paciently abyde hym in the waye of the trueth ∧ of righteousnes. The hyghest doth not alowe the gyftes of the wycked.) And ^note God hath no delyte in the offerynges of þe; vngodly, nether maye synne be reconcyled in the multitude of oblacions. Who so bringeth an offering out of the goodes of þe; poore, doth eu&ebar; as one that kylleth the sonne before the fathers eyes.

D   The bred of the nedefull is the lyfe of the poore: he þt; defraudeth hym therof, is a man of bloude. Who so robbeth his neyghboure of his lyuing, doth as great sinne as though he slewe him to death. ^noteHe þt; defraudeth the laborer of his hyre, is a bloud shedder. Wh&ebar; one buyldeth and another breaketh downe, what profyt haue they then but laboure? Wh&ebar; one prayeth &abar;d another curseth, whose voyce will þe; Lorde heare? ^noteHe þt; washeth him selfe because of a deed body, ∧ then toucheth the deed agayne, what doth hys washyng? ^noteSo is it with a m&abar; that fasteth for his sinnes, and doth them agayne: who wyl heare his prayer? Or what doth his fasting helpe hym? ¶ The .xxxv. Chapter. ¶ It is well done to praye, and to do sacrifyce. The prayer of the fatherlesse, and of the wyddowe: and hym that humbleth hym selfe.

A   Who so kepeth þe; lawe, ^note bryngeth offerynges ynough. He that holdeth fast the commaundement, offreth the ryght health offerynge. He that is thanckfull and recompenseth offreth fyne floure. ^noteWho so is mercyfull and geueth almes, that is þe; right thankoffring. God hath pleasure when one departeth fr&obar; sinne, and to forsake vnryghteousnes, rec&obar;cyleth vs wyth hym.

^noteThou shalt not appeare emptye before þe; Lorde, for all soch is done because of the c&obar;ma&ubar;dem&ebar;t of God. ^noteThe offer&ibar;g of þe; ryghteous maketh þe; aulter fat, ∧ a swete smel is it before þe; hyest. The offeringe of the ryghteous is acceptable vnto God, and shal neuer be forgotten. Geue God his honoure &wt; a chearfull hart, ∧ kepe not backe the fyrstlynges of thy h&abar;des. ^noteIn all thy gyftes shewe a mercifull co&ubar;tena&ubar;ce, ∧ halowe thy tythes vnto God &wt; gladnes. Geue vnto God accordyng as he hath enryched and prospered the: ^note ∧ loke what thyne hande is able, geue &wt; a chearfull eye: for þe; Lorde rec&obar;penseth, ∧ geueth þe; seu&ebar; times as moch agayne.

B   Geue no vnryghteous gyftes, for soche wyll he not receaue. Bewarre of wr&obar;geous offrynges, for the Lord is a ryghteous iudge: and regardeth no m&abar;nes pers&obar;ne: He accepteth not the personne of the poore, but he heareth the prayer of the oppressed. ^noteHe despyseth not the desyre of þe; fatherlesse, ner the wyddow, when she poureth out her prayer before him. Doth not God se the teares, that renne downe the chekes of þe; widdow? Or heareth he not the c&obar;playnte, ouer soche as make her to wepe. For from hyr chekes do the teares go vp vnto heauen, ∧ the Lorde which heareth them, doth accepte them? Who so serueth God after his pleasure, shalbe accepted: and his prayer reacheth vnto the cloudes. ^note C   The prayer of him þt; h&ubar;bleth him selfe, goeth thorow the cloudes, tyll she come nye. She wil not be comforted, ner go her waye, tyll the hyest God haue respecte vnto her, geue true sentence, and perfourme the iudgement. And the Lorde wyll not be slack in c&obar;mynge, ner tary longe: tyll he haue smytten in sonder the backes of the vnmercyful, and auenged him selfe of the Heathen: tyll he haue taken awaye þe; multitude of the cruell, and broken the cepter of the vnryghteous, tyll he geue euery man after his worckes, and rewarde th&ebar; after their doynges: tyll he haue deliuered his people, maintened theyr cause, and reioysed them in hys mercy. O how fayre a thing is mercy in the tyme of anguyshe and trouble? It is lyke a cloude of rayne that commeth in the tyme of a drouth. ¶ The .xxxvi. Chapter. ¶ A prayer to God in the person of al faythful men with the prayse of a good woman.

A   Haue mercy vpon vs, O Lorde, thou God of all thynges. Haue respecte vnto vs, shewe vs the lyght of thy mercyes, ∧ sende thy feare amonge the Heathen and straungers, which seke not after þe; that they may knowe, how that there is no God but thou, and that they maye shew thy wonderous worckes. Lyft vp thyne heade ouer the outlandysh Heath&ebar;, that they may lerne to knowe thy might and power. Lyke as thou art halowed in vs before them, so brynge to passe, that thou mayest be magnified also in them before vs: that they may knowe the, like as we knowe the. For there is none other God but onely thou O Lord. Renue the tok&ebar;s, and chaunge the wonderous worckes. Shewe thyne hande, &abar;d thy ryght arme gloriously. Rayse vp thy indignacion, and poure out thy wrath. Take awaye the aduersary, and smyte the enemye Make the tyme shorte, remembre thy couenaunt, that thy wonderous worckes maye be praysed. Let the wrath of the fyre consume

them that lyue so carelesse: and let them perysh that do thy people hurte. Smyte in sonder the head of þe; Princes, that be our enemyes, &abar;d saye there is none other but we.

B   Gather all the trybes of Iacob together againe, þt; they maye knowe, how that there is none other God but only thou, that they maye shew thy wonderous worckes, &abar;d be thou thy peoples heretage, lyke as from the begynnynge. O Lord haue mercy vpon the people that hath thy name, &abar;d vpon Israel ^note wh&obar; þu; hast lykened to a fyrst borne sonne. O be mercyfull vnto Ierusalem the cite of thy S&abar;ctuary, ^note the cyte of thy rest. Fyll Sion with thy vnspeakable vertues, ∧ thy people with thy glory. Geue wytnes vnto thy creature, whom thou madest from the beginnyng, ∧ rayse vp the prophecyes that haue bene shewed in thy name. Rewarde th&ebar; that wayte for the, that thy Prophetes maye be fo&ubar;de faythfull. O Lord heare the prayer of thy seruauntes, accordynge to the blessyng of Aaron ouer thy people (&abar;d gyde thou vs in þe; waye of righteousnes) ^note that all they whych dwell vpon the earth maye knowe, that thou art the Lorde the eternal God, which is from euerlastynge.

C   The bely deuoureth all meates, yet is one meate better then another. Like as þe; tonge tasteth venys&obar;, ^note so doth an herte of vnderstandinge marck false wordes. A frowarde hert geueth heuynes, but a man of experi&ebar;ce lifteth hym vp agayne. The woman receaueth euery man, yet is one daughter better th&ebar; another. A fayre wife reioyseth her husband, ∧ a man loueth nothing better. Yf she be louynge ∧ vertuous with all, then is not her husbande lyke other men. He that hath gotten a vertuous woman, hath a goodly possession: she is vnto him an helpe, and pyler wherup&obar; he resteth. Where no hedge is, ther þe; goodes are spoyled: ∧ where no huswyfe is, there the frendles mourneth. Lyke as there is no cred&ebar;ce geu&ebar; to a robber, that goeth from one cytie to another: So is not the man beleued, that hath no nest, &abar;d must turne in, where he maye abyde in the nyght. ¶ The .xxxvii. Chapter. ¶ How a man shulde knowe frendes ∧ councellers, and search the company of a holy man.

A   Euery fr&ebar;de sayeth: I wyl be frendly vnto hym also. But there is some frende, which is onely a frende in name. Remayneth there not heuines vnto death, when a c&obar;panyon ∧ fr&ebar;de is turned to an enemye? O most wicked presumpcyon: From whence art thou spronge vp, to couer þe; earth with falshede ∧ disceat? ^noteThere is some c&obar;panyon which in prosperyte reioyseth with his frende: but in þe; time of trouble, he taketh parte agaynst hym. There is some c&obar;panyon þt; mourneth with his frende for the bely sake: but wh&ebar; trouble commeth he taketh holde of the shylde. Forget not thy frende in thy mynde, and thinke vp&obar; him in thy ryches. Seke no councell at thy kinsmen, and hyde thy councell fr&obar; soch as beare the no good wyll. ^noteEuery co&ubar;celer bryngeth forth his councell. Neuertheles, there is some þt; counceleth, but for his awne profet: Beware of the counceler, and be aduised afore wherto thou wilt vse him, for he wil councel for him selfe. Lest he cast the lot vp&obar; the, ∧ saye vnto the. Thy waye ∧ purpose is good, ∧ afterwarde he st&abar;de agaynst the, and loke what shall become of the.

B   Aske no councell at him, that suspecteth þe; for an enemie, and hyde thy councel fr&obar; soch as hate the. Aske no councel at a woman c&obar;cernynge þe; thinges that she longeth for: ner at a fearfull and faynt herted body, in matters of warre: or at a marcha&ubar;t, how deare he will cheape thy wares towarde his: or at a byer, of sellynge: Or at an enuious m&abar;, of thanckesgeuinge: Or at the vnmercyful, of louing kindnes: (or at an vnhonest man, of honestye.) Or at þe; slouthfull, of worcking: Or at an hyrelyng which hath no house, or profyt or wealth. (An ydle body wolde not gladly heare speake of moch labour.) Take no soch folckes to co&ubar;cell, but be diligent to seke councell at a verteous m&abar; that feareth God, soch one as thou knowest to be a keper of the c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes, which hath a mynde after thyne awne mynde, and is sory for the when thou stomblest.

C   And holde thy co&ubar;cell fast in thyne herte: for there is no m&abar; more faythful to kepe it: then thou thy selfe. For a m&abar;s mynde is s&obar;tyme more disposed to tell oute, then seuen watchmen that syt aboue in an hye place lokynge about th&ebar;. And aboue all this praye the Hyest, þt; he wyll lede thy waye in faythfulnes and trueth. Before all thy worckes aske councel fyrst: &abar;d or euer thou doest eny thyng, be wel aduised. There be foure thynges that declare a chaunged herte, wherout there springeth euell and good, death ∧ lyfe, and a masterful tonge that bableth moche. Some m&abar; is apte and well instructe in many thinges, &abar;d yet very vnprofytable vnto him self. Some man there is, that can geue wyse and prudent councell, and yet is he hated, and continueth a begger: for that grace is not geu&ebar; him of God to be accepted. Another is robbed of all wysdome, yet is he wyse vnto him selfe, and the frute of vnderst&abar;dynge is commendable in his mouth.

D   A wyse man maketh his people wise, ∧ the frutes of his wysdome fayle not. A wyse m&abar; shal be plenteously blessed of God: ∧ al they that se him, shal speake good of h&ibar;. The lyfe of man standeth in the nombre of the dayes, but the dayes of Israell are innumerable.

A wyse man shall opteyne faythfulnes and credence amonge hys people, and hys name shalbe perpetuall. My sonne, proue thy soule in thy lyfe: and yf þu; se eny euell thyng, geue it not vnto her. ^noteFor all th&ibar;ges are not profitable for all m&ebar;, nether hath euery soule pleasure in euery thyng. Be not gredy in euery eatyng, and be not to hastye vpon all meates. ^noteFor excesse of meates bryngeth sycknes, ∧ glotony c&obar;meth at the last to an vnmeasurable heate. Thorow surfett haue many one peryshed: but he that dyeteth him selfe temperatly, prolongeth his lyfe. ¶ The .xxxviii. Chapter. ¶ A physycyon in syckenes ought we to praye, and to fynde a Physycyon which healeth by prayer. The bewepynge of the deed. Sadnes, wysdome. Artificers or craftesmen.

A   Honoure þe; Physycion: honoure him because of necessite. God hath created hym (for of the Hyest commeth medycine) and he shall receaue giftes of the kyng. The wysdome of þe; Physycion bryngeth hym to great worshyppe, ∧ in þe; syght of the greate men of thys worlde, he shalbe honorably taken. The Lorde hath created medycine of the earth, and he that is wyse, wyll not abhorre it. ^noteWas not the bytter water made swete with a tre? þt; men myght learne to know þe; vertue therof. The Lord hath geuen men wysdome, and vnderstandynge, þt; he myght be honoured in hys wonderous worckes. With soch doth he heale men, and taketh awaye theyr paynes: Of soch doth the Apotecary make a confeccion yet can no man perfourme all his worckes. For of þe; Lorde c&obar;meth prosperous wealth ouer all the earth.

B   My sonne, despyse not thys in thy sycknes, but ^note praye vnto the Lord, and he shall make the whole. Leaue of from synne, and ordre thy handes a ryght, clense thine herte fr&obar; all wyckednes. Geue a swete sauoured offrynge, and þe; fyne floure for a token of rem&ebar;braunce: make the offerynge fat, as one that geueth þe; fyrst frutes, and geue rowme to the Physycion. For the Lord hath created him lett him not go from the, for þu; hast nede of hym. The houre maye come, that þe; sycke maye be helped thorow them, when they praye vnto þe; Lorde, that he maye recouer, ∧ gett health to lyue longer. He that synneth before his maker, shall fall into the handes of the Physycion.

C   My sonne, ^note bryng forth thy teares ouer the deed: and begynne to mourne, as yf thou haddest suffred greate harme thy selfe: and then couer his body after a c&obar;ueni&ebar;t maner ∧ despyse not his buryall. Enforce thy selfe to wepe, and prouoke thy selfe to mourne, ^note and make lam&ebar;tacyon expedi&ebar;tly, ∧ that a daye or two, lest thou be euell spoken of: and then c&obar;forte thy selfe because of þe; heuynes. ^noteFor of heuynes c&obar;meth death, the heuynes of the hert breaketh strength. Heuynes and pouerte greueth the herte in tentacyon ∧ offence. Take no heuynes to herte, dryue it awaye, and rem&ebar;bre the last thynges. Forget it not, for there is no turnynge agayne. Thou shalt do hym no good, but hurte thy selfe. Rem&ebar;bre his iudgem&ebar;t, thyne also shalbe lykewyse: vnto me yesterdaye, vnto þe; to daye. ^noteLet þe; rem&ebar;braunce of þe; deed ceasse in his rest, ∧ c&obar;forte thy selfe agayne ouer hym, seynge his sprete is departed from hym. The wysdome of þe; scribe is at c&obar;ueni&ebar;t tyme of rest: and he þt; ceasseth from exercise and laboure, shalbe wyse. He that holdeth the plough, D   and hath pleasure in proddynge, ∧ driuynge þe; oxen, and goeth aboute with soch workes, he can speake of oxen: He setteth his herte to make forowes, ∧ is diligent to geue the kyne fodder. So is euery carp&ebar;ter also ∧ worckmaster, þt; laboureth styll nyght ∧ daye: he carueth, graueth ∧ cutteth oute, ∧ his desyre is in sondrye c&obar;nynge thinges, his hert ymagineth, how he maye conyngly cast an ymage, his dilig&ebar;ce also ∧ watchinge perfourmeth the worcke. The yronsmyth in lyke maner bydeth by his stithye, ∧ doth his diligence to laboure the yron. The vapoure of the fyre brenneth his flesh, ∧ he must fyght &wt; the heate of the fornace. The noyse of þe; Hammer soundeth euer in his eares, ∧ his eyes loke styll vpon the thynge that he maketh. He hath set hys mynde there vpon, that he wyll make out his worcke, and therfore he watcheth, how, he maye set it out, ∧ bryng it to an ende.

E   So doth the potter syt by his worcke, he turneth þe; whele aboute with his fete, he is dilig&ebar;t and carefull in all doynges, and his laboure ∧ worcke is without nombre. He fashioneth þe; claye with hys arme, and with his fete he tempereth it. Hys herte ymagineth how he maye make it pleasaunt, ∧ his diligence is to clense the ouen. All these hope in their handes, and euery one thyncketh to be c&obar;nynge in his worke. Without these maye not the cyties be maynteyned, inhabited ner occupied: yet come they not hye &ibar; the congregacyon: they vnderstande not the couena&ubar;t of þe; lawe: they cannot declare equyte and iudgem&ebar;t: they cannot fynde out the darcke sent&ebar;ces, but thorow them shall the creature of þe; worlde be mayntayned: theyr prayer concerneth onely the worcke and laboure of connynge. ¶ The .xxxix. Chapter. ¶ A wyse man. The workes of God. Unto the good, good thynges do profet: but vnto the euell euen good thynges are euell.

A   He that applieth hys mynde to vnderst&abar;de the lawe of God; doth dilygently seke out the wysdome of them of the olde tyme, and exercyseth hym selfe in the Prophetes. He kepeth the sayinges of famous men, ∧ preasseth to the vnderst&abar;dyng of darck sent&ebar;ces of wysdome. He seketh oute the mysterie of secrete sayinges, ∧ exercyseth hym selfe therin continually. He doth seruice am&obar;ge greate m&ebar;, ∧ appeareth before þe; prince. He goeth into a stra&ubar;ge co&ubar;tre, ∧ trauayleth thorow it: loke what good or euell is am&obar;ge men, he proueth it ∧ seketh it out. He purposeth in his herte, to resorte early vnto the Lord þt; made hym, ∧ to praye before the Hyest God. He openeth his mouth in prayer, ∧ prayeth for hys synnes. When þe; greate Lorde wyll, he shalbe fylled with þe; sprete of vnderst&abar;dynge, that he maye then poure out wyse sent&ebar;ces, ∧ geue thanckes vnto the Lorde in hys prayer. B   He shall ordre his deuice, and lede his knowledge a ryght, ∧ geue hym vnderstandyng of secrete thynges. He shall shewe forth þe; science of his lernynge, and reioyce in the couenaunt of þe; lawe of þe; Lord. The whole congregacyon shall commende hys wisdome, and it shall neuer be put out. The rem&ebar;braunce of hym shal neuer be forgotten, ∧ his name shall c&obar;tinue from one generacyon to another. ^noteHis wysdome shalbe spoken of, amonge the people, and the whole c&obar;gregacyon shall op&ebar;ly declare his prayse. Whyle he lyueth, he hath a greater name then a thousande besyde: and after hys death, þe; same name remayneth vnto hym. Yet wyll I speake of mo men of vnderstandyng, for I am full as the Moone.

C   Herken vnto me (ye holy verteous chyldren) bryng forth frute, as the rose þt; is pl&abar;ted by the brokes of the felde, and geue ye a swete smell as Libanus. Florish as þe; rosegarden, synge a songe of prayse. O geue thankes vnto God ouer all his worckes. Geue glory and honoure vnto the Lorde, shew his prayse with youre lyppes. Yee eu&ebar; with the songe of your lyppes, with harpes and playinge, and in geuynge thanckes vnto hym, saye after this maner. ^noteAll þe; worckes of the Lorde are exceadynge good, and all his commaundementes are mete and c&obar;uenient in due season.

D   A man nede not to saye: what is þt;? what is that? for at tyme conueni&ebar;t they shall all be sought. At his c&obar;maundem&ebar;t the water was as a wall, ∧ at the worde of his mouth the water stode styll. ^noteIn his commaundement is euery thynge acceptable and reconcyled, and his health cannot be mynyshed. The worckes of all flesh are before him, and there is nothyng hyd fr&obar; his eyes. He seyth from euerlastynge to euerlastynge, ∧ there is nothynge to w&obar;derfull or hye vnto hym. A man nede not to saye then, what is thys, or that? For he hath made al thynges to do good vnto man. His blessynge shall renne ouer as the streame, and moysture þe; earth lyke a floude of water. Lyke as he maketh the water for drouth, so shall his wrath fall vpon the Heathen.

E    ^noteHis wayes are playne ∧ ryght vnto the iust, but the vngodly stomble at them. For the good, are good thinges created from the begynnyng, ∧ euell thynges for þe; vngodly. ^noteAll thynges necessary for the lyfe of man are created from þe; begynnyng: water, fyre, yron ∧ salt, meel, wheate, and hony, mylk ∧ wyne, oyle ∧ clothyng. ^noteAll these thynges are created for the best to the faythfull: But to the vngodly shall all these thynges be turned to the hurte and harme. There be spretes that are created for v&ebar;geaunce, ∧ in their rygorousnes haue they fastened their tormentes. ^noteIn the tyme of the ende they shall poure out theyr strength, and pacifye the wrath of hym that made them. ^noteFyre, hayle, honger ∧ death: all these thynges are created for vengeaunce.

F   The teeth of wylde noysome beastes, the scorpions, serpentes, and þe; swerde are created also for vengeaunce, to the destruccyon of þe; vngodly. They shall be glad to do his commaundementes: and when nede is, they shal be ready vp&obar; earth: ∧ when theyr houre is come, they shall not ouerpasse the commaundement of the Lorde.

Therfore haue I tak&ebar; a good corage vnto me from þe; begynnynge, and thought to put these thynges in wrytinge, ∧ to leaue them behynde me, ^note All þe; worckes of þe; Lorde are good, and he geueth euery one in due season, ∧ whan nede is, so þt; a man nede not to saye: thys is worse then that. For in due season they are all pleasaunt ∧ good: And therfore prayse þe; Lorde &wt; whole hert and mouth, ∧ geue thankes vnto his name. ¶ The .xl. Chapter. ¶ Many myseries lyght in a mannes lyfe. All thynges passe awaye, but a fyrme and stable fayth remayneth. Of the blessynge of the ryghteous, and prerogatyue of the feare of God.

A   A greate trauayle is created for all men, and an heuy yock vpon all men chyldren, from the daye that they go out of theyr mothers w&obar;be, tyll they be buryed in (the earth) the mother of all thinges: namely, their thoughtes and ymaginacyons, feare of the hert, councell, meditacyons, longynge and desyre, the daye of death: from the hyest that sytteth vpon the gloryous seate, vnto the lowest and most symple vpon the earth: from hym that is gorgyously arayed and weareth a crowne, vnto hym that is, but homely

and symply clothed. There is nothynge but wrath, zele, fearfulnes, vnquietnes, and feare of death, rygorous, anger and stryfe. And in the nyght when one shulde rest and slepe vpon his bedd, the slepe chaunged hys vnderstandynge and knowledge. A lytle or nothynge is hys rest, in the slepe as well as in the daye of laboure.

B   He feareth ∧ is dysquyeted in the vysyon of his hert, as one that renneth out of a battayll: and in the tyme of health he awaketh ∧ marueleth that the feare was nothynge. Soch thynges happen vnto all flesh, both man and best: but seuen folde to þe; vngodly. Moreouer, death, bloudshedding, strife and swerde, oppressyon, h&obar;ger, destruccyon and punyshem&ebar;t: ^note these thinges are all created agaynst þe; vngodly, ∧ for theyr sakes came þe; floude also. ^noteAll þt; is of þe; earth, shall turne to earth againe: ∧ all waters ebbe againe in to þe; see. All brybes ∧ vnryghteousnes shalbe put awaye, but faythfulnes ∧ trueth shal &ebar;dure for euer. The substa&ubar;ce ∧ goodes of the vngodly shalbe dryed vp and syncke awaye as a water floude, ∧ they shall make a sounde lyke a greate th&obar;der in the rayne.

C   Lyke as the ryghteous reioyseth when he openeth his hande, so shall the transgressours be fayne, when theyr goddes vanysh and consume awaye. ^noteThe chyldren of the vngodly shall not obtayne many bra&ubar;ches and the vncleane rotes vpon þe; hye rockes shalbe roted out before the grasse by the water syde ∧ vpon the ryuer banckes.

Frendlynes and liberalite in the increase ∧ blessynge of God, is lyke a paradyse and garden of pleasure: soch mercy also ∧ kyndnes endureth for euer. ^noteTo labour ∧ to be content &wt; that a man hath, is a swete pleasaunt lyfe: and that is to fynde a treasure aboue all treasures. To beget chyldren and to repayre þe; cytie, maketh a perpetuall name: but an honest woman is more worth then they both. Wyne and mynstrelsye reioyse the hert, but the loue of wysdome is aboue them both.

D   Pypynge ∧ harpynge make a swete noyse, but a frendly tonge goeth beyonde them both. Thyne eye desireth fauoure and bewtye, but a grene sede tyme, rather then they both. A frende and companyon come together at oportunite, but aboue them both is a wyfe þt; agreeth with her husbande. One brother helpeth another in the tyme of trouble, but almes shall delyuer more then they both. Golde and syluer fasten the fete, but a good councell is more pleasaunt then they both. Temporall substaunce and strenght lyft vp þe; mynde: but the feare of the Lorde more then they both. The feare of the Lord wanteth nothynge, and nedeth no helpe. The feare of the Lorde is a pleasaunt garden of blessynge, ∧ nothynge so bewtyfull as it is. My sonne, lede not a beggers lyfe, for better it were to dye then to begg. Who so loketh to another mans table, taketh no thought for his awne lyu&ibar;ge how to vpholde hys lyfe, for he fedeth hym selfe &wt; other mens meat. But a wyse and well nurtoured man wyll bewarre therof. Beggyng is swete in the mouth of the vnshamefast, but in hys bely there burneth a fyre. ¶ The .xli. Chapter. ¶ Of the remembraunce of deeth. Deeth is not to be feared. A cursse vpon them that forsake the lawe of God. Good name and fame. An exhortacyon to geue hede vnto wysdome. Of what thynges a man ought to be ashamed.

A   O Death, how bytter is the remembraunce of þe;, to a man that seketh rest and comforte in hys substaunce ∧ ryches, vnto þe; man that hath nothyng to vexe him, and that hath prosperite in all thynges, yee vnto hym that yet is able to receaue meate? O death, how acceptable and good is thy iudgem&ebar;t vnto the nedefull, and vnto him whose strength fayleth, and that is now in his last age, ∧ that in all thynges is full of care and fearfulnes: vnto him also that is in dyspayre, and hath no hope ner pacience? Be not thou afrayed of death: rem&ebar;bre them that haue bene before the: and that come after the: thys is the iudgem&ebar;t of the Lorde ouer all flesh. ^noteAnd why woldest thou be agaynst thys pleasure of the Hyest? Whether it be ten an h&ubar;dreth, or a thous&abar;de yeares: death asketh not how longe one hath lyued.

B   The chyldren of þe; vngodly are abhominable chyldren, ∧ so are they that kepe c&obar;pany with the vngodly. ^noteThe inheritaunce of vngodly chyldren shall come to naught, ∧ theyr posterite shall haue perpetuall shame and confusyon. The chyldren c&obar;playne of an vngodly father, and why? for his sake they are rebuked ∧ despysed. Wo be vnto you (O ye vngodly) whych haue forsaken the lawe of the Hyest God: yf ye be borne, ye shall be borne to cursyng, yf ye dye, þe; curse shal be youre porcyon.

^noteAll that is of the earth, shall turne to earthe agayne: so go the vngodly also out of the curse into destruccyon. The sorowe of men is in theyr body: but the name of the vngodly shall be put out, for it is nothynge worth. ^noteLaboure to get the a good name, for that shall contynue surer by the, then a thous&abar;de greate treasures of golde. A good lyfe hath a nombre of dayes, but a good name endureth euer.

C    ^noteMy chyldren, kepe wysdome in peace: for wysdome that is hyd and a treasure þt; is not sene, what profyt is in th&ebar; both? A man that hydeth hys folyshnes, is better then

a man that hydeth hys wysdome. Therfore be ye turned at my wordes: for it is not good, in all thynges and alwaye to be ashamed. True fayth must proue ∧ measure it.

Be ashamed of whordome, before father and mother: Be ashamed of lesynge, before the prynce and men of auctorite: Of synne, before the iudge and ruler: Of offence, before the congregacyon ∧ people: Of vnryghteousnes, before a companyon and frende: Of theft, before thy neyghbours. ^noteAs for the trueth of God ∧ hys couenaunt, be not ashamed therof.

Be ashamed to lye with thyne elbowes vpon þe; bred: Be ashamed to loke vpon harlotes: Be ashamed to turne awaye thy face from thy frende: Be ashamed to take ∧ not to geue: Be ashamed also to loke vpon anothers mans wyfe, and to make many tryflyng wordes with her mayden, or to st&abar;de by her bedsyde. Be ashamed to vpbrayde thy fr&ebar;de: when thou geuest eny thynge, cast hym not in the tethe withall. ¶ The .xlii. Chapter. ¶ Secretes maye not be opened. The lawe of God must be taught. A daughter. A wom&abar;. God knoweth all thynges, yee euen the secretes of the herte.

A   Rehearse not a thyng twyse, ∧ dysclose not the wordes, þt; thou hast herde &ibar; secrete. Be shamefast and well manered in dede, so shall euery man fauoure the. Of these thynges be not thou ashamed, and accepte no personne to offende. Namely, of these thynges be not ashamed: Of the lawe of God, of the couenaunt, of iudgement: to brynge the vngodly from hys vngodlynes vnto ryghteousnes, ∧ to make hym a good man: to deale faythfully wyth thy neyghboure and companyon: to dystribute the heritage vnto the fr&ebar;des: to be dilygent to kepe true measure and weyght: to be content, whether thou gettest moch or lytle: to deale truly with t&ebar;porall goodes in byinge and sellynge: to brynge vp chyldren &wt; dilygence: to correcte an euell serua&ubar;t: to kepe that thyne is from an euell wyfe: to sett a locke where many handes are: what thou delyuerest ∧ geuest out to be kepte, to tell it, and to weye it: to wryte vp all thy outgeuynge and receauynge: to enfourme the vnlerned and vnwyse: Of the aged, that are iudged of the yonge. Yf þu; be dilygent in these thynges, truly thou shalt be lerned ∧ wyse and accepte of all men.

B   The daughter maketh þe; father to watch secretly: and the carefulnes that he hath for her, taketh awaye his slepe: yee in þe; youth, lest she shulde ouergrowe hym: And when she hath an husbande, lest she shulde be hated: lest she shulde be defyled or rauyshed in her virgynite, or gotten &wt; chylde in her fathers house: Or (when she commeth to the man) lest she behaue her self not ryght, or c&obar;tinue vnfrutefull. ^noteIf thy daughter be w&abar;ton, kepe her straytely, lest she cause thyne enemyes to laugh the to scorne, ∧ the whole cytie to geue þe; an euell reporte, ∧ so thou be fayne to heare thy shame of euery man, ∧ be confounded before all the people. ^noteBeholde not euery bodyes bewtye, ∧ haue not moch dwellyng amonge wemen. For lyke as the worme ∧ moth commeth oute of clothynge, ^note so doth wyckednes come of wemen.

C   It is better to be with an euell man, then with a frendly wyfe þt; putteth one to shame and rebuke. I wyll rem&ebar;bre þe; worckes of þe; Lorde, and declare the thyng þt; I haue sene. In þe; wordes of the Lord are his worckes. The Sunne ouerloketh all thynges with his shynne, and all his worckes are full of þe; clearnes therof. Hath not þe; Lord brought to passe, þt; his saynctes shuld tell out all his w&obar;derous worckes, which the Almyghtye Lorde hath stablyshed? All thynges endure in his glory. He seketh out þe; grounde of the depe and þe; hert of men, and he knoweth all theyr ymaginacyon ∧ wysdome. For þe; Lorde knoweth all sci&ebar;ce, ∧ he loketh into the token of the tyme. D   He declareth the thynges that are past and for to come, and discloseth thynges þt; are secrete. ^noteNo thought maye escape hym, nether maye eny worde be hyd from hym. He hath garnyshed þe; hye excell&ebar;t worckes of his wysdome, ∧ he is fr&obar; euerlastynge to euerlastynge. Unto hym maye nothynge be added nether can he be minyshed, he hath no nede also of eny mans councell. O, how amiable are all his worckes, and as a sparke to loke vpon. They lyue all, ∧ endure for euer: ∧ when soeuer nede is, they are all obedient vnto him. They are all dubble, one agaynst another: he hath made nothing þt; hath faute or blemysh. ^noteHe hath stablyshed the goodes of euery one: ∧ who maye be satysfyed &wt; his glory, when he seyth it. ¶ The .xliii. Chapter. ¶ The summe of the creacyon of the worckes of God.

A   The glory of the heygth, is ^note the fayre ∧ cleare firmament, the bewtye of the heauen is hys gloryous clearnes. The sunne when it appeareth, delareth the daye in þe; goynge out of it, a maruelous worke of the Hyest. At noone it burneth þe; earth and who maye abyde for the heate therof? Whoso kepeth an ouen when it is hote, thre tymes more doth the S&ubar;ne burne vpon the mountaynes, when it bretheth oute the fyrie beames ∧ shyneth, with the brygthnes of it, it blyndeth the eyes. Great is the Lord that made it, and in his commaundem&ebar;t he causeth it to renne hastely.

^noteThe Moone also is in all, and at conuenient season it shewed the tymes, ∧ is a token of the tyme. ^noteThe token of the sol&ebar;pne feast is taken of þe; Moone, a lyght that mynysheth ∧ increaseth agayne. The Moneth is called after the Moone, it groweth wonderously in her chaungynge.

B   The armye of heauen also is in þe; Heygth in the firmam&ebar;t of heauen it geueth a cleare ∧ gloryous shyne. Thys is the clearnes of þe; starres, the bewtyfull apparell of heauen, the apparell that þe; Lorde lyghteneth in the Heygth. In his holy worcke they c&obar;tinue in theyr ordre, ∧ not one of them fayleth in hys watch. ^noteLoke vpon the rayne bowe, and prayse hym that made it: very bewtyfull is it in hys shyne. He compaseth the heauen aboute &wt; hys clearnes ∧ glory, the h&abar;des of the Hyest haue bended it. Thorow hys commaundement he maketh the snowe to fall, and the thonder of hys iudgem&ebar;t to smyte hastly. Thorow hys c&obar;maundement þe; treasures are opened, and the cloudes fle as the foules. In hys power hath he strengthened the cloudes, and broken the hayle stones.

The mountaynes melt at þe; syght of him, þe; wynde bloweth accordynge to hys wyll. The sounde of hys thonder beateth þe; earth, ∧ so doth þe; storme of the north: the whyrle wynde also lyghteth downe as a fethered foule, casteth oute and spredeth the snowe abrode: and as þe; greshoppers that destroye all, so falleth it downe. The eye marueleth at the bewtye of the whytenesse therof, and the herte is afrayed at the rayne of it. He poureth out the frost vpon earth, lyke salt, and when it is frosen, it is as sharpe as the prycke of a thystle.

C   When the colde Northwynde bloweth, harde Chrystall commeth of the water. He lyghteth downe vpon all the gatherynges together of water, ∧ putteth on the waters as a brest plate. He deuoureth þe; mountaynes, and burneth the wyldernesses: and loke what is grene, he putteth it out lyke fyre. The medicyne of all these is, when a cloude c&obar;meth hastely: and when a dewe commeth vpon þe; heate, it shalbe refreshed agayne.

In hys worde he stylleth the wynde: In hys councell he setteth þe; depe, ∧ (the Lord) Iesus planted it. They that sayle ouer the see, tell of þe; parels and harmes therof, and when we heare it with our eares, we maruell therat. For there be straunge wonderous worckes, diuerse maner of nyce beastes and whalfyshes. Thorow hym are all thynges sett in good ordre and perfourmed and in his worde all thynges endure.

D   I speake moch, but I can not sufficiently attayne vnto it, for he him selfe onely is the perfeccyon of all wordes. We shulde prayse þe; Lorde after al oure power, for he is great in all hys worckes. The Lorde is to be feared, yee very greate is he, ^note and maruelous is hys power. Prayse the Lorde, and magnifye him as moch as ye maye, yet doth he farre exceade all prayse. ^noteO magnifie him with all youre power, and laboure earnestly, yet are ye in no wyse able sufficiently to prayse him. Who hath sene him, þt; he myght tell vs? ^noteWho can magnifye him so greatly as he is? For there are hyd yet greater thynges then these be: as for vs, we haue sene but fewe of his worckes. For the Lord hath made all thynges, and geuen wysdome to soch as feare God. ¶ The .xliiii. Chapter. ¶ The prayse of certen holy men, Henoch, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob.

A   Let vs comm&ebar;de the noble famous men, and the generacyon of oure fore elders and fathers. Many more gloryous actes hath the Lorde done, and shewed his great power euer sens the begynnynge. The noble famous men raygned in theyr kyngdomes, and bare excellent rule. In theyr wysdome ∧ vnderst&abar;dyng, they folowed þe; councell shewed in the prophetes. ^noteThey led þe; folcke thorow the councell and wysdome of þe; Scrybes of the people. Wyse sentences are founde in theyr instruccyon. They sought þe; swetenes and melody of musycke, and brought forth the pleasaunt songes in scripture. They were ryche also, and coulde comforte and pacifye those that dwelt with them. All these were very noble and honorable men in theyr generacy&obar;s, and were wel reported of in theyr tymes. These haue left a name behynde them, so that theyr prayse shall alwaye be spoken of. Afterward there were some, whose remembraunce is gone. ^noteThey came to naught ∧ peryshed, as though they had neuer bene: ∧ became as though they had neuer bene borne, yee and theyr chyldren also with them.

B   Neuertheles these are louyng men, whose ryghteousnesse shall neuer be forgotten, but c&obar;tynue by theyr posterite. Theyr chyldren are an holy good heritage: Theyr sede endured fast in the couenaunt. For theyr sakes shall theyr chyldren ∧ sede c&obar;tynue for euer, ∧ theyr prayse shall neuer be put downe. Theyr bodyes are buryed in peace, but theyr name lyueth for euermore. The people can speake of theyr wysdome, ∧ the congregaci&obar; can talke of their prayse. ^noteEnoch walked ryght ∧ acceptably before the Lorde: therfore was he translated for an example of am&ebar;dem&ebar;t to the generacions. ^noteNoe was a stedfast ∧ ryghteous man, and in the tyme of wrath he became a reconcylynge.

Therfore was he left a remnaunt vnto the earth, when þe; floude came. An euerlastyng couenaunt was made &wt; him, that all flesh shulde ^note perishe nomore &wt; the water. Abraham was a ^note greate father of many people, in glory was there none lyke vnto him. He kepte the lawe of the Hyest, and came into a couenaunt with him. He sett þe; couenaunt in his fleshe, and when he ^note was proued, he was founde faythfull. Therfore swore God vnto him &wt; an othe, that he wolde blesse all people in his sede, that he wolde multiplye and increase him as þe; dust of the earth, ∧ to exalte his sede as the starres: yee ∧ that his sede shuld haue þe; possessyon, an inheritaunce of the lande from see to see and from þe; ryuer vnto the borders of the worlde.

^noteWith Isaac dyd he stablysh the same couena&ubar;t, for Abraham his fathers sake. Yee that gracyous blessynge ∧ health of all m&ebar;, and couenaunt dyd he stablysh with Isaac, and made it to rest vpon the head of Iacob. He knewe him ^note in that he prospered him so well and richely, and gaue him an heretage and sundered his porcyon by it selfe, ^note and parted it am&obar;ge þe; twelue tribues. Mercyfull men brought he out of him, which founde fauoure in the syght of all fleshe. ¶ The .xlv. Chapter. ¶ The prayse of Moses, Aaron, and Phinehes.

A   Moses ^note be loued of God ∧ men, whose remembraunce is in Hye prayse: him þt; the Lord made lyke in þe; glory of the saynctes, and magnifyed him, so that the enemyes stode in awe of hym, thorow his wordes he dyd greate wonders. He made hym greate in the syghte of kynges, gaue hym commaundemente before hys people, ∧ shewed hym his gloryous power. ^noteHe stablyshed hym with faythfulnes ∧ mekenes, and chose hym out of all men. For he herde his voyce, and he led him in the darcke cloude, ^note and there he gaue him the comma&ubar;dementes, yee the lawe of lyfe and wysdome that he myght teach Iacob the couenaunt, and Israel hys lawes.

B   He chose Aaron hys brother also out of the trybe of Leui, exalted him, ∧ made him soch lyke. ^noteAn euerlastyng couenaunt made he with hym, and gaue hym þe; presthode in þe; people. He made hym gloryous in bewtyfull araye, and clothed hym with the garment of honoure. He put perfecte ioye vpon hym, and gyrded hym &wt; str&ebar;gth. He deckte hym with syde clothes, and a tunycle, with an ouerbody cote also ∧ a gyrdle. Rounde about made he him belles of golde, and that many: ^note that when he went in, the sounde myght be herde, þt; they myght make a noyse in the Sanctuary, and geue þe; people warnynge. The holy garment was wrought and broderd with golde, yalow sylcke and purple. And in the brestlappe there was a goodly worcke, wherin was fastened lyght and perfectnesse.

C    ^noteUpon the same also there was a worcke fastened, ∧ set with costly precyous stones, all bounde with golde: and thys he brought in his ministracyon. The stones were fastened for a remembraunce, after the nombre of the twelue trybes of Israell. Upon hys mytre there was a plate of pure golde, a grauen ymage of holynes, a famous and noble worcke, garnyshed, and pleasaunt to loke vpon. Before hym were there sene no soch fayre ornam&ebar;tes, and these it behoued hym alwaye to vse: There might none other put them on, but onely his chyldren ∧ his chylders chyldren perpetually. Daylie perfourmed he hys burntofferynges two tymes. ^noteMoses fylled hys handes, and anoynted hym with holy oyle.

D   Thys was now confirmed hym with an euerlastynge couenaunt, and to his sede, as the dayes of heauen, namely: that hys chyldren shulde alwaye minystre before hym, and perfourme þe; office of the presthode, and wyshe the people good in hys name. Before all men lyuynge chose he hym, þt; he shulde offre incense before the Lorde, and make odours for a swete sauoure ∧ remembraunce, that he shulde reconcyle the people of the Lord with hym agayne. ^noteHe gaue him auctorite also in hys commaundementes and in the couenaunt, that he shulde teach Iacob the statutes and testimonies, and to enfourme Israel in his lawe.

E    ^noteTherfore there stode vp certayne agaynst hym, ∧ had enuye at hym in the wyldernes: namely, they that were of Dathan, ∧ Abirams syde, and the furyous congregacyon of Chore. Thys the Lorde sawe, and it dyspleased hym, and in his wrothfull indignacyon were they consumed. A greate wonder dyd he vpon them, and c&obar;sumed them with the fyre. ^noteBesydes thys, he made Aaron yet more honorable and gloryous. He gaue hym an herytage, and parted the fyrst frutes vnto him. ^noteUnto him specially he appoynted the bred for sustenaunce, (for þe; prestes dyd eat of the offrynges of the Lorde) thys gaue he vnto him ∧ his sede. ^noteEls had he no herytage ner porcyon in the l&abar;de and with the people. For the Lord hym selfe is hys porcyon and enherytaunce.

F   The thirde noble ∧ excell&ebar;t man is ^note Phinehes þe; sonne of Eleazer, which pleased the God of Israel, because he had the zele ∧ feare of the Lorde. For when the people were tourned backe, he put hym selfe forth ryght soone, and þt; with a good wyll, to pacifie the wrath of the Lorde towarde Israel. Therfore

was there a couenaunt of peace made with him, þt; he shulde be þe; principall among the ryghteous ∧ the people, that he ∧ his posterite shulde haue the office of the presthode for euer (Lyke as there was made a couenaunt with Dauid of þe; trybe of Iuda, that from amonge his sonnes onely there shulde be a kyng:) And that Aaron also ∧ his sede shulde be the herytage, to geue vs wysdome in oure herte, to iudge hys people in ryghteousnes: that his goodes shulde not come into forgetfulnes, and þt; their honoure myght endure for euer. ¶ The .xlvi. Chapter. ¶ The prayse of Iosue, Caleb, and Samuel.

A   Manly ∧ str&obar;ge &ibar; battayll ^note was Iesus þe; sonne of Naue, which in steade of Moses the prophet was geuen to be captayne of þe; people, which accordynge vnto his name was a great sauioure vnto the electe of God, to punysh þe; enemies that rose vp agaynst Israel, þt; Israel myght optayne theyr inheritaunce. O how greate, noble, ∧ excellent was he, when he lyft vp his hand, and drew out his swerde agaynst þe; cyties? Who stode so manly before hym? For the Lord him selfe brought in þe; enemies. ^noteStode not the Sunne styll at his commaundement, and one daye was as l&obar;ge as two? He called vpon the Hyest and most myghtye when þe; enemyes preassed vpon hym on euery syde, and the Lorde herde hym with the hayle stones. They smote the Heythenesh people myghtely, ∧ in fallynge downe they slew all þe; aduersaries, so that the Heathen knewe his hoost, and all his defence, that þe; Lord hym selfe fought agaynst them, for he folowed vpon þe; myghtye men of them.

B    ^noteIn the tyme of Moses also, he ∧ Caleb the sonne of Iephune, dyd a good worcke, which stode agaynst þe; enemyes, with helde the people from synne, ∧ stylled the wycked murmuryng. ^noteAnd of syxe hundreth thousande people of fote, they two were preserued, to brynge them into þe; heritage, namely, a lande that floweth &wt; mylcke ∧ hony. ^noteThe Lorde gaue str&ebar;gth also vnto Caleb, which remayned with him vnto his age: so that he wente vp into þe; hye places of þe; l&abar;de and his sede conquered the same for an herytage: that all the chyldren of Israel myght se, how good a thinge it is, to be obedi&ebar;t vnto the Lorde. And the iudges or rulers (euery one after his name) whose hert w&ebar;te not a whorynge, ner departed from þe; Lord, and that forsoke not the Lorde vnfaythfully, whose remembraunce hath a good reporte: Yee their bones florish oute of their place, and their names shall neuer be chaunged, (but honoure remayneth styll with the chyldren of those holy men.)

C   Samuel þe; prophet beloued of the Lorde, ^note ordeyned a kyng, ∧ anoynted the prynces ouer the people. In the lawe of the Lord ruled he, and iudged þe; congregacyon, and the Lord had respecte vnto Iacob. The prophet was founde dilig&ebar;t in his faythfulnes: yee in his faythfulnes was the faythfulnes of the visyon knowne. ^noteHe called vp&obar; the Lord þe; allmyghtye, when þe; enemyes preased vp&obar; him on euery syde, what tyme as he offred þe; suckynge lambes. And þe; Lord th&obar;dred fr&obar; heauen ∧ made his voyce to be herde &wt; a greate noyse. He discomfyted þe; prynces of Tyre, and all þe; rulers of the Philistines. ^noteBefore his last ende he made protestacyon in þe; syght of the Lord, ∧ his anoynted, that he toke nether substa&ubar;ce ner good of eny man, no not so moch as a shoo, ∧ no man myght accuse him. After this he tolde, that his ende was at hande, ∧ shewed þe; kynge also his ende ∧ death, and from the earth lyft he vp hys voyce in the prophecye, that the vngodly people shulde peryshe. ¶ The .xlvii. Chapter. ¶ The prayse of Nathan, Dauid and Salomon.

A   After warde in the tyme of kyng Dauid, there rose vp a prophet called Nathan: For lyke as þe; fat is taken a waye from þe; offeryng, so was Dauid chosen out of þe; chyldren of Israel. ^note He toke his pastyme with the lyons, as with kyddes, and with beares lyke as &wt; l&abar;bes. ^noteSlew he not a gyaunte when he was yet but yonge, and toke a waye the rebuke from his people? what tyme as he toke þe; stone in hys h&abar;de, and smote downe proude Goliath with the slynge? For he called vpon the hyest Lord, which gaue him str&ebar;gth in hys ryght hande, so that he ouerthrew the myghtye gyaunte in the battyll, that he myght set vp the horne of hys people agayne. ^note B   Thus brought he hym to worshype aboue all princes, and made hym to haue a good reporte in the prayse of the Lorde, that he shuld were a crowne of glory. ^noteFor he destroyed the enemyes on euery syde, roted out the Philistines his aduersaries, and brake theyr horne in sunder, lyke as it is broken yet thys daye. In all hys worckes he praysed the Hyest and Holyest, and ascrybed the honoure vnto hym. With hys whole hert dyd he prayse the Lorde and loued hym that made hym. ^noteHe set syngers also before the aulter, and in their tune he made swete songes. He ordeyned to kepe the holy dayes worshypfully, and that the solempne feastes thorow the whole yeare shulde be honorably holden, with praysinge the name of the

Lorde, and with syngynge by tymes in the mornyng in the Sanctuary.

C    ^noteThe Lorde toke awaye his synnes, and exalted his horne for euer. He gaue hym the couena&ubar;t of þe; kyngdome, and the throne of worshype in Israel. ^noteAfter him there rose vp þe; wyse sonne called Salomon, ∧ for hys sake he droue the enemyes awaye farre of This Salomon raygned &wt; peace in his tyme (for God gaue him reste fr&obar; his enemyes on euery syde, that he myght buylde him an house in his name, ∧ prepare the S&abar;ctuary for euer) lyke as he was well instructe &ibar; his youth, ∧ fylled with wysdome ∧ vnderstandynge, as it were &wt; a water floude. He couered ∧ fylled the whole lande with similitudes ∧ wyse prudent sentences.

D   Hys name wente abrode in þe; Iles, because of his peace he was beloued. All landes marueled at his songes, prouerbes, simylytudes, and at his peace, and at the name of the Lorde God, which is called the God of Israel. ^noteHe gathered golde as tynne, ∧ he had as moch syluer as leade. ^noteHe was moued in inordynate loue towarde wem&ebar;, and was ouercome in affeccyon. He stayned hys honoure ∧ worshyppe, yee his posterite defyled he also, in bryngynge þe; wrath of þe; Lorde vpon his chyldren, and sorowe after hys ioye: ^note so that his kyngdome was deuyded, and Ephraim became an vnfaythfull, and an vnconstant kyngdome. ^noteNeuertheles God forsoke not his mercy, nether was he vtterly destroyed because of hys worckes, that he shulde leaue him no posterite.

E   As for þe; sede þt; came vpon him, which he loued, he brought it not vtterly to naught but gaue yet a remnaunt vnto Iacob, and a rote vnto Dauid out of him. Thus rested Salomon with hys fathers, and out of hys sede he left behynde hym a very foolyshnes of the people, and soche one as had no vnderstandynge: ^note euen, Roboam, which turned awaye the people thorow his councell, and Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, ^note which caused Israell to synne, ∧ shewed Ephraim the waye of vngodlynes: In so moch that their synnes and mysdedes had the vpper h&abar;de so sore, that at the last they were dryuen out of the lande for the same: Yee he sought out and brought vp all wyckednes, tyll the v&ebar;geaunce came vpon them. ¶ The .xlviii. Chapter. ¶ The prayse of Eliah, Elizeus, Hezekiah, and Esay.

A   Then stode vp ^note Eliah the prophet as a fyre, ∧ his worde brent lyke a creshet. He brought an honger vpon them, ∧ in his zele he made them fewe in nombre. For they myght not awaye &wt; the c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes of the Lorde. Thorowe the worde of the Lord he shut the heauen, ^note ∧ thre tymes brought he the fyre downe. Thus became Eliah honorable in his wonderous dedes. Who maye make his boast to be lyke him? ^noteOne that was deed raysed he vp from death, and in the worde of the hyest he brought him oute of the graue agayne. He cast downe kynges and destroyed them, ∧ the honorable fr&obar; their seate. Upon the mounte Syna he herde the punyshement, ∧ vpon Horeb the iudgement of the vengeaunce. He prophecyed recompensynge vnto kynges, ^note ordeyned prophetes after hym. ^noteHe was taken vp in þe; storme of fyre, in a charet of horses of þe; Lorde. He was ordyned in the reprouynges in tyme to pacyfye the wrath of þe; Lord, ^note to turne the hertes of the fathers vnto the chyldren, and to sett vp the trybes of Iacob agayne. Blessed were they that saw the, ∧ were garnyshed in loue: for we lyue in lyfe: (but after death we shall haue no such name.)

B    ^noteElias was couered in þe; storme, but Helyseus was fylled &wt; his sprete. Whyle he lyued he was afrayed of no prynce, and no man myght ouercome hym. There coulde no worde disceaue hym, ^note ∧ after his death his body prophecied. ^noteHe dyd w&obar;ders &ibar; his lyfe, and in death were his workes maruelous. For all this, þe; people am&ebar;ded not, nether departed they fr&obar; theyr synnes: ^note tyll they were caryed awaye presoners out of þe; l&abar;de, ∧ were scatred abrode in all countrees, so that of them there remayned, but a very lytle people, and a prynce vnto the house of Dauid. Howbeit some of them dyd ryght, and some heaped vp vngodlynes.

C    ^noteHezekias made his cytie str&obar;ge, c&obar;ueyed water into it, dygged thorow þe; stony rocke with yron, ∧ made vp a well by þe; water syde. ^noteIn his tyme came Sennacheryb vp, ∧ sent Rabsakes, lyft vp his h&abar;de agaynst Syon, and defyed them with greate pryde. Then trymbled theyr hertes and h&abar;des, so that they sorowed lyke a woman trauaylyng with chylde. So they called vpon the Lorde, which is mercyfull, ∧ lyft vp theyr handes before hym. Immediatly the Lord herde th&ebar; out of heauen: (he thought nomore vp&obar; theyr synnes, ner gaue them ouer to theyr enemyes:) but delyuered them by the hande of Esay. ^noteHe smote the hoost of the Assyrians, and his angell destroyed them. For Hezekias had done þe; thyng that pleased the Lorde, ∧ remayned stedfastly in the waye of Dauid his father. Which Esaye was greate ∧ faythfull in his visions. ^noteIn his tyme the Sunne wente backwarde, and he lengthened the kynges lyfe. With a ryghte sprete prophecyed he, what shulde come to passe at the last: and to soche as were sorowful in Syon he gaue consolacyon,

wherwith they myght confort them selues for euermore. He shewed thynges that were for to come and secrete, or euer they came to passe. ¶ The .xlix. Chapter. ¶ Of Iosiah, Hezechiah, Dauid, Ieremy, Ezechiel, Zorobabel, Iesus, Nehemiah, Enoch, and Ioseph.

A   The rem&ebar;braunce of ^note Iosias is lyke as whan the apotycary maketh many precyous swete smellynge thynges together. His rem&ebar;bra&ubar;ce shalbe swete as hony in all mouthes, and as the playeng of Musyck at a b&abar;cket of wyne. He was appoynted to turne the people agayne, and to take awaye all abhominacyons of the vngodly, He directed his herte vnto the Lorde, and in the tyme of the vngodly he set vp the worshyppe of God agayne. All kynges (except Dauid, Hezechias and Iosiah) c&obar;mitted wickednes, for euen the kinges of Iuda also forsoke the lawe of God. For they gaue theyr horne vnto other, theyr honoure and worshyppe also to a straunge people.

B   Therfore was the electe cytie of þe; Sanctuary brent wyth fyre, ^note ∧ the stretes therof laye desolate and waste: for they intreated Ieremy euell, whych neuertheles was a prophet ordeyned from his mothers w&obar;be, that he myght rote out, breake of, ^note and destroye: &abar;d that he myght buylde vp, ∧ plant agayne. ^noteEzechiel sawe the glory of þe; Lord in a vysion, which was shewed hym vpon þe; charrette of the Cherubins. For he thought vpon the enemyes in the rayne, to do good vnto soch as had ordred their wayes a right And the bones of the twelue prophetes floryshed fr&obar; out of theyr place: for they gaue comforte and consolacyon vnto Iacob, and delyuered them faythfully. ^noteHow shall we prayse Zorobabel, which was as a rynge in the ryght hande?

C    ^noteSo was Iesus also þe; sonne Of Iosedec: these men in theyr tymes buylded the house and set vp the S&abar;ctuary of þe; Lord agayne which was prepared for an euerlasting worshyp. ^noteAnd Nehemias is alwaye to be comm&ebar;ded, ^note which set vp for vs the walles that were broken downe, made the portes and barres agayne, and buylded oure houses of the new. ^noteBut vpon earth is there no man created lyke Enoch, for he was tak&ebar; vp fr&obar; the earth. ^noteAnd Ioseph, which was lorde of hys brethren, and the vpholder of hys people: his bones were couered and kept. Seth and Sem were in great honour amonge the people: and so was Adam aboue all the beastes, whan he was created. ¶ The .l. Chapter. ¶ Of Symon the sonne of Oniah.

A   Symon ^note the sonne of Onias the hye preste, whyche in hys lyfe sett vp the house agayne, and in hys dayes made fast þe; temple. The heygth of the temple also was founded of hym, the double buyldynge, and the hye walles of the temple. In hys dayes the welles of water flowed out, and were exceadynge full as the see. He toke care for hys people, and delyuered them fr&obar; destruccion. He kepte his cytie and made it strong, that it shuld not be beseged. He dwelt in honoure and worshyppe amonge his people, ∧ enlarged the entraunce of þe; house, and the court. He gaue lyght as the mornynge starre in the myddest of the cloudes, and as the moone wh&abar; it is full. He shyned as the sunne in the temple of God. He is as bryght as the rayne bowe in the fayre cloudes, and florisheth as the floures &abar;d roses in the spring of the yeare, and as lylyes by the ryuers of water:Lyke as the braunches vpon the mo&ubar;t Libanus in the tyme of Sommer: as a fyre and incense that is kyndled. Lyke as an whole ornament of pure golde, sett with all maner of precious stones, &abar;d as an Olyue tree that is frutefull, &abar;d as a Cipres tree which groweth vp an hye.

B   When he put on the garment of honoure, and was clothed wyth all bewtye: when he went to the holy aulter, to garnish the coueryng of the Sanctuary: when he toke þe; porcions out of the Prestes hande, he hym selfe stode by the herth of the aulter, and his brethren rounde about in ordre. As the braunches of Cedre tree vpon þe; mount Libanus, so stode they rounde about him. And as the braunches of the Olyue tree, so stode all the sonnes of Aaron in theyr glorye. And þt; he myght suffyciently perfourme hys seruyce vpon þe; aulter, and garnysh the offrynge of the hyest God, he stretched out hys hande, and toke of þe; drynckofferyng, and powred in of the wyne: so he powred vpon the botome of the aulter a good smell vnto the hyest Prynce.

Then beganne the sonnes of Aaron to syng, and to blowe with trompettes, and to make a great noyse, for a rem&ebar;braunce and prayse vnto the Lorde. Then were the people afrayed, and fell downe to the earth vp&obar; their faces, to worshypp the Lord their God. &abar;d to geue thanckes to the almyghty God. They songe goodly also with their voyces, so þt; there was a pleasaunt noyse in þe; great house of the Lorde. And the people in theyr prayer besought the Lord the hyest, that he wolde be mercyfull, tyll þe; honour of þe; Lord were perfourmed, thus ended they theyr minystracion ∧ seruyce. C   Then went he downe and stretched out his handes ouer the whole multitude of the people of Israel, that they shulde geue prayse and thankes out of their lyppes vnto the Lord, ∧ to reioyse in his name. He beganne yet once also to praye, that

he myght openly shewe the thankesgeuyng before þe; Hyest, namely thus: O geue prayse and th&abar;kes (ye all) vnto the Lord our God, which hath euer done noble and great thynges: which hath increased oure dayes from our mothers wombe, and dealt wyth vs accordyng to his mercy: that he wyll geue vs the ioyfulnes of hert, and peace for oure tyme in Israell. Which faythfully kepeth his mercy for vs euermore, and alwaye delyuereth vs in due season.

D   There be two maner of people that I abhorre fro my hert: as for the thirde, whom I hate, it is no people. They that syt vpon the mountayne of Samaria, the Phylystynes, and the foolysh people that dwell in Sichimis.

I Iesus the sonne of Syrach Eleazarus of Ierusalem, haue tokened vp these informacyons and documentes of wysdome and vnderst&abar;dyng in thys boke, and poured out the wysdome of my herte. Blessed is he that excercyseth hym selfe therin: and who so taketh soch to hert, shalbe wyse for euer. Yf he do these thinges, he shal be str&obar;ge in all. For the lyght of the Lorde ledeth hym. ¶ The .li. Chapter. ¶ The prayer of Iesus the sonne of Syrach.

A   I wyll thanke the, O Lorde &abar;d kyng, and prayse the, O God my sauyoure. I wyll yelde prayse vnto thy name: for thou art my defender and helper, &abar;d hast preserued my body from destruccy&obar;, from þe; snare of traytorous tonges, and fr&obar; the lyppes that are occupyed with lyes. Thou hast bene my helper, fr&obar; soch as stode vp against me, and hast delyuered me after the multytude of thy mercy, ∧ for thy holy names sake. Thou hast delyuered me from the roaryng of th&ebar; that prepared them selues to deuoure me, out of the h&abar;des of soch as sought after my lyfe: from the multytude of them þt; troubled me, and went aboute to sett fyre vpon me on euery syde, so þt; I am not brent in the myddest of the fyre: From the depe of hell, from an vncleane tonge, from lyenge wordes, from the wycked kynge, and fr&obar; an vnryghteous tonge. My soule shall prayse the Lord vnto death, for my lyfe drewe nye vnto hell downewarde.

B   They c&obar;passed me rounde aboute on euery syde, and there was no man to helpe me. I loked aboute me, yf there were eny man þt; wold socoure me: but there was none. Then thought I vpon thy mercy, O Lorde, and vpon thy actes that thou hast done euer of olde: namely, that thou delyuerest soche as put theyr trust in the, and ryddest them out of the handes of the Heath&ebar;. Thus lyft I vp my prayer from the earth, &abar;d prayed for delyueraunce fr&obar; death. I called vp&obar; the Lord my father that he wolde not leaue me without helpe, in the daye of my trouble and in þe; tyme of the proude: I praysed thy name contynually, yeldyng honoure ∧ thankes vnto it: and so my prayer was herde. Thou sauedest me from destruccyon, and delyueredest me from the vnryghteous tyme. Therfore, wyll I a knowledge and prayse þe;, and magnyfye the name of the Lorde.

C   Whan I was yet but yonge, or euer I went astraye, I desyred wysdome openly in my prayer. I came therfore before the t&ebar;ple, &abar;d sought her vnto the last. Then floryshed she vnto me, as a grape that is soone rype. My hert reioysed in her, then went my fote the ryght waye, yee fr&obar; youth vp, sought I after her. I bowed downe myne eare and receaued her. I founde me moch wysdome: &abar;d prospered greatly in her. Therfore wyll I ascrybe the glory vnto him, that geueth me wisdome: for I am aduysed to do therafter. I wyll be gelous co cleue vnto the thynge þt; is good, so shall I not be confounded. My soule hath wrestled with her, ∧ I haue bene dilig&ebar;t to be occupyed in her. I lyft vp myne handes an hye, then was my soule lightened thorow wisdome, that I knowleged my folyshnes. I ordred my soule after her, she and I were one heart from the begynnynge and I founde her in clennesse. And therfore shall I not be forsaken.

D   My herte longed after her, and I gatt a good treasure. Thorow her the Lorde hath geu&ebar; me a new t&obar;ge, wherwith I will prayse hym. ^noteO come vnto me ye vnlerned, and dwell in the house of wysdome: withdrawe not your selues from her, but talke and comen of these thinges, for your soules are very thyrstye. I opened my mouth, and spake. O come &abar;d bye wysdome without money, bowe downe your neck vnder her yock, and youre soule shall receaue wysdome. She is harde at hande and is content to be founde. Behold, with your eyes, ^note how that I haue had but lytle laboure, and yet haue founde moch reast. O receaue wysdome, &abar;d ye shall haue plenteousnes of syluer &abar;d golde in possession. Let your mynde reioyse in his mercy, ∧ be not ashamed of hys prayse. Worcke hys worcke by tymes, and he shall geue you your rewarde in due tyme. ¶ The ende of the booke of Iesus the sonne of Syrach, whych is called in Latyne, Ecclesiasticus.

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