1   The ^note wisdom of the humble shal exalt his head, & shal make him sitte in the middes of great men.

2   Prayse not a man in his beautie, neither despise a man by his looke.

3   The bee is smal among fowles, and her fruite hath the beginning of sweetnes.

4   In apparel doe not glorie at any time, nor be extolled in the day of thine honour, because the workes of the Highest onlie be meruelous, and his workes are glorious,

and secrete, and not seene.

5   Manie tyrantes haue sitte in the throne, and he whom no man would thincke hath worne the crowne.

6   Manie mightie men haue bene greatly oppressed, and the glorious haue bene deliuered into the handes of others.

7   Before thou enquire, blame no man: and when thou hast enquired, chasten iustly.

8    ^noteBefore thou heare, answer not a word, and in the middes ^note of ancients adde not to speake.

9   Striue not for that thing, which doeth not molest thee: and consiste not in the iudgement of sinners.

10   Sonne let not thy doings be in manie thinges: and if thou be rich, thou shalt not be free from sinne. for if thou pursew, thou shalt not attayne: and if thou runne before, thou shalt not escape.

11   There is one that laboureth, and hasteneth, and is a sorowful impious man, and so much the more he shal not abound.

12   There is a lither man that wanteth recouerie, more fayling in strength, and abunding in pouertie:

13   and the eie of God hath respected him in good, and hath erected him from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and manie haue merueled at him, and haue honoured God.

14   Good thinges and euil, life and death, pouertie and honestie are of God.

15   Wisdom and discipline, and the knowlege of the law are with God. Loue, and the wayes of good thinges are with him.

16    ^noteErrour and darkenes are created with sinners: and they that reioyce in euils, waxe old in euil.

17   The gift of God is permanent to the iust, and his prospering shal haue successe for euer.

18   There is that is enriched by doing sparingly, and this is the portion of his reward

19   in that he sayth: I haue found me rest, and now I wil eate of my goods alone:

20   and he knoweth not that time passeth, & death approcheth, and he must leaue al to others, and shal die.

21   Stand in thy couenant, and commen therein, and grow old in the worke of thy commandements.

22   Abide not in the workes of sinners. But trust in God, and tarie in thy place.

23   For it is easie in the eies of God sodainly to enrich the poore man.

24   The blessing of God hasteth to the reward of the iust, and in a swift houre his prospering fructifieth.

25   Say not: What neede I, and what good shal I haue by this?

26   Say not: I am sufficient for my self: and what shal I be made worse by this?

27    ^noteIn the day of good thinges be not vnmindful of euils: and in the day of euils be not vnmindful of good thinges:

28   because it is easie before God in the day of death to reward

euerie one according to his wayes.

29   The malice of an houre maketh obliuion of great voluptuousnes, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his workes.

30   Before death prayse no man, because a man is knowen in his children.

31   Bring not euerie man into thine house: for there be manie traynes of the deceitful man.

32   For as the stomakes belche of stinking breathes, and as the partriche is brought in the cage, and as the doe into the snare: so also the hart of the proude, and as a watche man that seeth the fal of his neighbour.

33   For turning good thinges into euil he lyeth in wayte, and on the elect he wil lay a blot.

34   For of one sparke fire is increased, and of a deceitful man bloud is increased: and a sinful man lyeth in wayte for bloud.

35   Take heede to thy self of the pestiferous person, for he forgeth euils: lest perhaps he bring vpon thee derision for euer.

36   Admitte a straunger to thee, and he shal ouerthrow thee in an hurlewind, & shal make thee an aliene from thine owne.

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