1   Sonne defraude not the almes of the poore, and turne not away thyne eies from the poore.

2   Despise not the

hungrie soule: and exasperate not the poore in his pouertie.

3   Afflict not the hart of the needie, and deferre not the gift to him that is in distresse.

4   Reiect not the petition of him that is afflicted: and turne not away thy face from the needie.

5   From the poore turne not away thine eies for anger: and ^noteleaue not to them that aske of thee, to curse thee behinde thy backe.

6   For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitternes of his soule, ^note shal be heard: and he that made him, wil heare him.

7   Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poore, and to the ancient humble thy soule, and to a great man bow thy head.

8   Bow downe thyne eare to the poore without sadnesse, and render thy debt, and answer him peaceable wordes in mildenes.

9   Deliuer him that suffereth iniurie out of the hand of the proud: and be not faynt harted in thy soule.

10   In iudging be merciful to pupils as a father, & as an husband to their mother:

11   and thou shalt be as the obedient sonne of the Highest, and he wil haue mercie on thee more then a mother.

12   Wisdom inspireth life to her children, and receaueth them that seeke after her, and wil goe before them in the way of iustice.

13   And he that loueth her, loueth life: and they that shal watch to her, shal embrace her sweetnes.

14   They that shal hold her, shal inherite life: and whither soeuer he shal enter, God wil blesse him.

15   They that serue her, shal be seruants to the holie: and them that loue her God loueth.

16   He that heareth her, shal iudge nations: and he that beholdeth her, shal remayne confident.

17   If he beleue her, he shal inherite her, and her ^note creatures shal be in confirmation:

18   because in tentation she walketh with him, and first of al she chooseth him.

19   Feare and dread, and probation she wil bring vpon him: and she wil torment him in the tribulation of her doctrine, til she trie him in her cogitations, and credite his soule.

20   And she wil establish him, and make a direct way vnto him, and reioyce him,

21   and wil disclose her secretes to him, and wil heape vpon him as treasures knowlege and vnderstanding of iustice.

22   But if he goe amis, she wil forsake him, and deliuer him into the handes of his enimie.

23   Sonne obserue time, and avoyd from euil.

24   For thy soule be not ashamed to say the truth.

25   For there is ^noteshame that bringeth sinne, & there is ^note shame that bringeth glorie and grace.

26   Accept no face against thine owne face, nor against thy soule a lie.

27   Reuerence not thy neighbour

in his offence:

28   nor kepe in a word in time of saluation. Hide not thy wisdom in the beautie thereof.

29   For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and vnderstanding, and knowlege, and doctrine by the word of the wise, and steedfastnes in the workes of iustice.

30    ^noteDoe not gaynesay the word of truth by any meanes, and be ashamed of the lie of thyne vnskilfulnes.

31   Be not ashamed to confesse thy sinnes, and submite not thy self to euerie man for sinne.

32   Resist not against the face of the mightie, neither labour against the streame of the riuer.

33   For ^note iustice contend for thy soule, and vnto death striue for iustice, and God wil ouerthrow thyne enemies for thee.

34   Be not hastie in thy tongue: and vnprofitable, and remisse in thy workes.

35   Be not as a lion in thy house, ouerthrowing them of thy houshold, and oppressing them that are subiect to thee.

36   Let not thine hand be stretched out to receiue, and closed to geue.

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