1   Better is a good name, then much riches: aboue siluer and gold, good grace. ^note

2   The rich and poore haue mette one an other: our Lord is the maker of both. ^note

3   The subtel saw euil, and hyd himself: the innocent passed by, and was afflicted with damage. ^note

4   The end of modestie the feare of our Lord, riches and glorie and life. ^note

5   Armour and swordes in the way of the peruerse: but the keper of his owne soule departeth far from them. ^note

6   It is a prouerbe: A yongman according to his way, when he is old, wil not depart from it. ^note

7   The richman ruleth ouer the poore: and he that boroweth is the seruant of him that lendeth. ^note

8   He that soweth iniquitie, shal reape euils, and with the rod of his wrath, he shal be consumed. ^note

9   He that is prone to mercie, shal be blessed: for of his breades he hath geuen to the poore. ^note

9   He that geueth giftes shal purchase victorie and honour: but he that receiueth taketh away the soule of the geuer. ^note

10   Cast out the scorner, and brawling shal goe forth with him, and cause shal cease and contumelies. ^note

11   He that loueth cleanes of hart, for the grace of his lippes, shal haue the king his frend.

12   The eies of our Lord keepe knowlege: and the wordes of the iust are supplanted. ^note

13   The slothful sayth: A lyon is without, in the middes of the streates I am to be slayne. ^note

14   A deepe pitte the mouth of a strange woman: he with whom our Lord is angrie, shal fal into it. ^note

15   Follie is tyed together in the hart of a childe, and the rod of discipline shal driue it away. ^note

16   He that doth calumniate the poore, to increase his riches, himself shal geue to a richer, and shal be in neede. ^note

17    ^noteIncline thine eare, and heare the wordes of wisemen: and set thy hart to my doctrine:

18   which shal be beautiful for thee, when thou shalt kepe it in thy bellie, and it shal flow in thy lippes.

19   That thy confidence may be in our Lord, wherfore I haue shewed also it to thee this day.

20   Behold I haue described it to thee three maner of wayes, in cogitations and knowledge:

21   that I might shew thee the stabilitie, and the wordes of truth, out of these to answer them, that sent thee.

22   Doe not violence to the poore, because he is poore: neither oppresse the needie in the gate: ^note

23   because our Lord wil iudge his cause, and wil pearse them, that haue pearsed his soule.

24   Be not frend to an angrie man, nor walke with a furious man:

25   lest perhaps thou lerne his pathes, and take scandal to thy soule.

26   Be not with them, that sticke downe their handes, and that offer themselues sureties for debts:

27   for if thou haue not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the couering from thy bed?

28   Trangresse not the ancient boundes, which thy fathers haue put.

29   Hast thou sene a man quicke in his worke? he shal stand before kinges, neither shal be before the vnnoble.

Previous section

Next section