1 All wisdome [commeth] of god the Lord, & hath ben euer with him, and is before all tyme.
2 Who hath numbred the sande of the sea, the droppes of the rayne, and the dayes of time? Who hath measured the heyght of heauen, the breadth of the earth, and the deepenesse of the sea?
3 Who hath sought out the grounde of Gods wisdome, which hath ben before all thynges?
4 Wisdome hath ben created before all thinges, and the vnderstandyng of prudence from euerlastyng.
5 (Gods worde in the heyght is the well of wisdome, and the euerlastyng commaundementes are the entraunce of her.)
6 Unto who hath the roote of wisdome ben declared? or who hath knowen her wit?
7 Unto whom hath the doctrine of wisdome ben discouered and shewed? and who hath vnderstande the manifolde entraunce of her?
8 There is one, euen the hyest, the maker of all thynges, the almightie, the kyng of power, of whom men ought to stand greatly in awe, which sitteth vpon his throne, beyng a God of dominion.
9 He hath created her through the holy ghost, he hath seene her, numbred her, and measured her.
10 He hath powred her out vpon all his workes, and vpon all fleshe, accordyng to his gyft, he geueth her richely vnto them that loue hym.
11 The feare of the Lorde is worshyp and triumph, gladnesse, and a ioyfull crowne.
12 The feare of the Lorde maketh a mery heart, geueth gladnesse, ioy, and long lyfe.
13 Who so feareth the Lorde, it shall go well with him at the last, and in the day of his death he shalbe blessed.
14 The loue of God is honorable wisdome: loke vnto whom it appeareth, they loue it, for they see what wonderous thinges it doth.
15 The feare of the Lorde is the begynnyng of wisdome, and was made with the faythfull in the mothers wombe, it shall go with the chosen women, and shalbe knowen of the ryghteous and faythfull.
16 The feare of the Lorde is the ryght Gods seruice,
17 That preserueth & iustifieth the heart, and geueth mirth and gladnesse.
18 Who so feareth the Lorde shalbe happy, and when he hath neede of comfort he shalbe blessed.
19 She hath buylt her euerlastyng foundations with men, and is geuen to be with their seede.
20 To feare God is the wisdome that maketh riche, and bryngeth all good with her.
21 She fylleth the whole house with her giftes, & she garners with her treasure.
22 The feare of the Lorde is the crowne of wisdome, and geueth plenteous peace and health: He hath seene her and numbred her: Both these are the gyftes of God.
23 Knowledge and vnderstandyng of wisdome hath he powred out as rayne, and them that helde her fast hath he brought vnto honour.
24 The feare of the Lorde is the roote of wisdome, & her braunches are long lyfe.
25 In the treasures of wisdome is vnderstandyng & deuotion of knowledge, but wisdome is abhorred of sinners.
26 The feare of the Lorde driueth out sinne, and whe she is present, she driueth away anger.
27 For he that is without feare can not be made ryghteous, and his wylfull boldenesse is his owne destruction.
28 A patient man wyll suffer vnto the tyme, and then shall he haue the rewarde of ioy.
29 A good vnderstandyng wyll hyde his wordes for a tyme, and many mens lippes shall speake of his wisdome.
30 In the treasures of wisdome is the declaration of doctrine: but the sinner abhorreth the worshyp of God.
31 My sonne yf thou desire wisdome, kepe the commaundement, and God shall geue her vnto thee:
32 For the feare of the Lorde is wisdome and nurture: he hath pleasure in fayth and louyng mekenesse, and he shall fyll the treasures therof.
33 Be not obstinate and vnfaythfull to the feare of the Lorde, and come not vnto hym with a double heart.
34 Be not an hypocrite in the syght of men, and take good heede what thou speakest.
35 Exalt not thy selfe, lest thou happen to fall and bryng thy soule to dishonour, and so discouer thy secretes, and cast thee downe in the myddest of the congregation: because thou wouldest not receaue the feare of God, & because thy heart is full of faynednesse and deceipt.
1 My sonne yf thou wylt come into the seruice of God, stande fast in righteousnesse & feare, and arme thy soule to temptation.
2 Settle thyne heart and be patient, bowe downe thine eare, receaue the wordes of vnderstandyng, and shrynke not away when thou art assaulted.
3 Holde thee fast vpon God, ioyne thy selfe vnto hym, and suffer that thy lyfe may encrease at the last.
4 Whatsoeuer happeneth vnto thee, receaue it: suffer in heauinesse, & be patient in thy trouble.
5 For lyke as golde and siluer are tryed in the fire, euen so are acceptable men in the furnace of aduersitie.
6 Beleue in God and he shall helpe thee: order thy way a right, and put thy trust in hym: Holde fast his feare and growe therin,
7 O ye that feare the Lorde, take sure holde of his mercie, shrynke not away from hym, that ye fall not.
8 O ye that feare the Lorde, beleue him, and your rewarde shall not be emptie.
9 O ye that feare the Lorde, trust in good thynges, and mercie shall come vnto you for pleasure.
10 O ye that feare the Lorde, set your loue vpon him, and your heartes shalbe lyghtened.
11 Consider the olde generations of men (O ye children) and marke them well: Was there euer any one confounded that put his trust in the Lorde? Who euer continued in his feare, and was forsaken? Or whom dyd he euer dispise that called faythfully vpon hym?
12 For God is gratious and mercifull, he forgeueth sinnes in the tyme of trouble, and is a defendour for al them that seke hym in the trueth.
13 Wo be vnto them that haue a fearefull heart, wicked lippes, and euyll occupied handes, and to the sinner that goeth two maner of wayes.
14 Wo be vnto them that are faint harted, which put not their trust in God, and therfore shall they not be defended of hym.
15 Wo be vnto you that haue lost patience, forsaken the ryght wayes, and are turned backe into frowarde wayes: What wyll you do when the Lord shall begin to visite you?
16 They that feare the Lorde, wyll not disobey his worde: and they that loue him, wyll kepe his commaundementes.
17 They that feare the Lorde wyll seke out the thinges that are pleasaunt vnto him: and they that loue him, be fulfylled with his lawe.
18 They that feare the Lorde wyll prepare their heartes, and humble their soules in his syght.
19 They that feare the Lorde kepe his comaundementes, and wyll be patient tyll they see hym selfe,
20 Saying: If we do not repent, we shall fall into the handes of the Lorde, and not into the handes of men.
21 For his mercie is as great as him selfe.
1 The children of wisdome are a congregation of the ryghteous, and their ofspryng is obedience and loue.
2 Heare your fathers iudgement (O my deare children) and do therafter, that ye may be safe.
3 For the Lorde wyll haue the father honored of the children: and loke what a mother commaundeth her children to do, he wyll haue it kept.
4 Who so honoureth his father, his sinnes shalbe forgeuen hym: and he shall abstayne from them, and shall haue his dayly desires.
5 And he that honoureth his mother, is like one that gathereth treasure together.
6 Who so honoureth his father, shall haue ioy of his owne children: & when he maketh his prayer, he shalbe heard.
7 He that honoureth his father, shall haue a long lyfe: and he that is obedient vnto the Lorde, shall comfort his mother.
8 He that feareth the Lorde, honoureth his father and mother, and doth them seruice as it were vnto lordes.
9 Honour thy father and mother, in deede, in worde, and in all patience, that thou mayest haue Gods blessyng: and his blessyng shall abide with thee at the last.
10 The blessyng of the father stablisheth the houses of the children: but the mothers curse rooteth out the foundations.
11 Reioyce not when thy father is reproued: for it is not honour vnto thee, but a shame.
12 For the worshyp of a mans father, is his owne worshyp: & the reproche of the mother, is the dishonestie of the sonne.
13 My sonne, make much of thy father in his age, and greeue hym not as long as he lyueth.
14 And yf his vnderstandyng fayle, haue patience with hym, and dispise hym not in thy strength.
15 For the good deede that thou shewest vnto thy father, shall not be forgotten: and when thou thy selfe wantest, it shalbe rewarded thee: and for thy mothers offence thou shalt be recompensed with good, yea it shalbe founded for thee in ryghteousnesse.
16 And in the day of trouble thou shalt be remembred: thy sinnes also shall melt away, lyke as the yse in the fayre warme weather.
17 He that forsaketh his father, shal come to shame: and he that defieth his mother, is cursed of God.
18 My sonne, perfourme thy workes with louyng meekenesse, so shalt thou be loued aboue other men.
19 The greater thou art, the more humble thy selfe in all thynges, and thou shalt fynde fauour in the sight of God.
20 Many are excellent and of renowme: but the secretes are reuealed vnto the meeke.
21 For great power belongeth only vnto God, and he is honoured of the lowly.
22 Seke not out the thynges that are aboue thy capacitie, and searche not the grounde of such thynges as are to mightie for thee:
23 But loke what God hath commaunded thee, thynke vpon that alway, & be not curious in many of his workes: For it is not needefull for thee to see with thyne eyes the thynges that are secrete.
24 Make not to much searche in superfluous thynges, and be not curious in many of his workes: for many thynges are shewed vnto thee alredy which be aboue the capacitie of men.
25 The medlyng with such, hath beguiled many a man, and tangled their wittes in vanitie.
26 Thou canst not see without eyes, therfore professe not the thyng that thou hast not.
27 An harde heart shall feare euyll at the last: and he that loueth daunger, shall perishe therin.
28 An heart that goeth two wayes shall not prosper: and he that is frowarde of heart, wyll euer be worse and worse.
29 An obstinate heart shalbe laden with sorowes, and the vngodly sinner wyll heape one sinne vpon another.
30 The counsayle of the proude hath no health, & his footsteppes shalbe plucked vp: for the plant of sinne hath taken roote in hym.
31 The heart of hym that hath vnderstandyng, shall perceaue hye thynges: and a good eare wyll gladly hearken vnto wisdome.
32 An heart that is wise and hath vnderstandyng, wyll abstayne from sinnes, and increase in the workes of ryghteousnesse.
33 Water quencheth burnyng fire, and mercie reconcileth sinnes.
34 God hath respect vnto hym that is thankfull: he thinketh vpon him against the tyme to come, so that whe he falleth he shall fynde a strong holde.
1 My sonne, defraude not the poore of his almes, and turne not away thyne eyes from hym that hath neede.
2 Dispise not an hungry soule, and defie not the poore in his necessitie.
3 Greeue not the heart of hym that is helplesse, and withdrawe not the gyft from the needefull.
4 Refuse not the prayer of one that is in trouble, turne not away thy face from the needy.
5 Cast not thyne eyes asyde from the poore for any euyll wyll, that thou geue him not occasion to speake euyll of thee.
6 For yf he complayne of thee in the bitternesse of his soule, his prayer shalbe hearde: euen he that made hym shall heare hym.
7 Be curteous vnto the company of the poore, humble thy soule vnto thy elder, and bowe downe thy head to a man of worshyp.
8 Let it not greeue thee to bowe downe thine eare vnto the poore, but pay thy debt, and geue him a friendly aunswere, and that with meekenesse.
9 Deliuer him that suffereth wrong, from the hande of the oppressour: and be not faynt hearted when thou sittest in iudgement.
10 Be mercifull vnto the fatherlesse as a father, and be in steade of an husbande vnto their mother: so shalt thou be as an obedient sonne of the hyest, and he shall loue thee more then thy mother doth.
11 Wisdome exalteth her children, receaueth them that seke her, & wyl go before them in the way of ryghteousnesse.
12 He that loueth her, loueth lyfe: and they that seke her diligently, shall haue great ioy.
13 They that kepe her, shall inherite glorie: for where she entreth in, there is the blessyng of God.
14 They that honour her, shalbe the seruauntes of the holy one: and they that loue her, are beloued of God.
15 Who so geueth eare vnto her, shall iudge the heathen: and he that hath respect vnto her, shall dwell safely.
16 He that beleueth her, shall haue her in possession, and his generation shall endure.
17 For when he falleth, she doth go with hym, and choseth hym among the best: Feare, dreade, and temptation shall she bryng vpon hym, and trye hym in her doctrine, tyll she haue so proued hym in his thoughtes, that he commit his soule vnto her.
18 Then shall she stablishe hym, bryng the ryght way vnto hym, make hym a glad man, shewe hym her secretes, and heape vpon him the treasures of knowledge, & vnderstandyng of righteousnes.
19 But yf he go wrong, she shall forsake hym, & geue hym ouer into the handes of destruction and ruine.
20 My sonne, make much of the tyme, eschewe the thyng that is euyll:
21 And for thy lyfe shame not to say the trueth: For there is a shame that bryngeth sinne, and there is a shame that bryngeth worshyp and fauour.
22 Accept no person after thyne owne wyll, that thou be not confounded to thyne owne decay: Be not ashamed of thy neyghbour in his aduersitie.
23 And kepe not backe thy counsayle when it may do good, neither hyde thy wisdome in her beautie.
24 For in the tongue is wisdome knowe, so is vnderstandyng, knowledge, and learnyng in the talkyng of the wise, and stedfastnesse in the workes of ryghteousnesse.
25 In no wise speake agaynst the worde of trueth: but be ashamed of the lyes of thyne owne ignoraunce.
26 Shame not to confesse thyne errour, and resist not the course of the riuer.
27 And submit not thy selfe vnto a foolishe man, neither accept the person of the mightie.
28 And striue thou not agaynst the streame: But for ryghteousnesse take paynes with all thy soule, and for the trueth striue thou vnto death, and God shall fyght for thee agaynst thyne enemies.
29 Be not hasty in thy tongue, neither slacke and negligent in thy workes.
30 Be not as a lion in thyne owne house, destroying thy housholde folkes, and oppressyng them that are vnder thee.
31 Let not thyne hande be stretched out to receaue, and shut when thou shouldest geue.
1 Trust not vnto thy riches, & say not, tushe I haue inough for my lyfe, for it shall not helpe in the tyme of vengeaunce and temptation.
2 Folowe not the lust of thyne owne heart in thy strength,
3 And say not, tushe howe haue I had strength? or who wyll bryng me vnder because of my workes? For doubtlesse God shall auenge it.
4 And say not, I haue sinned, and what euyll hath happened me? For the almightie is a patient rewarder.
5 Because thy sinne is forgeuen thee, be not therfore without feare, neither heape one sinne vpon another.
6 And say not, tushe, the mercie of the Lorde is great, he shall forgeue me my sinnes be they neuer so many: For lyke as he is mercifull, so goeth wrath from hym also, and his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners.
7 Make no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde, and put not of from day to day: for sodenly shall his wrath come, and in the tyme of vengeaunce he shall destroy thee.
8 Trust not in wicked riches, for they shall not helpe thee in the day of punishment and wrath.
9 Be not caried about with euery winde, and go not into euery way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.
10 Stande fast in the way of the Lorde, be stedfast in thy vnderstandyng, abyde by the worde, and folowe the worde of peace and righteousnesse.
11 Be gentle to heare the worde of God, that thou mayest vnderstande it: and make a true aunswere with wisdome.
12 Be swyft to heare, but slowe and pacient in geuing aunswere.
13 If thou hast vnderstanding, shape thy neighbour an aunswere: yf no, laye thy hande vpon thy mouth, lest thou be trapped in an vndiscreete word, and so confounded.
14 Honour and shame is in the talke, but the tongue of the vndiscrete is his owne destruction.
15 Be not a priuy accuser as long as thou lyuest, and vse no slaunder with thy tongue: For shame & sorowe goeth ouer the thiefe, and an euyll name ouer him that is double tongued: but he that is a priuy accuser of other men, shalbe hated, enuied, and confounded.
16 Do not rashly neither in great nor small.
1 Be not of a friende an enemie, for such a man getteth an euyll name, shame, and rebuke: and whosoeuer beareth enuie & a double tongue, offendeth.
2 Be not proude in the deuice of thine owne vnderstanding, lest thy soule rent thee as a bull,
3 And lest thy leaues wyther, and thy fruite be destroyed, and so thou be left as a drye tree in the wildernesse.
4 For a wicked soule destroyeth hym that hath it, maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemies, and bryngeth him to the portion of the vngodly.
5 A sweete worde multiplieth friendes, & pacifieth them that be at variaunce: and a thankfull tongue wyll be plenteous in a good man.
6 Holde friendship with many, neuerthelesse haue but one counsellour of a thousande.
7 If thou gettest a friende, proue him first, and be not hastye to geue him credence.
8 For some man is a friende but for his owne turne, and wyll not abyde in the day of trouble.
9 And there is some friend that turneth to enimitie, and taketh part agaynst thee: and if he knowe any hurt by thee, he telleth it out.
10 Agayne, some friende is but a companion at the table, and in the day of neede he continueth not.
11 But in thy prosperitie he wyll be as thou thy selfe, and deale playnly with thy housholde folke.
12 If thou be brought lowe he wyll be agaynst thee, and wyll be hidden from thy face.
13 Depart from thyne enemies, yea and beware of thy friendes.
14 A faythfull friende is a strong defence, who so findeth such one, fyndeth a treasure.
15 A faythfull friende hath no peare, the wayght of golde and siluer is not to be compared to the goodnesse of his fayth.
16 A faythfull friende is a medicine of lyfe and immortalitie, and they that feare the Lorde shall fynde hym.
17 Who so feareth the Lorde, shall prosper with friendes: and as he is hym selfe, so shall his friende be also.
18 My sonne receaue doctrine from thy youth vp, so shalt thou fynde wisdome tyll thou be olde.
19 Go to her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wayte patiently for her good fruites: For thou shalt haue but litle labour in her worke, but thou shalt eate of her fruites ryght soone.
20 O howe exceeding sharpe is wisdome to vnlearned men? an vnstedfast body wyll not remayne in her.
21 Unto such she is as it were a touchestone, and he casteth her from him in all the haste.
22 For wisdome is with him but in name, there be but fewe that haue knowledge of her.
23 But with them that knowe her, she abideth euen vnto the appearyng of God.
24 Geue eare my sonne, receaue my doctrine, and refuse not my counsayle.
25 Put thy foote into her lynckes, and take her yoke vpon thy necke.
26 Bowe downe thy shoulder vnder her, beare her patiently, and be not weery of her bandes.
27 Come vnto her with thy whole heart, and kepe her wayes with al thy power.
28 Seke after her, and she shalbe shewed thee: and when thou hast her, forsake her not.
29 For at the last thou shalt fynde rest in her, and that shalbe turned to thy great ioy.
30 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her yoke a glorious rayment.
31 For there is a golden ornament in her, & her bandes are laces of purple colour.
32 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crowne of ioy.
33 My sonne, yf thou wylt take heede, thou shalt haue vnderstandyng, and yf thou wylt apply thy mynde, thou shalt be wyse.
34 If thou wylt bowe downe thine eare, thou shalt receaue doctrine: and yf thou delyte in hearyng, thou shalt be wyse.
35 Stande with the multitude of such elders as haue vnderstandyng, and consent vnto their wisdome with thyne heart.
36 That thou mayest heare all godly sermons, and that the worthy sentences escape thee not.
37 And yf thou seest a man of discrete vnderstandyng, get thee soone vnto hym, & let thy foote treade vpon the steppes of his doores.
38 Let thy mynde be vpon the commaundementes of God, and be earnestlye occupied in his lawes: so shall he stablishe thy heart, and geue thee wisdome at thyne owne desire.
1 Do no euyl, so shal there no harme happen vnto thee.
2 Depart away from the thyng that is wicked, and no misfortune shall meddle with thee.
3 My sonne, sowe no euyll thynges in the sorowes of vnryghteousnes, so shalt thou not reape them seuen folde.
4 Labour not to the Lorde for preheminence, neither vnto the kyng for the seate of honour.
5 Iustifie not thy selfe before God, for he knoweth the heart: and desire not to be reputed wise in the presence of the kyng.
6 Make no labour to be made a iudge, except it so were that thou couldest mightily put downe wickednesse: for yf thou shouldest stande in awe of the presence of the mightie, thou shouldest fayle in geuyng sentence.
7 Offende not in the multitude of the citie, and put not thy selfe among the people.
8 Bynde not two sinnes together: for in one sinne shalt thou not be vnpunished.
9 Say not, tushe, God wyll loke vpon the multitude of my oblations, & when I offer to the hyest God he wyll accept it.
10 Be not faynt hearted when thou makest thy prayer, neither slacke in geuyng of almes.
11 Laugh no man to scorne in the heauinesse of his soule, for God (which seeth all thinges) is he that can bring downe, and set vp agayne.
12 Accept no leasyng agaynst thy brother, neither do the same agaynst thy friend.
13 Use not to make any maner of lye: for the custome therof is not good.
14 Make not many wordes when thou art among the elders: and when thou prayest, make not much babblyng.
15 Let no labourous workes be tedious vnto thee, neither the husbandry which the almightie hath created.
16 Make not thy boaste in the multitude of thy wickednesse: but humble thy selfe euen from thyne heart,
17 And remember that the wrath shal not be long in tarying, and that the vengeaunce of the fleshe of the vngodly is a very fire and worme.
18 Geue not ouer thy friend for any good, nor thy faythful brother for the best gold.
19 Depart not from a discrete & good woman that is fallen vnto thee for thy portion in the feare of the Lorde: for the gift of her honesty is aboue golde.
20 Where as thy seruaunt worketh truely, intreate hym not euyll, nor the hyreling that is faythfull vnto thee.
21 Loue a discrete seruaunt as thyne owne soule, defraude him not of his libertie, neither leaue him a poore man.
22 If thou haue cattell, loke wel to them: and if they be for thy profite, kepe them.
23 If thou haue sonnes bring them vp in nurture and learning, and hold them in awe from their youth vp.
24 If thou haue daughters kepe their body, and shewe not thy face chereful towarde them.
25 Mary thy daughter, and so shalt thou perfourme a wayghtie matter: but geue her to a man of vnderstanding.
26 If thou haue a wife after thyne owne mynde, forsake her not: but commit not thy selfe to the hatefull.
27 Honour thy father from thy whole heart: and forget not the sorowfull trauayle that thy mother had with thee.
28 Remember that thou wast borne thorow them, and howe canst thou recompence them the thinges that they haue done for thee?
29 Feare the Lord with al thy soule, and honour his ministers.
30 Loue thy maker with all thy strength, and forsake not his seruauntes.
31 Feare the Lord with all thy soule, & honour his priestes: geue them their portion of the first fruites and increase of the earth, like as it is commaunded thee: & reconcile thy selfe of thy negligence with the litle flocke, geue them the shoulders, and their appoynted offeringes & firstlinges.
32 Reache thyne hande vnto the poore, that God may blesse thee with plenteousnes.
33 Be liberall vnto all men liuyng: yet let not, but do good euen to them that are dead.
34 Let not them that weepe be without comfort, but mourne with such as mourne.
35 Let it not greeue thee to visite the sicke, for that shall make thee to be beloued.
36 Whatsoeuer thou takest in hande, remember the end, and thou shalt neuer do amisse.
1 Stryue not with a mightie man, lest thou chaunce to fall into his handes.
2 Make no variaunce with a riche man, lest he happen to bring vp an harde quarell against thee: For golde and siluer hath vndone many a man, yea euen the heartes of kinges hath it made to fall.
3 Stryue not with a man that is full of wordes, and lay no stickes vpon his fire.
4 Kepe no companie with the vnlearned, lest he geue thy kinred an euyll report.
5 Despise not a man that turneth hym selfe away from sinne, and cast him not in the teeth withall: but remember that we are frayle euerichone.
6 Thinke scorne of no man in his olde age, for we waxe olde also.
7 Be not glad of the death of thyne enemie: but remember that we must dye all the sort of vs, and fayne would we come into ioy.
8 Despise not the sermons of such elders as haue vnderstandyng, but acquaynt thy selfe with the wyse sentences of them: for of them thou shalt learne wisdome, & the doctrine of vnderstandyng, and howe to serue great men without complaynt.
9 Go not from the doctrine of the elders, for they haue learned it of their fathers: for of them thou shalt learne vnderstanding, so that thou mayest make aunswere in the time of neede.
10 Kindle not the coales of sinners when thou rebukest them, lest thou be brent in the fyrie flambes of their sinnes.
11 Resist not the face of the blasphemer, that they lay not wayte for thy mouth.
12 Lende not vnto hym that is mightier then thy selfe: yf thou lendest hym, count it but lost.
13 Be not suertie aboue thy power: if thou be, then thinke surely to paye it.
14 Go not to lawe with the iudge: for he will iudge according to his owne honour.
15 Trauayle not by the way with hym that his braynlesse, lest he do the euyll: for he foloweth his owne wilfulnesse, and so shalt thou perishe thorowe his follie.
16 Striue not with him that is angry and cruel, & go not with him into the wildernesse: for blood is nothing in his sight, and where there is no helpe he shall murther thee.
17 Take no counsel at fooles: for they can not kepe a thing close.
18 Do no secrete thing before a straunger, for thou canst not tell what will come of it.
19 Open not thine heart vnto euery man, lest he be vnthankefull to thee, and put thee to reprofe.
1 Be not ielous ouer the wife of thy bosome, that she shew not some shrewd poynt, lest thou teache her an euil lesson against thy selfe.
2 Geue not the power of thy lyfe vnto a woman, lest she come in thy strength, and so thou be confounded.
3 Loke not vpon a woman that is desyrous of many men, lest thou fall into her snares.
4 Use not the companie of a woman that is a player & a dauncer, & heare her not, lest thou perishe thorow her entising.
5 Behold not a mayden, that thou be not hurt in her beautie.
6 Cast not thy minde vpon harlots in any maner of thing, lest thou destroy both thy selfe and thyne heritage.
7 Go not about gasing in euery lane of the citie, neither wander thou abrode in the streetes therof.
8 Turne away thy face from a beautifull woman, and loke not vpon the fayrnesse of other: Many a man hath ben deceaued thorowe the beautie of women, for thorow it the desire is kindled as it were a fire.
9 An adulterous woman shalbe troden vnder foote as myre, of euery one that goeth by the way.
10 Many a man wondering at the beautie of a straunge woman, hath ben cast out: for her wordes kyndle as a fyre.
11 Sit not with an other mans wife by any meanes, lye not with her vpon the bed, make no wordes with her at the wine: lest thyne heart consent vnto her, and so thou with thy blood fall into destruction.
12 Forsake not an olde friende, for the new shall not be lyke him: A newe friende is newe wine, let hym be olde and thou shalt drinke hym with pleasure.
13 Desire not the honour and riches of a sinner: for thou knowest not what destruction is for to come vpon hym.
14 Delyte not thou in the thing that the vngodly haue pleasure in, beyng sure that the vngodly shall not be accepted vntill their graue.
15 Kepe thee from the man that hath power to slay, so needest thou not to be afrayde of death: And yf thou commest vnto hym, make no fault, lest he happen to take away thy lyfe: Remember that thou goest in the middest of snares, and vpon the bulworkes of thy citie.
16 Beware of thy neyghbour as nye as thou canst, and meddle with such as be wyse and haue vnderstanding.
17 Let iust men be thy gestes, let thy mirth be in the feare of God.
18 Let the remembraunce of God be in thy mynde, and let all thy talking be in the commaundementes of the hyghest.
19 In the handes of craftes men shall the workes be commaunded: so shall the princes of the people in the wysdome of their talking.
20 A man full of wordes is perilous in his citie: and he that is rashe in his talking, shalbe abhorred.
1 Twyse iudge will order his people with discretion: and where a man of vnderstanding beareth rule, there goeth it well.
2 As the iudge of the people is him selfe, euen so are his officers: and loke what maner of man the ruler of the citie is, such are they that dwell therin also.
3 An vnwyse king destroyeth his people: but where they that be in auctoritie are men of vnderstanding, there the citie prospereth.
4 The power of the earth is in the hande of God, and all iniquitie of the people is to be abhorred: and when his time is, he shall set a profitable ruler vpon it.
5 In the hande of God is the prosperitie of man, and vpon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
6 Be not angry for any wrong of thy neyghbour, and meddle thou with no vnrighteous workes.
7 Pryde is hatefull before God and man, and all wickednesse of the heathen is to be abhorred.
8 Because of vnrighteous dealing, wrong, blasphemies, and diuers disceytes, a realme shalbe translated from one people to another.
9 There is nothing worse then a couetous man: Why art thou proude O thou earth and asshes? There is not a more wicked thing then to loue money: and why? such one hath his soule to sel, yet is he but filthy doung while he lyueth.
10 All tyrannie is of smal enduraunce, and the disease that is harde to heale greeueth the phisition.
11 And though the phisition shew his helpe neuer so long, yet in conclusion it goeth after this maner, To day a king, to morowe dead.
12 For when a man dieth, he is the heyre of serpentes, beastes and wormes.
13 The beginning of mans pryde, is to fall away from God: and why? his heart is gone from his maker.
14 For pryde is the originall of all sinne: Who so taketh hold therof, shalbe filled with cursinges, and at the last it shall ouerthrowe hym: Therefore hath the Lorde brought the congregations of the wicked to dishonour, and destroyed them to the end.
15 God hath destroyed the seates of proude princes, and set vp the meeke in their steade.
16 God hath wythered the rootes of the proude heathen, and planted the lowely for them.
17 God hath ouerthrowen the landes of the heathen, & destroyed them vnto the grounde: He hath caused them to wither away, he hath brought them to naught, & made the memoriall of them to ceasse from out of the earth.
18 God hath destroyed the name of the proude, and left the name of the humble of mynde.
19 Pryde was not made for man, neither wrothfulnesse for mens children.
20 The seede of men that feareth God shalbe brought to honour: but the seede whiche transgresseth the commaundementes of the Lorde shalbe shamed.
21 He that is the ruler among brethren, is holden in honour among them: and he that regardeth such as feare the Lorde, is acceptable in his sight.
22 The feare of the Lord causeth that the kingdome faileth not: but the kingdome is lost by crueltie and pryde.
23 The glorie of the riche, of the honorable, and of the poore, is the feare of God.
24 Despyse not thou the iust poore man that hath vnderstanding, and magnifie not the riche vngodly.
25 Great is the iudge and mightie in honour, yet is there none greater then he that feareth God.
26 Unto the seruaunt that is discrete, shal the free do seruice: He that is wyse and well nurtured will not grudge when he is refourmed, and an ignoraunt body shall not come to honour.
27 Be not proude to do thy worke, and dispayre not in the time of aduersitie.
28 Better is he that laboureth and hath plenteousnes of al thinges, then he that is gorgious, and wanteth bread.
29 My sonne, get thy soule honour by mekenesse, & geue her her due honour.
30 Who shall iustifie him that sinneth against him selfe? Who will honour hym that dishonoureth his owne soule?
31 The poore is honoured for his fayhtfulnesse and trueth: but the riche is had in reputation because of his goodes.
32 He that ordereth hym selfe honestly in pouertie, howe much more shal he behaue hym selfe honestly in riches? And who so ordreth hym selfe vnhonestly in riches, how much more shall he behaue him selfe vnhonestly in pouertie?
1 The wysdome of hym that is brought lowe shall lift vp his head, and shall make hym to sit among great men.
2 Commende not thou a man in his beautie, neither despise a man in his vtter appeeraunce.
3 The Bee is but a smal beast among the foules, yet is her fruite exceeding sweet.
4 Be not proude of thy rayment, & exalt not thy selfe in the day of thy honour: for the workes of the hiest onely are wonderfull: yea glorious, secrete, and vnknowen are his workes.
5 Many tyrauntes haue ben fayne to sit downe vpon the earth, and the vnlikely hath worne the crowne.
6 Many mightie men haue ben brought low, & the honorable haue ben deliuered into other mens handes.
7 Condemne no man before thou haue tryed out the matter: and when thou hast made inquisition, then refourme righteously.
8 Geue no sentence before thou hast hearde the cause: but first let men tel out their tales.
9 Stryue not for a matter that toucheth not thy selfe, and stande not in the iudgement of sinners.
10 My sonne, meddle not with many matters: and if thou gaine much thou shalt not be blamelesse, & if thou folow after it thou shalt not attayne it: and though thou runnest thy way afore, yet shalt thou not escape.
11 There is some man that laboureth and taketh payne, and the more he weerieth him selfe, the lesse he hath.
12 Againe, some man is slouthfull, hath neede of helpe, wanteth strength, and hath great pouertie:
13 And gods eye loketh vpon him to good, setteth him vp from his lowe state, and lifteth vp his head: so that many men maruel at hym, and geue honour vnto God.
14 Prosperitie and aduersitie, lyfe and death, pouertie and richesse, come all of the Lorde.
15 Wysedome, nurture, and knowledge of the lawe are with God, loue and the wayes of good are with him.
16 Errour and darkenesse are made for sinners, and they that exalt them selues in euyll, waxe olde in euyll.
17 The gift of God remayneth for the righteous: and his good will shall geue prosperitie for euer.
18 Some man is riche by his care and nigardship, and that is the portion of his rewarde:
19 In that he sayth, Now haue I gotten rest, and nowe will I eate and drinke of my goodes my selfe alone: and yet he considereth not that the time draweth nye, and death approcheth, that he must leaue all these thinges vnto other men, and dye him selfe.
20 Stand thou fast in thy couenaunt, and exercise thy selfe therin, and remayne in the worke vnto thy age.
21 Maruell not at the workes of sinners, but put thy trust in God and byde in thy labour: for it is but an easie thing in the sight of God to make a poore man riche, and that sodenly.
22 The blessing of God hasteth to the rewarde of the righteous, and maketh his fruites soone to florishe and prosper.
23 Say not, what helpeth it me? and what good thing shall I haue hereafter?
24 Againe, say not, I haue enough, how can I want?
25 When thou art in welfare, forget not aduersitie: and when it goeth not well with thee, haue a good hope that it shalbe better:
26 For it is but a small thing vnto God in the day of death to rewarde euery man according to his wayes.
27 The aduersitie of an houre maketh one to forget al pleasure: & when a man dieth, his workes are discouered.
28 Iudge no man blessed before his death: for a man shalbe knowen in his children.
29 Bring not euery man into thyne house: for the disceytfull layeth wayte diuersly, & are like stomackes that belche filthyly.
30 Like as a partrych in a maunde, so is the heart of the proude: and like as a spie that loketh vpon the fall of his neyghbour.
31 For he turneth good vnto euyll, and slaundreth the chosen.
32 Of one sparke is made a great fire, and of one disceytfull man is blood increased: and an vngodly man layeth wayte for blood.
33 Beware of the disceytfull, for he imagineth wicked thinges, to bring thee into a perpetuall shame.
34 If thou takest an aliaunt vnto thee, he shall destroy thee in vnquietnesse, and dryue thee from thyne owne wayes.
1 When thou wilt do good, knowe to whom thou doest it, and so shalt thou be greatly thanked for thy benefites.
2 Do good vnto the righteous, and thou shalt finde great reward, though not of him, yet [no doubt] the Lorde him selfe shall rewarde thee.
3 He standeth not in a good case that is alway occupied in euil, & geueth no almes: for the hyghest hateth the sinners, and hath mercie vpon them that shewe the workes of repentaunce.
4 Geue thou vnto such as feare God, and receaue not a sinner.
5 As for the vngodly and sinners, he shall recompence vengeaunce vnto them, and kepe them to the day of wrath.
6 Geue thou vnto the good, and receaue not the sinner, do well vnto hym that is lowly, but geue not to the vngodly: Let not the bread be geuen him, that he be not mightier then thy selfe therin: for so shalt thou receaue twyse as much euyll in all that good that thou doest vnto him.
7 And why? the highest hateth sinners, and shall reward vengeaunce to the vngodly.
8 In prosperitie a friende shalbe knowen, & in aduersitie an enemie shal not be hid.
9 For when a man is in wealth, it greeueth his enemies: but in heauinesse and trouble a mans very friend will depart from him.
10 Trust neuer thyne enemie: for like as an yron rusteth, so doth his wickednesse.
11 And though he make much crouching and kneeling, yet kepe well thy mind, & beware of him: and thou shalt be to him as he that wypeth a glasse, & thou shalt knowe that al his rust hath not ben wel wyped away.
12 Set him not by thee, neither let him sit at thy right hand: lest he turne him, get into thy place, take thy roome, and seke thy seate, and so thou at the last remember my wordes, and be pricked at my sayinges.
13 Binde not two sinnes together: for there shall not one be vnpunished.
14 Who wil haue pitie of the charmer that is stinged of the serpent, or of all such as come nye the beastes?
15 Euen so is it with him that kepeth companie with a wicked man, and lappeth him selfe in his sinnes.
16 For a season wil he bide with thee: but if thou stumble, he tarieth not.
17 An enemie is sweet in his lippes, he can make many wordes, and speake many good thinges: Yea he can wepe with his eyes, but in his heart he imagineth howe to throwe thee into the pit: and if he may fynde oportunitie, he will not be satisfied with blood.
18 If aduersitie come vpon thee, thou shalt find him there first, and though he pretende to do thee helpe, yet shal he vndermine thee.
19 He shall shake his head, and clap his handes ouer thee for very gladnesse: and whyle he maketh manywordes, he shall disguyse his countenaunce.
1 Who so toucheth pytch, shalbe defiled withall: and he that is familier with the proude, shall cloth him selfe with pryde.
2 He taketh a burthen vpon him that accompanieth a more honorable man then himselfe, therfore kepe no familiaritie with one that is richer then thy selfe: Howe agree the kettel and the pot together? for if the one be smitten against the other, it shalbe broken.
3 The riche dealeth vnrighteously, and threatneth withal: but the poore beyng oppressed and wrongfully dealt withall, suffereth scarcenesse, and geueth fayre wordes. If the riche haue done wrong, yet must he be entreated: but if the poore haue done it, he shall straight wayes be threatned.
4 If thou be for his profite, he vseth thee: but if thou haue nothing, he shal forsake thee.
5 As long as thou hast any thing of thyne owne, he shalbe a good felow with thee: yea he shall make thee a bare man, and not be sory for thee.
6 If he haue neede of thee, he shall defraude thee, and with a priuie mocke shall he put thee in an hope, & geue thee all good wordes, and say: What wantest thou?
7 Thus shal he shame thee in his meate, vntill he haue supt thee cleane vp twyse or thryse, & at the last shall he laugh thee to scorne: Afterwarde, when he seeth that thou hast nothing, he shall forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
8 Submit thy selfe vnto God, and wayte vpon his hande.
9 Beware that thou be not disceaued and brought downe in thy simplenesse: Be not to humble in thy wysedome, lest when thou art brought lowe thou be disceaued through foolishnesse.
10 If thou be called of a mightie man, absent thy selfe, so shall he call thee to him the more oft.
11 Preasse not thou vnto him, that thou be not shut out: but go not thou farre of, lest he forget thee.
12 Withdraw not thy selfe from his speach, but beleue not his many wordes: For with much communication shall he tempt thee, and with a priuie mocke shal he question with thee of thy secretes.
13 The vnmercifull mynde of his shall marke thy wordes, he shall not spare to do thee hurt, and to put thee in prison.
14 Beware and take good heede to thy selfe, for thou walkest in peryll of thy ouerthrowing: Now when thou hearest his wordes, make thee as though thou wast in a dreame, and wake vp.
15 Loue God all thy lyfe long, and call vpon him in thy neede.
16 Euery beast loueth his like: euen so let euery man loue his neyghbour.
17 All fleshe will resort to their like, and euery man wil kepe companie with such as he is him selfe.
18 But as the woolfe agreeth with the lambe: so doth the vngodly with the righteous.
19 What peace is there betweene Hyena and a dogge? Howe can the riche and the poore agree together?
20 The wilde asse is the lions pray in the wildernesse: euen so are poore men the meate of the riche.
21 Like as the proude may not away with lowlinesse: euen so doth the riche abhorre the poore.
22 If a riche man fal, his friendes set him vp againe: but when the poore falleth, his acquayntaunce forsake him.
23 If a riche man fall into an errour, he hath many helpers, he speaketh proude wordes, and yet men iustifie him: but if a poore man go wrong, he is punished, yea though he speake wysely, yet can it haue no place.
24 When the riche man speaketh, euery body holdeth his tongue, and loke what he sayth, they prayse it vnto the cloudes: But if the poore manspeake, they say, What felow in this? and if he do amisse, they shall destroy hym.
25 Riches are good vnto hym that hath no sinne in his conscience: and pouertie is a wicked thing in the mouth of the vngodly.
26 The heart of man chaungeth his countenaunce, whether it be in good or euyll.
27 A chearfull countenaunce is a token of a good heart: for els it is an harde thing to knowe the thought.
1 Blessed is the man that hath not fallen with the worde of his mouth, & is not pricked with the conscience of sinne.
2 Happy is he that hath no heauinesse in his minde, and is not fallen from his hope in the Lorde.
3 It becommeth not a couetous man and a nygarde to be riche: and what should an enuious man do with money?
4 He that with all his carefulnesse heapeth together vnrighteously, gathereth for other folkes, and another man shall make good cheare with his goodes.
5 He that is wicked vnto him selfe, howe should he be good vnto other men? how can such one haue any pleasure of his goodes.
6 There is nothing worse then when one disfauoureth him selfe: and this is a rewarde of his wickednesse.
7 If he do any good, he doth it not knowing therof and against his will, and at the last he declareth his vngraciousnesse.
8 A nygarde hath a wicked eye, he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.
9 A couetous mans eye hath neuer enough in the portion of wickednesse, vntill the time that he wyther away, and haue lost his owne soule.
10 A wicked eye enuieth bread, and there is scarcenesse vpon his table.
11 My sonne, do good to thy selfe of that thou hast, and geue the Lorde his due offeringes.
12 Remember that death tarieth not, and how that the graue is not shewed vnto thee: for the couenaunt of this world shall dye the death.
13 Do good vnto thy friende before thou dye, and according to thy abilitie reache out thyne hande & geue vnto the poore.
14 Be not disapoynted of the good day, and let not the portion of the good desire ouerpasse thee.
15 Shalt thou not leaue thy trauayles and labours vnto other men? In the deuiding of the heritage geue and take, and sanctifie thy soule.
16 Worke thou righteousnes before thy death: for in the hell there is no meate to finde.
17 All fleshe shall fade away lyke a garment, and lyke a florishing leafe in a greene tree.
18 Some growe, some are cast downe, euen so is the generation of fleshe and blood: one commeth to an ende, another is borne, and this is the condition of all times, thou shalt dye the death.
19 All transitorie thinges shal fayle at the last, & the worker therof shal go withal.
20 Euery chosen worke shalbe iustified, and he that medled withall shall haue honour therin.
21 Blessed is the man that kepeth hym in wysdome, and exerciseth him selfe in vnderstanding, and with discretion shall thinke vpon the sore knowledge of God,
22 Whiche considereth the wayes of wysdome in his heart, hath vnderstanding in her secretes,
23 Goeth after her as one that seketh her out, and continueth in her ways,
24 He loketh in at her windowes, & hearkeneth at her doores,
25 He taketh his rest beside her house, and fasteneth his stake in her walles: he shal pitche his tent nye vnto her hand, and in his tent shall good thinges rest for euermore.
26 He shal set his children vnder her couering, & shall dwell vnder her braunches.
27 Under her couering shall he be defended from her heate, and in the glorie shal he rest.
1 He that feareth God, wil do good: & who so kepeth the lawe, shall obtayne wysdome.
2 As an honorable mother shall she meete hym, and she as his wife maried of a virgin shal receaue him.
3 With the bread of lyfe and vnderstanding shal she feede him, & geue him the water of wholsome wisdome to drinke.
4 If he be constant in her, he shall not be moued, and if he holde him fast by her, he shall not come to confusion.
5 She shall bring him to honour among his neyghbours, and in the middest of the congregation shall she open his mouth: With the spirite of wysdome and vnderstanding shall she fyll him, and cloth him with the garment of glorie.
6 She shall heape the treasure of myrth and ioye vpon him, and geue him an euerlasting name to heritage.
7 Foolishe men will not take holde vpon her, but such as haue vnderstanding, will meete her: Foolishe men shall not see her, for she is farre from pryde and disceyte.
8 Men that go about with lyes, will not remember her: but men of trueth shalbe founde in her, and shall prosper euen vnto the beholding of God.
9 Prayse is not seemely in the mouth of the vngodly, for he is not sent of the Lorde.
10 But if prayse come of wysdome and be plenteous in a faythfull mouth, then the Lorde will prosper it.
11 Say not thou, it is the Lordes fault that I am gone by: for thou shalt not do the thing that God hateth.
12 Say not thou, he hath caused me to do wrong: for he hath no neede of the vngodly.
13 God hateth al abhomination of errour, and they that feare God will loue none such.
14 God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hande of his counsell: He gaue his commaundementes and preceptes.
15 If thou wilt obserue the commaundementes and kepe acceptable faythfulnesse for euer, they shall preserue thee.
16 He hath set water and fyre before thee, reache out thine hande vnto which thou wilt.
17 Before man is lyfe and death, good and euyll: loke what him lyketh, shalbe geuen him.
18 For the wysdome of God is great and mightie in power, and beholdeth all thinges continually:
19 The eyes of the Lorde are vpon them that feare him, and he knoweth all the workes of man.
20 He hath commaunded no man to do vngodly, neither hath he geuen any man licence to sinne: for he desireth not a multitude of infidels and vnprofitable children.
1 Delite not thou in the multitude of vngodly children, and haue no pleasure in them if they feare not God.
2 Trust not thou to their lyfe, and regarde not their labours.
3 For one sonne that feareth God, is better then a thousand vngodly: And better it is for a man to dye without children, then to leaue beynde hym such children as are vngodly.
4 For by one that hath vnderstanding, may a whole citie be vpholden: but though the vngodly be many, yet shal it be wasted through them.
5 Many such thinges hath mine eye seene, and greater thinges then these haue I heard with myne eares.
6 In the congregation of the vngodly shal a fire burne, and among vnfaythful people shall the wrath be kindled.
7 The olde giauntes optayned no grace for their sinnes, whiche were destroyed trusting to their owne strength:
8 Neither spared he them among who Lot was a straunger: but smote them, and abhorred them because of the pride of their wordes.
9 He had no pitie vpon them: but destroyed all the people that were so stout in sinne.
10 And forsomuch as he ouersawe the sixe hundred thousand that gathered them selues together in the hardnesse of their heart, in afflicting them, in pitiing them, in smiting them, and healing them with mercie and chastisement: it were maruell if one being hardnecked should be free:
11 For mercy & wrath is with him, he is both mightie to forgeue, and to powre out displeasure.
12 Lyke as his mercy is great, euen so is his punishement also: he iudgeth a man according to his workes.
13 The vngodly shall not escape in his spoyle, & the long pacience of him that sheweth mercie, shall not byde behinde.
14 He wyll make a place for euery mercifull deede, and euery man shall finde according to his workes.
15 The Lorde hardened Pharao that he should not know him, and that his workes might be knowen vpon the earth vnder the heauen.
16 His mercie is knowen to all creatures, he hath seperated his light from the darkenesse with an adamant.
17 Say not thou, I wyll hide my selfe from God: for who wyll thinke vpon me from aboue? I shall not be knowen in so great an heape of people: for what is my soule among so many creatures?
18 Beholde, the heauen, yea the heauen of heauens of God, the deepe, the earth, and all that therein is, shalbe moued at his presence.
19 The mountaynes, the hilles, and the foundations of the earth shall shake for feare, when God visiteth them.
20 These thinges doth no heart vnderstand worthyly: but he vnderstandeth euery heart.
21 And who vnderstandeth his wayes? No man seeth his stormes, and the most part of his workes are secrete.
22 Who wyll declare the workes of his righteousnesse? or who shalbe able to abide them? For the couenaunt is farre from some, and trying out of men is in the ende.
23 He that is humble of heart, thinketh vpon such thinges: but an vnwyse and erronious man casteth his minde vnto foolishe thinges.
24 My sonne, hearken thou vnto me, and learne vnderstanding, and marke my wordes with thyne heart: I wyll geue thee a sure doctrine, and plainely shall I instruct thee.
25 Marke my wordes then in thyne heart: for in righteousnesse of the spirite do I speake of the wonders that God hath shewed among his workes from the beginning, & in the trueth do I shew the knowledge of him.
26 God hath set his workes in good order from the beginning, & part of them hath he sundred from the other.
27 He hath garnished his workes from euerlasting, and their beginninges according to their generations: they are not hungrie nor weeried in their labours, nor ceasse from their offices.
28 None of them hindred another, neitheir was any of them disobedient vnto his wordes.
29 After this God loked vpon the earth, and filled it with his goodnesse.
30 With all maner of liuing beastes hath he couered the grounde, and they all shalbe turned vnto earth againe.
1 God shaped man of the earth, & made him after his owne image, and turned him vnto earth againe, and cloathed him with his owne strength.
2 He gaue him the number of dayes and certaine time, yea and gaue him power of the thinges that are vpon earth.
3 He made all fleshe to stand in awe of him, so that he had the dominion of all beastes and foules.
4 He made out of him an helper lyke vnto him selfe, & gaue them discretion and tongue, eyes, and eares, and a heart to vnderstande:
5 He gaue them a spirite and a speache to declare his workes, & filled them with instruction and vnderstanding.
6 He created for them also the knowledge of the spirite, filled their heartes with vnderstanding, and shewed them good and euill.
7 He set his eye vpon their heartes, declaring vnto them his great and noble workes:
8 That they should prayse his holy name together, reioyce of his wonders, and be telling of his noble actes.
9 Beside this, he gaue them instruction, and the lawe of life for an heritage, that they might now know that they were mortall.
10 He made an euerlasting couenaunt with them, and shewed them his righteousnesse and iudgementes.
11 They sawe the maiestie of his glorie with their eyes, and their eares heard the maiestie of his voyce, and he saide vnto them: beware of all vnrighteous thinges.
12 He gaue euery man also a comaundement concerning his neighbour.
13 Their wayes are euer before him, and are not hid from his eyes.
14 Euery man from his youth is geuen to euill, and their stony heartes can not become fleshe.
15 He hath set a ruler vpon euery people, but Israel is the Lordes portion:
16 Whom he nourisheth with discipline as his first borne, and geueth him most louing light, and doth not forsake him.
17 All their workes are as the sunne, in the sight of God, & his eyes are alway looking vpon their wayes.
18 All their vnrighteousnesses are manifest vnto him, and al their wickednesses are open in his sight.
19 And as he is mercifull and knoweth his worke, he doth not leaue them nor forsake them, but spareth them.
20 The mercie that a man sheweth is as a seale with him, and the grace that is geuen to man preserueth him as the apple of an eye, and geueth repentaunce to their sonnes and daughters.
21 At the last shall he awake, and reward euery man vpon his head, & shall turne them together into the neathermost partes of the earth.
22 But vnto them that wyll repent he hath geuen the way of righteousnesse: As for such as be weake, he comforteth them, suffereth them, and sendeth them the portion of the veritie.
23 O turne then vnto the Lorde, forsake thy sinnes, make thy prayer before the Lorde, do the lesse offence.
24 Turne againe vnto the Lorde, for he wyll bring thee from darkenesse vnto holsome light, forsake thyne vnrighteousnesse, be an vtter enemie to abhomination,
25 Learne to know the righteousnesse and iudgementes of God, stand in the portion that is set foorth for thee, and in the prayer of the most hye God.
26 Go in the portion of the holy worlde with such as be lyuing, & geue thankes vnto God.
27 Who wil prayse the Lorde in the hel? abide not thou in ye errour of the vngodlie, but geue him thankes before death.
28 As for the dead, thankfulnes perisheth from him as nothing: Geue thou thankes in thy lyfe, yea whyle thou art lyuing and whole shalt thou geue thankes, and prayse God, and reioyce in his mercie.
29 O how great is the louing kindnesse of the Lorde, and his mercifull goodnes vnto such as turne vnto him?
30 For all thinges may not be in man, and why? the sonne of man is not immortal, and he hath pleasure in the vanitie of wickednesse.
31 What is more cleare then the sonne: yet shall it fayle.
32 Or what is more wicked then the thyng that fleshe and blood hath imagined? and that same shalbe reproued.
33 The Lorde seeth the power of the hye heauen, and al are but earth and asshes.
1 He that lyueth for euermore, made al thinges together: God onely is righteous, and there is none other but he, and remaineth a victorious king for euer.
2 He ordereth the worlde with the power of his hande, and all thinges obey his wyl: for he gouerneth all thinges by his power, and deuideth the holy thinges from the prophane.
3 Who shalbe able to expresse the workes of him? who wyll seeke out the grounde of his noble actes?
4 Who shall declare the power of his greatnesse? or who wyll take vpon him to tell out his mercie?
5 As for the wonderous workes of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, nothing may be put vnto them, neither may the grounde of them be founde out.
6 But when a man hath done his best, he must beginne againe: and when he thinketh to be come to an ende, he must go againe to his labour.
7 What is man? whereto is he worth? what good or euill can he do?
8 If the number of a mans dayes be almost an hundred yeres, it is much: and no man hath certaine knowledge of his death.
9 Lyke as the droppes of rayne are vnto the sea, and as a grauell stone is in comparison of the sande: so are these fewe yeres to the dayes of euerlasting.
10 Therefore is the Lorde pacient with them, and powreth out his mercie vpon them.
11 He sawe and perceaued the thoughtes and imaginations of their heart that they were euill, therefore heaped he vp his mercifull goodnesse vpon them, and shewed them the way of righteousnes.
12 The mercie that a man hath reacheth to his neighbour, but the mercie of god is vpon all fleshe: He chasteneth, he teacheth and nurtureth: yea euen as a sheephearde turneth againe his flocke, so doth he all them that receaue chastening, nurture, and doctrine.
13 Mercyfull is he vnto them that diligently seeke after his iudgementes.
14 My sonne, when thou doest good, make no grudging at it: and whatsoeuer thou geuest, speake no discomfortable wordes.
15 Shall not the deawe coole the heate? euen so is a worde better then a gift.
16 Is not a friendly worde a good honest gifte? but a gratious man geueth them both.
17 A foole shall cast a man in the teeth and that roughly: and a gift of the nigarde putteth out the eyes.
18 Get thee righteousnes before thou come to iudgement, learne before thou speake, and go to phisicke or euer thou be sicke.
19 Examine and iudge thy selfe before the iudgement come, and so shalt thou finde grace in the sight of God.
20 Humble thy selfe afore thou be sicke: and whilest thou mayst sinne, shew thy conuersation.
21 Be not let to pay thy vowe in good time, and tary not to be iustified vnto thy death: for the rewarde of God endureth for euer.
22 Before thou prayest, prepare thy soule, and be not as one that tempteth God.
23 Thinke vpon the wrathfull indignation that shalbe at the ende, and the houre of vengeauce when he shall turne away his face.
24 When thou hast inough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, thinke vpon the time of pouertie and scarsenesse.
25 From the morning vntyl the euening the time is chaunged, & all such thinges are soone done in the sight of God.
26 A wyse man feareth God in al thinges, and in the dayes of transgression he kepeth him selfe from sinne: but the foole doth not obserue the time.
27 A discreete man hath pleasure in wysdome, and he that findeth her, maketh much of her.
28 They that haue had vnderstanding haue dealt wysely in wordes, haue vnderstand the trueth and righteousnesse, and haue sought out wyse sentences and iudgementes.
29 The chiefe aucthoritie of speaking, is of the Lorde alone: for a mortall man hath but a dead heart.
30 Folowe not thy lustes, but turne thee from thyne owne wyll.
31 For if thou geuest thy soule her desires, it shall make thyne enemies to laugh thee to scorne.
32 Take not thy pleasure in great voluptuousnesse, and meddle not to much withall.
33 Make not to great cheare of the thing that thou hast wonne by aduauntage, lest thou fall into pouertie and haue nothing in thy purse, els thou shouldest sclaunderously lye in wayte for thyne owne lyfe.
1 A labouring man that is geuen vnto drunckennes, shall not be rich: and he that maketh not much of small thinges, shall fall by litle and litle.
2 Wine and women make wyse men runagates, and put men of vnderstanding to reproofe:
3 And he that companieth adulterers, shal become an impudent man: mothes and wormes shal haue him to heritage, yea he shal be set vp to a great example, and his soule shalbe rooted out of the number.
4 He that is hastie to geue credence, is light minded, & doth against him selfe.
5 Who so reioyceth in wickednesse, shalbe punished: but he that resisteth pleasures, crowneth his owne soule: he that refraineth his tongue, may lyue with a troublesome man: he that hateth to be refourmed, his lyfe shalbe shortened: & he that abhorreth babling of wordes, quencheth wickednesse.
6 He that offendeth against his owne soule, shall repent it: and he that reioyceth in wickednes, shalbe punished.
7 Rehearse not a wicked and churlishe worde twyse, and thou shalt not be hindered.
8 Shewe thy secretes neither to friende nor foe: and if thou hast offended, tell it not out.
9 For he shall hearken vnto thee, and marke thee: and when he findeth oportunitie, he shall hate thee, and so shall he be alway about thee.
10 If thou hast heard a worde against thy neighbour, let it be dead within thee: and be sure thou shalt haue no harme thereby.
11 A foole trauayleth with a worde, lyke as a woman that is payned with bearing of a childe.
12 Lyke as an arrowe shotte in a thigh of flesshe, so is a worde in a fooles heart.
13 Tell thy friende his fault, lest he be ignoraunt, and say, I haue not done it: or if he haue spoken, that he do it no more.
14 Reproue thy neighbour, that he keepe his tongue: and if he haue spoken, that he say it no more.
15 Tell thy neighbour his fault, for oft times an offence is made: and geue not credence to euery worde.
16 A man falleth sometime with his tongue, but not with his wil: for what is he that hath not offended in his tongue?
17 Geue thy neighbour warning before thou threaten him: and geue place vnto the lawe of the Lorde.
18 The feare of the Lorde is the first degree to be receaued of him: & wysdome obtayneth his loue.
19 The knowledge of the commaundementes of the Lorde, is the doctrine of lyfe: and they that obey him, shall receaue the fruite of immortalitie.
20 The feare of God is all wysdome: and he that is a righteous man keepeth the lawe.
21 If a seruaunt say vnto his maister, I wyll not do as it pleaseth thee: though afterwarde he do it, he shall displease him that nourisheth him.
22 As for the doctrine of wickednes, it is no wysdome, & the prudence of sinners is no good vnderstanding: it is but wickednes, and abhomination, and a blaspheming of wysdome.
23 A simple man of small vnderstanding that feareth God, is better the one that hath much wysdome, and transgresseth the lawe of the highest.
24 A craftie suttle man can be wyse, but he is vnrighteous, and with giftes he wrasteth the open and manifest lawe: againe, there is that is wise and iudgeth righteously.
25 A wicked man can behaue him selfe humbly, and can ducke with his head, and yet is he but a deceauer within: He hydeth his face, and disguiseth it, and because he shoulde not be knowen, he preuenteth thee.
26 And though he be so weake that he can do thee no harme, yet when he may finde oportunitie, he shall do some euill.
27 A man may be knowen by his face, and one that hath vnderstanding may be perceaued by the looke of his countenaunce.
28 A mans garment, laughter, and going, declare what he is.
1 Some man reproueth his neighbour oft times, but not in due season: Againe, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wyse and discreete.
2 It is much better to geue warning and to reproue, then to beare euill wyll: for he that knowledgeth him selfe openly, shalbe preserued from hurt and destruction.
3 Lyke as when a gelded man through desire and lust defileth a mayden: euen so is it with him that vseth violence and vnrighteousnesse in the lawe.
4 O how good a thing is it, a man that is reproued to shewe openly his repentaunce: for so shalt thou escape wylfull sinne.
5 Some man keepeth scilence and is founde wyse: but he that is not ashamed what he saith, is hatefull.
6 Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not vnderstanding of the language: and some man keepeth scilence, wayting a conuenient time.
7 A wyse man wyll holde his tongue tyll he see oportunitie: but a wanton and vndiscreete body shall regarde no time.
8 He that vseth many wordes, shal hurt his owne soule: and he that taketh aucthoritie vpon him vnrighteously, shalbe hated.
9 Some man hath oft times prosperitie in wicked thinges: Againe, some man getteth much, and hath harme & losse.
10 There is some gift that is nothing worth: Againe, there is some gift whose rewarde is double.
11 There is an humilitie for glories sake, and some commeth to worship from lowe estate.
12 Some man dyeth much for a litle price, and must pay for it seuen folde.
13 A wyse man with his wordes maketh him selfe to be beloued: but the merie tales of fooles shalbe powred out.
14 The gift of the vnwyse shall do thee no good, nor yet of the enuious, for his importunitie is seuen folde: for he loketh to receaue many thinges for one.
15 He shall geue litle, & say he gaue much: he openeth his mouth and cryeth out, as it were one that cryed out wide.
16 To day he lendeth, to morowe asketh he againe: and such a man is to be hated of God and man.
17 The foole saith, I haue no freend, I haue no thanke for all my good deedes: yea euen they that eate my bread speake no good of me: O how oft and of how many shal he be laughed to scorne?
18 He taketh a more perilous fall by such wordes, then if he fel vpon the grounde: euen so shal the fall of wicked men come hastyly.
19 In the mouth of him that is vntaught, are many vnconuenient and vnmeete wordes.
20 A wyse sentence shall not be alowed at the mouth of the foole: for he speaketh it not in due season.
21 Some man sinneth not, because he hath not wherewithall, and in his rest he shalbe stinged.
22 Some man there is that destroyeth his owne soule with shame, and for an vnwyse bodyes sake destroyeth he it, and with accepting of persons shall he vndoe him selfe.
23 Some man promyseth his friende a gift for very shame: and getteth an enemie of him for nought.
24 A lye is a wicked shame in a man: yet shall it be euer in the mouth of the vnwyse.
25 A theefe is better then a man that is accustomed to lye: but they both shall haue destruction to heritage.
26 The conditions of lyers are vnhonest: and their shame is euer with them.
27 A wyse man shall bring him selfe to honour with his wordes: and he that hath vnderstanding shalbe set by among great men.
28 He that tylleth his lande, shall encrease his heape of corne: he that worketh righteousnesse shalbe exalted, and he that pleaseth great men, shall escape much euill.
29 Rewardes and giftes blinde the eyes of the wyse, and make him dumbe that he can not tell men their faultes.
30 Wysdome that is hid, and treasure that is hoorded vp, what profite is in them both?
31 Better is he that kepeth his ignorauce secrete, then a man that hideth his wysdome.
32 The necessarie patience of him that foloweth the Lorde, is better then he that gouerneth his lyfe without the Lorde.
1 My sonne, if thou hast sinned, do it no more: but pray for thy foresinnes that they may be forgeuen thee.
2 Flee from sinne, euen as from a serpent: for if thou comest to nye her, she wyll bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, to slay the soules of men.
3 The wickednesse of man is as a sharpe two edged sword, which maketh such woundes that they cannot be healed.
4 Strife and wrongfull dealing, shall waste away a mans goodes, & through pride a riche house shalbe brought to naught: so the riches of the proude shalbe rooted out.
5 The prayer of the poore goeth out of the mouth, & commeth vnto the eares, and his vengeaunce [or defence] shall come hastyly.
6 Who so hateth to be refourmed, it is a toke of an vngodly person: but he that feareth God, wyll remember him selfe.
7 A mightie man is knowen a farre of by his tongue: but he that hath vnderstanding, perceaueth that he shall haue a fall.
8 Who so buildeth his house with other mens cost, is lyke one that gathereth stones to make his graue.
9 The congregation of the vngodly, is lyke stubble gathered together, their ende is a flambe of fire.
10 The way of the vngodly is set with stones: but in their ende is hell, darkenesse, and paines.
11 He that kepeth the lawe, wyll holde fast the vnderstanding thereof: and the ende of the feare of God is wysdome and vnderstanding.
12 He that is not wyse, wyl not be taught in good, but the vnwyse man aboundeth in wickednesse: and where bitternesse is, there is no vnderstanding.
13 The knowledge of the wyse shal flowe lyke water that runneth ouer, and his counsaile is lyke a pure fountaine of life.
14 The heart of a foole is lyke a broken vessel, he can keepe no wysdome.
15 When a man of vnderstanding heareth a wyse worde, he shall commend it and make much of it: but if a voluptuous man heare it, he shall haue no pleasure therein, but cast it behinde his backe.
16 The talking of a foole is lyke an heauy burthen by the way: but to heare a wise man speake, it is pleasure.
17 Where a doubt is in the congregation, it is asked at the mouth of the wyse, and they shall ponder his wordes in their heartes.
18 Lyke as is a house that is destroyed, euen so is wysdome vnto a foole: as for the knowledge of the vnwyse, it is but darke wordes.
19 Doctrine is vnto him that hath no vnderstanding, euen as fetters about his feete, and lyke manicles vpon his right hande.
20 A foole lifteth vp his voyce with laughter: but a wyse man shall sease laugh secretly.
21 Learning is vnto a wyse man a iewell of golde, and lyke an armlet vpon his right arme.
22 A foolishe mans foote is soone in his neighbours house: but one that hath experience shalbe ashamed at the person of the mightie.
23 A foole wyll peepe in at the windowe into the house: but he that is wel nurtured wyll stande without.
24 A foolishe man standeth hearkening at the doore: but he that is wyse wyll be ashamed.
25 The lippes of the vnwyse wyl be telling foolishe thinges: but the wordes of such as haue vnderstanding shalbe wayed in the balaunce.
26 The heart of fooles is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wyse is in their heart.
27 When the vngodly curseth the blasmer, he curseth his owne soule.
28 A priuie accuser of other men shall defile his owne soule, and be hated of euery man: but he that keepeth his tongue and is discreete, shal come to honour.
1 A slouthfull bodye is moulded of a stone of claye, and euery man wyll speake to his disprayse.
2 A slouthfull body is made of the doung of oxen, and euery one that toucheth him must wasshe his handes againe.
3 A misnurtured sonne, is the dishonour of the father: a foolishe daughter shalbe litle regarded.
4 A wyse daughter is an heritage vnto her husband: but she that cometh to dishonestie, bringeth her father in heauinesse.
5 A daughter that is past shame, dishonoureth both her father and her husband: the vngodly shall regarde her, but they both shall despise her.
6 A tale out of time, is as musicke in mourning: but wysdome knoweth the seasons of correction and doctrine.
7 If children lyue honestly and haue wherewithall, they shall put away the shame of their parentes:
8 But if children be proude with hautines and foolishnes, they blot out the nobilitie of their kinred.
9 Who so teacheth a foole, is euen as one that gleweth a potsharde together, as one that telleth a tale to him that heareth him not, and as one that rayseth a man out of an heauy sleepe.
10 Who so telleth a foole of wysdome, is euen as a man which speaketh to one that is a sleepe: when he hath tolde his tale, he saith, What is the matter?
11 When one dyeth, lamentation is made for him, because the light fayleth him: euen so, let men mourne ouer a foole, for he wanteth vnderstanding. Make but litle weeping because of the dead, for he is come to rest: but the lyfe of the foole is worse then the death.
12 Seuen dayes do men mourne for him that is dead: but the lamentation ouer the vnwyse and vngodly should endure all the dayes of their lyfe.
13 Talke not much with a foole, and go not with him that hath no vnderstanding: beware of him, lest it turne thee to trauaile, and thou shalt not be defiled with his sinne. Depart from him, and thou shalt finde rest, and shalt not be drawen backe into his foolishnes.
14 What is heauier then leade? and what shoulde a foole be called els but leade?
15 Sande, salte, and a lumpe of iron is easier to beare, then an vnwyse, foolishe, and vngodly man.
16 Lyke as the bande of wood bounde together in the foundation of the house can not be loosed: euen so is it with the heart that is stablished in the thought of counsell. The thought of the wyse shall neuer feare, nor be offended at any time.
17 Lyke as a faire plastered wall in a winter house and a hye building may not abide the winde and storme: euen so is a fooles heart afraide in his imagination, he feareth at euery thing, and can not endure.
18 A wauering heart in the imagination of a foole wyll not euer stande in awe: but he that abideth in the commaundementes of God, wyll alway feare.
19 He that nippeth a mans eye, bringeth foorth teares: and he that pricketh the heart, bringeth foorth the meaning and thought.
20 Who so casteth a stone at the birdes, frayeth them away: and he that blasphemeth his freend, breaketh frendship.
21 Though thou drewest a sworde at thy freend, yet dispaire not: for thou mayst come againe to thy freend.
22 If he speake sourely, feare not: for ye may be agreed together againe, except it be that thou blaspheme him, disdayne him, open his secretes, and wounde him trayterouslie: for all such thinges shall dryue away a freend.
23 Be faithfull vnto thy neighbour in his pouertie, that thou mayst reioyce with him also in his prosperitie: abyde stedfast vnto him in the time of his trouble, that thou maist be heyre with him in his heritage: for pouertie is not alwayes to be contempned, nor the riche that is foolish to be had in estimation.
24 Lyke as the vapour and smoke goeth out at the ouen before the fire: euen so euill wordes, rebukes, and threatninges go before bloodshedding.
25 Be not ashamed to defende thy freend, as for me I wyll not hide my face from him though he should do me harme: whosoeuer heareth it, shall beware of him.
26 Who shal set a watch before my mouth, and a sure seale vpon my lippes, that I fall not with them, and that my tongue destroy me not?
1 O Lorde, father and gouernour of my lyfe, leaue me not in their imagination and counsell: Oh let me not fall in such reproofe.
2 Who wyll keepe my thought with the scourge, and the doctrine of wysdome in myne heart? that he spare not myne ignoraunce, that I fall not with them:
3 Lest myne ignoraunces increase, that myne offences be not many in number, and that my sinnes exceede not: lest I fall before myne enemies, and so my aduersarie reioyce, whose hope is farre fro thy mercie.
4 O Lorde thou father and God of my lyfe, leaue me not in their imagination: O let me not haue a proude looke, but turne away all voluptuousnesse fro me.
5 Take from me the lustes of the body, let not the desires of vnclennesse take holde vpon me,
6 And geue me not ouer into an vnshamefast and obstinate minde.
7 Heare me O ye children, I wyll geue you a doctrine how ye shall order your mouth: whoso kepeth it shal not perishe through his lippes, nor be hurt through wicked workes.
8 As for the sinner, he shalbe taken in his owne vanitie: he that is proude and cursed, shall fall therein.
9 Let not thy mouth be accustomed with swearing, for in it there are many fals: let not the naming of God be continually in thy mouth, and meddle not with the names of sainctes, for thou shalt not be excused of them.
10 For lyke as a seruaunt which is oft punished, can not be without some sore: euen so whatsoeuer he be that sweareth and nameth God, shall not be cleane purged from sinne.
11 A man that vseth much swearing shal be filled with wickednesse, & the plague shall neuer go from his house: if he beguile his brother, his fault shalbe vpon him, if he knowledge not his sinne, he maketh a double offence, & if he sweare in vaine, he shall not be founde righteous: for his house shalbe full of plagues.
12 The wordes of the swearer bringeth death, God graunt that it be not founde in the house of Iacob: but they that feare God eschue all such, and lye not weltering in sinne.
13 Use not thy mouth to vnhonest & filthy talking, for in it is the word of sinne.
14 Remember thy father and thy mother when thou art set among great men: lest God forget thee in their sight, and lest thou doting in thy custome, suffer rebuke, and wishe not to haue ben borne, and so curse the day of thy natiuitie.
15 The man that is accustomed with the wordes of blasphemie, will neuer be refourmed all the dayes of his lyfe.
16 To sinne twise is to much, but the third bringeth wrath and destruction: An hot stomacke can not be quenched (euen like a burning fire) til it haue swalowed vp some thing: euen so an vnchaste man hath no rest in his fleshe, till he haue kindled a fire.
17 All bread is sweete to an whoremonger, he will not leaue of till he dye.
18 A man that breaketh wedlocke, and regardeth not his soule, but sayth, Tushe who seeth me? I am compassed about with darkenesse, the walles couer me, no body seeth me, whom neede I to feare? the hyghest will not remember my sinnes:
19 He vnderstandeth not that his eyes see all thinges, for all such feare of men dryueth away the feare of God from hym: for he feareth onely the eyes of men, and considereth not that the eyes of the Lord are clearer then the sunne, beholding all the wayes of men, & the ground of the deepe, and loking euen to mens heartes in secrete places.
20 The Lorde God knewe all thinges or euer they were made, and after they be brought to passe also he loketh vpon them all.
21 The same man shalbe openly punished in the streetes of the citie, & shalbe chased abrode lyke a young horse foale: and when he thinketh least vpon it, he shalbe taken.
22 Thus shall he be put to shame of euery man, because he woulde not vnderstand the feare of the Lorde: And thus shal it go also with euery wyfe that leaueth her husbande, and getteth inheritaunce by a straunge mariage.
23 First, she hath ben vnfaythful vnto the lawe of the hyghest: secondly, she hath forsaken her owne husbande: thyrdly, she hath played the whore in adultrie, & gotten her children by an other man.
24 She shalbe brought out of the congregation, and her children shalke loked vpon.
25 Her children shal not take roote: and as for fruite her braunches shall bring foorth none.
26 A shamefull report shall she leaue behinde her, and her dishonour shall not be put out.
27 And they that remayne, shall knowe that there is nothing better then the feare of God, and that there is nothing sweeter then to take heed vnto the commaundementes of the Lorde.
28 A great worship is it to folow the Lord: for long lyfe shalbe receaued of hym.
1 Wysdome shall prayse her selfe, and be honoured in God, & reioyce in the middest of the people:
2 In the congregations of the hyghest shall she open her mouth, and triumph in the beholding of his power.
3 In the middest of her people shall she be exalted, and wondred at in the holy fulnesse.
4 In the multitude of the chosen she shalbe commended, and among such as be blessed she shalbe praysed, and shal say,
5 I am come out of the mouth of the hyghest, first borne before all creatures.
6 I caused the light that fayleth not to aryse in the heauen, and couered all the earth as a cloude.
7 My dwelling is aboue in the heygth, and my seate is in the pyller of the cloude.
8 I my selfe alone haue gone round about the compasse of heauen, and pearsed the grounde of the deepe.
9 I haue walked in the fluddes of the sea, and haue stande in all landes, my dominion is in euery people and in euery nation, and with my power haue I troden downe the heartes of all, both hye and lowe.
10 In all these thinges also I sought rest, and a dwelling in some inheritaunce.
11 So the creator of all thinges gaue me a commaundement, and he that made me, appoynted me a tabernacle, and sayd vnto me: Let thy dwelling be in Iacob, and thine inheritaunce in Israel, & roote thy selfe among my chosen.
12 I was created from the beginning and before the world, and shall not leaue of vnto the world to come: In the holy habitation haue I serued before hym, and so was I stablished in Sion.
13 In the holy citie rested I in like mauer, and in Hierusalem was my power.
14 I toke roote in an honorable people, euen in the portion of the Lorde and in his heritage, and kept me in the fulnesse of the sainctes.
15 I am set vp an hye like a Cedar vpon Libanus, and as a Cipers tree vpon the mount Hermon.
16 I am exalted lyke a palme tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Iericho, as a fayre Oliue tree in the fielde, and am exalted like as a plantaine tree by the water side.
17 I haue geuen a smell in the streetes as the Cinamon and Balme that hath so good a sauour, yea a sweet odour haue I geuen as it were myrre of the best: I haue made my dwellinges to smell as it were of Rosin, Galbanum, of Cloues, Insence, and as Libanus when it is not hewen downe, and myne odour is as the pure balme.
18 As the Terebint haue I stretched out my braunches, and my braunches are the braunches of honour and louing fauour.
19 As the vine haue I brought foorth fruite of a sweete sauour, & my floures are the fruite of honour and riches.
20 I am the mother of beautie, of loue, of feare, of knowledge, and of holy hope: I geue eternall thinges to all my children to whom God hath commaunded.
21 In me is all grace of lyfe and trueth, in me is all hope of lyfe and vertue.
22 O come vnto me al ye that be desirous of me, & fill your selues with my fruites.
23 For my spirite is sweeter then hony, and so is myne inheritaunce more then the hony combe: the remembraunce of me endureth for euer more.
24 They that eate me, shall haue the more hunger: and they that drinke me, shall thirst the more.
25 Who so hearkeneth vnto me, shall not come to confusion, and they that worke in me shall not offende: they that take me to be knowen, shall haue euerlasting lyfe.
26 All these thinges are the booke of lyfe, the couenaunt of the highest, and the knowledge of the trueth: Moyses commaunded the lawe in the preceptes of righteousnesse for an heritage vnto the house of Iacob, and committed the promise vnto Israel.
27 Be not weery to behaue yourselues valiauntly with the Lord, that he may also confirme you: Cleaue vnto him, for the Lord almightie is but one God, and besides hym there is none other sauiour.
28 ( Out of Dauid his seruaunt he ordeyned to rayse vp a most mightie king, sitting in the seate of honour for euermore.)
29 This filleth with wysdome, lyke as the fludde of Phison, and as the fludde of Tigris when the newe fruites are a growing.
30 This bringeth a plenteous vnderstanding like Euphrates, and filleth it vp as Iordane in the time of haruest.
31 This maketh nurture to breake foorth as the light, and as the water Gehon in the haruest.
32 The first hath not knowen her perfectly: no more shall the last seke out the grounde of her.
33 For her thought is fuller then the sea, and her counsell is profounder then the great deepe.
34 I wysdome haue cast out fluddes, I am as a great water brooke out of the riuer, I am as the riuer Dorix, and as a water conduite am I come out of the garden of pleasure.
35 I sayde, I will water the garden of my young plantes, and fil the fruite of my byrth: So my water brooke became exceeding great, and my riuer approched vnto the sea.
36 For I make doctrine to be vnto al men as light as the faire morning, and I shal make it to be euer the clearer.
37 I will pearse thorowe all the lower parties of the earth, I will loke vpon al such as be a sleepe, and lighten all them that put their trust in the Lorde.
38 I shall yet powre out doctrine lyke as prophecie, and leaue it vnto such as seke after wysdome, and their generations shall I neuer fayle vnto the holy euerlasting worlde.
39 Beholde howe that I haue not laboured for my selfe onely: but for all them that seke after the trueth.
1 Three thinges there are that my spirite fauoureth, which be also alowed before God and men: The vnitie of brethren, the loue of neyghbours, a man and wyfe that agree well together.
2 Three thinges there be which my soule hateth, and I vtterly abhorre the life of them: A poore man that is proude, a riche man that is a lyar, and an old body that doteth and is vnchaste.
3 If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, what wilt thou find then in thine age?
4 O howe pleasaunt a thing is it when gray headed men are discrete, and when the elders can geue good counsell?
5 O howe comely a thing is wisdome vnto aged men? yea, vnderstanding & counsel to men of honour is a glorious thing.
6 The crowne of olde men, is to haue much experience: and the feare of God, is their worship.
7 There be nyne thinges which I haue iudged in my heart to be happy, and the tenth will I tell foorth vnto men with my tongue: A man that whyle he liueth hath ioy of his children, and seeth the fal of his enemies.
8 Well is hym that dwelleth with an houswyfe of vnderstanding, and that hath not fallen with his tongue, and that hath not ben fayne to serue such as are vnmeete for him.
9 Well is hym that findeth a faythfull friend: and well is him which talketh of wysdome to an eare that heareth hym.
10 O howe great is he that findeth wysdome and knowledge? Yet is he not aboue him that feareth the Lorde.
11 The feare of God hath set it selfe aboue all thinges.
12 Blessed is the man vnto whom it is graunted to haue the feare of God: vnto whom shall he be likened that kepeth it fast?
13 The feare of God is the beginning of his loue: and the beginning of fayth, is to cleaue fast vnto it.
14 The heauinesse of the heart is all the punishement, and the wickednesse of a woman goeth aboue all.
15 All punishement and plague is nothing in comparison of the plague of the heart: euen so, al wickednesse is nothing to the wickednesse of a woman.
16 What so euer happeneth vnto a man, is nothing in comparison of it that his euil willers do vnto him: and al vengeaunce is nothing to the vengeaunce of the enemie.
17 There is not a more wicked head then the head of the serpent: and there is no wrath aboue the wrath of a woman.
18 I wyll rather dwel with a lion and dragon, then to kepe house with a wicked wyfe.
19 The wickednesse of a woman chaungeth her face, she shal moffle her countetaunce as it were a beare, and as a sacke shal she shew it among the neyghbours.
20 Her husbande is brought to shame among his neyghbours because of her: & when he heareth it, it maketh him to sigh.
21 All wickednesse is but litle to the wickednesse of a woman: the portion of the vngodly shall fall vpon her.
22 Lyke as the clymyng vp a sandy way is to the feete of the aged: euen so is a wife full of wordes to a still quiete man.
23 Loke not to narowly vpon the beautie of a woman, lest thou be prouoked in desire towarde her.
24 The wrath of a woman is dishonour and great confusion: If a woman get the mastrie, then is she contrarie to her husbande.
25 A wicked wyfe maketh a sory heart, an heauy countenaunce, and a dead wound: Weake handes & feeble knees is a woman that her husband is not the better for.
26 Of the woman came the beginning of sinne, & thorowe her we all are dead.
27 Geue thy water no passage, no not a litle, neither geue a wicked woman her will.
28 If she walke not after thy hande, she shall confounde thee in the sight of thine enemies: Cut her of then from thy fleshe, that she do not alway abuse thee.
1 Happy is the man that hath a vertuous wyfe: for the nuber of his yeres shalbe double.
2 An honest woman maketh her husbande a ioyfull man, and she shall fill the yeres of his lyfe in peace.
3 A vertuous woman is a noble gift, whiche shalbe geuen for a good portion vnto such as feare God:
4 Whether a man be riche or poore, he may haue euer a mery heart, & a cheareful countenaunce.
5 There be three thinges that my heart feareth, and my face is afrayde of the fourth: treason in a citie, a seditious people, and noysome tongues: all these are heauyer then the death.
6 When one woman is ielous ouer an other, it bringeth payne and sorowe vnto the heart: and a woman that telleth out all thinges, is a scourge of the tongue.
7 When one hath an euyll wyfe, it is euen as when an vnlyke payre of oxen must drawe together: he that getteth her, getteth a scorpion.
8 A drunken woman is a great plague: for she can not couer her owne shame.
9 The whordome of a woman may be knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye liddes.
10 If thy daughter be not shamefast, hold her straytly, lest she abuse her selfe thorowe ouer much libertie.
11 Beware of all the dishonestie of her eyes, & maruel not if she do against thee.
12 As a way faring man that is thirstie, when he hath founde a well drinketh of euery water: so will she sit downe by euery hedge, and make her selfe common to euery man that passeth by.
13 A louing wyfe reioyceth her husbande, & feedeth his bones with her wysdome.
14 A woman of fewe wordes is a gift of God: to all nurtured myndes may nothing be compared.
15 An honest and manerly woman is a gift aboue other giftes: and there is no wayght to be compared vnto a minde that can rule it selfe.
16 Like as the sunne when it ariseth, is an ornament in the hie heauen of the Lord: so is a vertuous wyfe the beautie of all her house.
17 Like as the cleare light is vpon the holy candelsticke: so is the beautie of the face vpon an honest body.
18 Like as the golden pillers are vpon the sockettes of siluer: so are the fayre feete vpon a woman that hath a constant mynde.
19 Perpetual are the foundations that be layed vpon a whole stony rocke: so are the commaundementes of God vpon the heart of an holy woman.
20 There be two thinges that greeue my heart, & in the thirde is displeasure come vpo me: When an experte man of warre suffreth scarsenesse and pouertie, when men of vnderstanding and wisdome are not set by, and when one departeth from righteousnesse vnto sinne: Who so doth such, the Lorde hath prepared him vnto the sworde.
21 There be two maner of thinges which me thinke to be harde and perilous: A marchaunt can not lightly kepe hym from wrong, neither a tauerner hym selfe from sinne.
1 Because of pouertie haue many one offended: and he that seketh to be riche, turneth his eyes asyde.
2 Lyke as a nayle in the wal sticketh fast betwixt two stones: euen so doth sinne sticke betwixt the bier and the seller.
3 If he holde him not diligently in the feare of the Lorde, his house shall soone be ouerthrowen.
4 Lyke as when one sifteth, the filthynesse remayneth in the syue: So remayneth there some vncleane thing in the thought of man.
5 The ouen proueth the potters vessel: so doth temptation of trouble trye righteous men.
6 The tree of the fielde is knowen by his fruite: so is the thought of mans heart knowen by his wordes.
7 Prayse no man except thou haue heard him: for a man is knowen by his wordes.
8 If thou folowest righteousnes, thou shalt get her, and put her vpon thee as a fayre garment: and thou shalt dwell with her, and she shall defende thee for euer, and in the day of knowledge thou shalt finde stedfastnesse.
9 The byrdes resorte vnto their lyke: so doth the trueth turne vnto them that be occupied withall.
10 The lion wayteth the pray: so doth sinne vpon them that worke vnrighteousnesse.
11 The talking of him that feareth God, is nothing but wysdome: as for a foole he chaungeth as the moone.
12 If thou be among the vndiscrete, kepe thy wordes to a conuenient time: but among such as be wise, speake on hardyly.
13 The talking of fooles is abhomination, and their sport is volupteousnesse and misnurture.
14 Much swearing maketh the heere to stande vp: and to stryue with such, stoppeth the eares.
15 The stryfe of the proude is bloodshedding, and their blaspheming is heauy to heare.
16 Who so discouereth secretes, leeseth his credence, and fyndeth no friende after his will.
17 Loue thy friende, and binde thy selfe in faythfulnesse with him: but if thou bewrayest his secretes, thou shalt not get him againe.
18 For like as the man is that destroyeth his enemie: so is he also that dealeth falsly in the friendship of his neyghbour.
19 Like as one that letteth a byrde go out of his hande, can not take her againe: Euen so thou, if thou geue ouer thy friende, thou canst not get him againe.
20 Yea thou canst not come by him, for he is to farre of: He is vnto thee as a Roe escaped out of the snare, for his soule is wounded.
21 As for woundes, they may be bounde vp againe, and an euyll worde may be reconciled: but who so bewrayeth the secretes of a friende, there is no more hope to be had vnto him.
22 He that winketh with the eyes, imagineth some euyll: and he that knoweth him, will let him alone.
23 When thou art present, he shall hyghlie commende and prayse thy wordes: but at the last he shall turne his tayle, and sclaunder thy saying.
24 Many thinges haue I hated, but nothing so euyll: for the Lorde him selfe also abhorreth such a one.
25 Who so casteth a stone an hye, it shal fal vpon his owne head: and he that smyteth with guyle, woundeth him selfe.
26 Who so diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that layeth a stone in his neyghbours way, shall stumble theron, and he that layeth a snare for another, shall be taken in it him selfe.
27 Who so geueth a wicked noisome counsell, it shall come vpon hym selfe, and he shall not knowe from whence.
28 The proude blaspheme and are scorneful: but vengeaunce lurketh for them as a lion.
29 They that reioyce at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare: anguishe of heart shall consume them before they dye.
30 Anger and rigorousnesse are two abhominable thinges, and the vngodly hath them both vpon hym.
1 He that seketh vengeaunce, shal find vengeaunce of the Lorde, which shal surely kepe hym his sinnes.
2 Forgeue thy neyghbour the hurt that he hath done thee, and so shal thy sinnes be forgeuen thee also when thou prayest.
3 A man that beareth hatred against another, how dare he desire forgeuenesse of God?
4 He that sheweth no mercie to a man which is like him selfe, how dare he aske forgeuenesse of his sinnes?
5 If he that is but fleshe, beareth hatred and kepeth it, who will intreate for his sinnes?
6 Remember the ende, and let enmitie passe whiche seketh death and destruction, and abyde thou in the commaundementes.
7 Remember the commaundementes, so shalt thou not be rigorous ouer thy neyghbour: Thinke vpon the couenaunt of the hyghest, and forgeue thy neyghbours ignoraunce.
8 Beware of stryfe, and thou shalt make thy sinnes fewer.
9 For an angry man kindleth variaunce: and the vngodly disquieteth friendes, and putteth discorde among them that be at peace.
10 The more wood there is, the more vehement is the fire, and the mightier that men be, the greater is the wrath: according to his riches his anger increaseth, and the longer the stryfe endureth, the more it burneth.
11 And hastie brawling kindleth a fyre, and an hastie stryfe sheddeth blood: A tongue also that beareth false witnesse, bringeth death.
12 If thou blow the sparke it shall burne, yf thou spyt vpon it, it shall go foorth, and both these come out of the mouth.
13 The sclaunderer and doubble tongued is cursed: for many one that be friendes, setteth he at variaunce.
14 The thirde tongue hath disquieted many one, and dryuen them from one lande to another: Strong cities of the riche hath it broken downe, and ouerthrowen the houses of great men: The strength of the people hath it brought downe, and ben the decay of mightie nations.
15 The thirde tongue hath cast out many an honest woman, and robbed them of their labours.
16 Who so hearkeneth vnto such, shal neuer finde rest, and neuer dwell safely.
17 The stroke of the rod maketh printes in the skinne: but the stroke of the tongue smyteth the bones in sunder.
18 There be many that haue perished with the sworde: but many mo thorow the tongue.
19 Well is him that is kept from an euyll tongue, and commeth not in the anger thereof, which draweth not the yoke of such, and is not bounde in the bandes of it.
20 For the yoke therof is of yron, and the bande of it of steele.
21 The death therof is a very euyl death: hell were better for one, then such a tongue.
22 But the fire of it may not oppresse them that feare God, and the flambe thereof may not burne them.
23 Such 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 lion, and deuour them as a leoparde.
24 Thou hedgest thy goodes with thornes: why doest thou not rather make doores and barres for thy mouth?
25 Thou wayest thy gold and siluer: why doest thou not waye thy wordes also vpon thy balaunce, and make a doore, and a barre, and a sure brydell for thy mouth?
26 Beware that thou slide not thy tongue, and so fal before thyne enemies that lay wayte for thee, and thy fal be incurable, euen vnto death.
1 Who so will shewe mercie, let hym lende vnto his neyghbour: and he that is able, let him kepe the commaundementes.
2 Lend vnto thy neyghbour in time of his neede, and paye thou thy neyghbour againe in due season.
3 Kepe thy worde, and deale faythfully with him: and thou shalt alway finde the thing that is necessarie for thee.
4 There haue ben many, that when a thing was lent them, reckened it to be founde, and made them trauayle and labour that had helped them.
5 Whyle they receaue any thing, they kisse the handes of such as geue them, and for their neyghbours good they humble their voyce: but when they should paye againe, they kepe it backe, and geue euyl wordes, and make many excuses by reason of the time.
6 And though he be able, yet geueth he scarse the halfe againe, and reckeneth the other to be founde: And if he withholde not his money, yet hath he an enemie of him, and that vndeserued: He payeth him with cursing and rebuke, and geueth him euyll wordes for his good deede.
7 There be many one which are not glad for to lende, not because of euyl: but they feare to lose the thing that they lende.
8 Yet haue thou patience with the simple, and withholde not mercie from him.
9 Helpe the poore for the commaundementes sake, and let hym not go emptie from thee, because of his necessitie.
10 Lose thy money for thy brother and neyghbours sake, and burie it not vnder a stone where it rusteth and corrupteth.
11 Gather thy treasure after the commaundement of the hyghest, and so shal it bring thee more profite then golde.
12 Lay vp thyne almes in the hande of the poore, and it shall kepe thee from all euyll.
13 A mans almes is as a purse with him, & shal kepe a mans fauour as the apple of an eye: and afterwarde shall it arise and paye euery man his rewarde vpon his head.
14 It shall fight for thee against thyne enemies, better then the shielde of a gyaunt or speare of the mightie.
15 A good honest man is a suertie for his neyghbour, but a wicked person: letteth him come to shame.
16 Forget not the friendship of thy suertie: for he hath geuen his soule for thee.
17 The vngodly despiseth the good deede of his suertie.
18 The wicked will not become suertie, and the vnthankeful and ignoraunt leaueth his suertie in daunger.
19 Some man promiseth for his neyghbour: & when he hath lost his honestie, he shall forsake him.
20 Suertishippe hath destroyed many a riche man, and remoued them as the waues in the sea: Mightie people hath it dryuen away, and caused them to wander in straunge countreys.
21 An vngodly man transgressing the commaundement of the Lorde, shall fal into an euyll suertiship: and though he force him selfe to get out, yet shall he fall into iudgement.
22 Helpe thy neyghbour out after thy power, and beware that thou thy selfe fall not in such debte.
23 The chiefe thing that kepeth in thy life, is water, & bread, clothing, and lodging, to couer the shame.
24 Better is it to haue a poore lyuing in a mans owne house, then delicate fare among the straunge.
25 Be it litle or much that thou hast, hold thee content withall: and thou shalt not be blamed as a vagabounde.
26 For a miserable lyfe is it to go from house to house, and where a man is fremde, he dare not open his mouth.
27 Though one be lodged, & haue meate and drinke, yet shall he be taken as vnworthy, and heare many bytter rough wordes, [namely thus:]
28 Go thy way thou straunger, and prepare a table for thy selfe, and feede me also of that thou hast.
29 Geue place thou straunger to an honorable man, my brother commeth into my house, and so telleth him the necessitie of his house.
30 These thinges are heauy to a man that hath vnderstanding: [namely] the forbidding of the house, and that the lender casteth him in the teeth.
1 Who so loueth his child, holdeth hym still vnder correction, that he may haue ioy of him afterwarde, and that he grope not after his neyghbours doores.
2 He that teacheth his sonne shall haue ioy in hym, and neede not to be ashamed of him among his aquayntaunce.
3 Who so enfourmeth and teacheth his sonne, greeueth the enemie: and before his friendes he may haue ioy of him.
4 Though his father dye, yet is he as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behinde him that is like hym.
5 In his lyfe he sawe him and had ioy in him, and was not sory in his death, neither was he ashamed before the enemies.
6 For he left behynde hym an auenger against his enemies, and a good doer vnto the friendes.
7 For the lyfe of children, he shall bynde the woundes together, and his heart is greeued at euery crye.
8 An vntamed horse will be harde, and a wanton childe will be wilfull.
9 If thou bring vp thy sonne delicately, he shal make thee afrayde: and if thou play with hym, he shall bring thee to heauinesse.
10 Laugh not with hym, lest thou wepe with hym also, & lest thou gnashe with thy teeth at the last.
11 Geue him no libertie in his youth, and excuse not his follie.
12 Bowe downe his necke whyle he is young, hyt him vpon the sides whyle he is yet but a childe, lest he waxe stubburne, & geue no more force of thee, & so shalt thou haue heauinesse of soule.
13 Teach thy childe, and be diligent therein, lest it be to thy shame.
14 Better is the poore beyng whole and strong, then a man to be riche, and not to haue his health:
15 Health and welfare is aboue all golde, and a whole body aboue all treasure.
16 There is no riches aboue a sounde body, and no ioy aboue the ioy of the heart.
17 Death is better then a bitter lyfe, and eternall rest better then continuall sickenesse.
18 The good thinges that are put in a close mouth, are lyke as when meate is layde vpon the graue.
19 What good doth the offering vnto an idoll? for he can neither eate, tast, nor smell: Euen so is he that is chased of the Lorde, and beareth the rewardes of iniquitie.
20 He seeth with his eyes, and groneth like a gelded man, that lyeth with a virgin, and sygheth.
21 Geue not ouer thy mynde into heauinesse, and vexe not thy selfe in thyne owne counsell.
22 The ioy & chearefulnesse of the heart is the lyfe of man, and a mans gladnesse is the prolonging of his dayes.
23 Loue thyne owne soule, and comfort thyne heart: as for sorowe & heauinesse, dryue it farre from thee, for heauinesse hath slayne many a man, and bringeth no profite.
24 Zeale and anger shorten the dayes of the lyfe: carefulnesse and sorowe bring age before the time.
25 Unto a mery heart euery thing hath a good tast that he eateth.
1 Trauaile and carefulnesse for riches taketh away the sleepe, and maketh the fleshe to consume.
2 When one lyeth and taketh care, he waketh euer vp, lyke as a great sicknesse breaketh the sleepe.
3 The rich hath great labour in gathering his riches together, and then with the pleasure of his riches he taketh his rest and is refreshed.
4 But who so laboureth and prospereth not, he is poore: and though he leaue of, yet is he a begger.
5 He that loueth riches, shal not be iustified: and who so foloweth corruption, shall haue inough thereof.
6 Many one are come in great misfortune by the reason of golde, and haue founde their destruction before them.
7 It is a tree of falling vnto them that offer it vp, and all such as be foolishe fal therein.
8 Blessed is the rich which is founde without blemishe, & hath not gone after golde, nor hoped in money & treasures.
9 Where is there such a one, and we shal commend him and call him blessed? for wonderfull thinges doth he among his people.
10 Who so is tryed and founde perfect in such thinges, shalbe commended and praysed: who might offende, and hath not offended? who coulde do euill, and hath not done it?
11 Therfore shall his good be stablished, and the whole congregation shall declare his almes.
12 If thou sit at a great mans table, open not thy mouth wide vpon it, and say not there is much meate on it.
13 Remember that an euil eye is a shrewe: What thing created is worse then a wicked eye? therefore weepeth it before euery mans face?
14 Laye not thyne hande vpon euery thing that thyne eye seeth: and striue not with him in the dishe.
15 Ponder by thy selfe what thy neighbour would faine haue, and be discreete in euery poynt.
16 Eate the thing that is set before thee manerlie as it becommeth a man, and eate not to much, lest thou be abhorred.
17 Leaue thou of first of al, because of nurture, lest thou be he whom no man may satisfie, which may turne to thy decay.
18 When thou sittest among many men, reache not thyne hand out first of al, neither call thou first for drinke.
19 O how well content is a wyse man with a litle wine? so that in sleepe thou shalt not be sicke thereof, nor feele any payne.
20 A sweete holsome sleepe shall such a one haue, and feele no inwarde greefe, he ryseth vp betimes in the morning, and is wel at ease in him selfe: but an vnsatiable eater sleepeth vnquietly, and hath ache and payne of the body.
21 If thou feelest that thou hast eaten to much, arise, go thy way, cast it of thy stomacke, and take thy rest: and it shall ease thee, so that thou shalt bring no sicknesse vnto thy body.
22 My sonne heare me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt finde as I haue tolde thee: In all thy workes be diligent and quicke, so shall there no sicknesse happen vnto thee.
23 Who so is liberall in dealing out his meate, many men shall blesse him, and prayse him with their lippes: and the same is a sure token of his loue & faithfulnesse.
24 But he that is vnfaithfull in meate, the whole citie shall complaine of him: and that is a sure experience of his infidelitie and wickednesse.
25 Shewe not thy valiantnes in wine, for wine hath destroyed many a man.
26 The fire prooueth the hard iron: euen so doth wine prooue the heartes of the proude, when they be druncken.
27 Wine soberly druncken, quickeneth the lyfe of man: If thou drinkest it measurably, thou shalt be temperate: What is the lyfe of him that is ouercome with wine? what taketh away the lyfe? euen death.
28 Wine was made from the beginning to make men glad, and not for drunkennesse: wine measurably drunken is a reioycing of the soule and body: A measurable drinking is health to soule and body.
29 But if it be druncken with excesse, it maketh bitternesse and sorowe vnto the minde.
30 Drunkennesse filleth the minde of the foolishe with shame & ruine, minisheth the strength, and maketh woundes.
31 Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth: Geue him no dispitefull wordes, and preasse not vpon him with contrary sayinges.
1 If thou be made a ruler, pride not thy selfe therein, but be thou as one of the people: take diligent care for them, and loke well thereto.
2 And when thou hast done all thy dutie, sit thee downe, that thou mayst be mery with them, and receaue a crowne of honour.
3 Speake thou that art the elder, for it becommeth thee, but with sure knowledge: hinder not musicke.
4 Speake not where there is no audience: and poure not foorth wysdome out of time at an importunitie.
5 Lyke as the carbuncle stone shineth that is set in golde: so doth a song garnishe the wine feaste.
6 And as the Smaradge that is set in golde: so is the sweetenes of musicke by the mirth of wine.
7 Geue eare and be still, and for thy good behauour thou shalt be loued.
8 Thou young man speake that becommeth thee, and that is profitable, and yet scarse when thou art twyse asked.
9 Comprehede much with fewe wordes, in many thinges be as one that is ignoraunt: geue eare and holde thy tongue withall.
10 If thou be among men of high aucthoritie, desire not to compare thy selfe vnto the: and when an elder speaketh, make not thou many wordes therein.
11 Before the thunder, goeth lightening: and before nurture and shamefastnesse, goeth loue and fauour.
12 Stand vp betimes, and be not the last: but get thee home soone,
13 And there take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: so that thou do no euil, and defie no man.
14 But for all thinges geue thankes vnto him that hath made thee, and replenished thee with his goodes.
15 Who so feareth the Lord, wyl receaue his doctrine: and they that get them to him betimes, shall finde grace.
16 He that seeketh the law, shall be filled withal: as for him that is but fayned, he wyll be offended thereat.
17 They that feare the Lorde shall finde the iudgement, and their righteousnesse shalbe kindled as a light.
18 An vngodly man wyll not be refourmed, but can helpe him selfe with the example of other in his purpose.
19 A man of vnderstanding despiseth no good counsaile: but a wylde and proude body hath no feare, yea euen when he hath dealt rashly with another man: but his owne doinges shalbe his rebuke.
20 My sonne, do nothing without aduisement: so shall it not repent thee after the deede.
21 Go not in the way where thou mayst fall, nor where thou mayst stumble against the stone: againe, neither trust thou to the way that is playne.
22 And beware of thyne owne children, and take heede of them that be of thyne owne householde.
23 In all thy workes put thy trust in God from thy whole heart: for that is the keeping of the commaundementes.
24 Who so beleueth gods worde, taketh heede to the commaundementes: and he that putteth his trust in the Lorde, shall want nothing.
1 There shall no euil happen vnto him that feareth God: but when he is in temptation, the Lorde shall deliuer him, & keepe him from euill.
2 A wyse man hateth not the lawe: but an hypocrite is as a ship in raging water.
3 A man of vnderstanding geueth credence vnto the lawe of God, and the law is faithfull vnto him.
4 Be sure of the matter, then talke therof: be first wel instructe, then mayst thou geue aunswere.
5 The heart of the foolishe, is lyke a cart wheele, and his thoughtes runne about lyke the axeltree.
6 Lyke as a wylde horse that neyeth vnder euery one that sitteth vpon him, so it is with a scornefull friende.
7 Why doth one day excell an other, seeing all the dayes of the yere come of the sunne?
8 The wysdome of the Lorde hath so parted them a sunder, and so hath he ordayned the times and solempne feastes.
9 Some of them hath he chosen and halowed before other dayes.
10 And all men are made of the grounde, and out of the earth of Adam: In the multitude of science hath the Lorde sundred them, and made their wayes of diuers fashions.
11 Some of them hath he blessed, made much of them, halowed them, and claymed them to him selfe: but some of them hath he cursed, brought them low, and put them out of their estate.
12 Lyke as the claye is in the potters hande, and all the ordering therof at his pleasure: so are men also in the hande of him that made them, so that he may geue them as lyketh him best.
13 Against euil is good, and against death is lyfe: so is the vngodlie against such as feare God.
14 Beholde, these are the workes of the hiest, and there are euen two against two, and one set against another.
15 I am awaked vp last of al, as one that gathereth after in haruest: in the giftes of God and in his blessing I am increased, and haue filled my wine presse, lyke a grape gatherer.
16 Beholde how I haue not laboured onely for my selfe, but for all such as loue nurture and wysdome.
17 Heare me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your eares ye rulers of the congregation.
18 Geue not thy sonne, and wyfe, thy brother, and friend, power ouer thee whyle thou liuest: and geue not away thy substaunce & good to another, lest it repent thee, and thou be faine to aske of them againe.
19 As long as thou lyuest and hast breath let no man chaunge thee.
20 For better it is thy children to pray thee, then that thou shouldest be faine to loke in their handes.
21 In all thy workes be excellent, that thy honour be neuer stayned.
22 At the time when thou shalt ende thy dayes and finishe thy lyfe, distribute thyne inheritaunces.
23 The fodder, the whippe, and the burthen belongeth vnto the asse: meate, correction, and worke vnto the seruaunt.
24 If thou set thy seruaunt to labour, thou shalt finde rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seeke libertie.
25 The yoke and the whippe bowe downe the hard necke: but tame thou thy euill seruaunt with bondes and correction.
26 Sende him to labour, that he go not idle: for idlenesse bringeth much euill.
27 Set him to worke, for that belongeth vnto him, and becommeth him wel.
28 If he be not obedient, binde his feete: but do not to much vnto him in any wyse, and without discretion do nothing.
29 If thou haue a [faithfull] seruaunt, let him be vnto thee as thyne owne soule: entreate him as a brother, for in blood hast thou gotten him: if thou haue a seruaunt holde him as thy selfe, for thou hast neede of him as of thy selfe:
30 If thou intreatest him euil, and kepest him hard, and makest him to be proude, and to runne away from thee, thou canst not tell what way thou shalt seeke him.
1 Vnwyse people beguile them selues with vaine and deceitfull hope, and fooles trust in dreames.
2 Who so regardeth dreames, is lyke him that wyll take holde of a shadowe, and folowe after the winde.
3 Euen so is it with the appearinges of dreames: before the face is the lykenesse of a face.
4 Who can be cleansed of the vncleane? or what trueth can be spoken of a lyer?
5 Soothsaying, witchcrafte, sorcerie, and dreaming is but vaine: lyke as when a woman trauayleth with childe, & hath many fantasies in her heart.
6 Where as such visions come not of God, set not thyne heart vpon them:
7 For dreames haue deceaued many a man, and they failed that put their trust therein.
8 The lawe shalbe fulfilled without lyes, & wysdome is sufficient to a faithfull mouth: what knowledge hath he that is not tryed?
9 A wyse man that is well instruct, vnderstandeth much: and he that hath good experience, can talke of wysdome.
10 He that hath no experience, knoweth litle, and he that erreth, causeth much wickednesse: he that is not tryed, what thinges knoweth he? he that hath ben deceaued, is full of subtiltie.
11 When I was yet in errour, I learned much also: yea, I was so learned, that I could not expresse it all,
12 And came oft in perill of death therefore, tyll I was delyuered from it through the grace of God.
13 Now I see that they which feare God, haue the right spirit, for their hope standeth in him that can helpe them: and the eyes of the Lorde are on them that loue him.
14 Who so feareth the Lorde, standeth in awe of no man, and is not afraide: for the Lorde is his hope and comforte.
15 Blessed is the soule of him that feareth the lord: in whom putteth he his trust? who is his strength?
16 For the eyes of the Lord haue respect vnto them that loue him, he is their mightie protection and strong grounde: A defence for the heate, a refuge for the hot noone day, a succour for stumbling, and an helpe for falling.
17 He setteth vp the soule, and lighteneth the eyes: he geueth lyfe and blessing.
18 He that geueth an offering of vnrighteous good, his offering is refused: and the scornefull dealinges of the vnrighteous please not God.
19 The Lorde is theirs onely that patiently abide him in the way of the trueth and of righteousnesse.
20 The highest doth not alowe the giftes of the wicked: and God hath no delight in the offeringes of the vngodly, neither may sinne be reconciled in the multitude of oblations.
21 Who so bringeth an offering out of the goodes of the poore, doth euen as one that killeth the sonne before the fathers eyes.
22 The bread of the nedefull, is the lyfe of the poore: he that defraudeth him thereof, is a man of blood.
23 Who so robbeth his neighbour of his lyuing, doth as great sinne as though he slue him to death: he that defraudeth the labourer of his hyre, is a blood shedder.
24 When one buildeth and an other breaketh downe: what profite haue they then but labour?
25 When one prayeth and another curseth, whose voyce wyl the Lorde heare?
26 He that washeth him selfe because of a dead body, and then toucheth the dead againe, what doth his washing?
27 So is it with a man that fasteth for his sinnes, and doth them againe: who wyll heare his prayer? or what doth his fasting helpe him?
1 Who so kepeth the lawe, bringeth offeringes inough: he that holdeth fast the comaundement, offereth the right health offering.
2 He that is thankefull and recompenceth, offereth fine floure: Who so is merciful and geueth almes, that is the right thanke offering.
3 God hath pleasure when one departeth from sinne: and to forsake vnrighteousnesse, reconcileth vs with him.
4 Thou shalt not appeare emptie before the Lorde:
5 For al such is done because of the commaundement of God.
6 The offering of the righteous maketh the aulter fat, and a sweete smell is it before the highest.
7 The offering of the righteous is acceptable vnto God, and shall neuer be forgotten.
8 Geue God his honour with a chearefull heart: and keepe not backe the firstlinges of thyne handes.
9 In all thy giftes shewe a chearefull countenaunce, and halowe thy tythes vnto God with gladnesse.
10 Geue vnto God according as he hath enriched and prospered thee: and loke what thyne hande is able, geue with a chearefull eye.
11 For the Lorde recompenceth, and geueth thee seuen times as much againe.
12 Geue no vnrighteous giftes, for such wyll he not receaue: Beware of wrong offeringes, for the Lorde is a righteous iudge, and regardeth no mans person.
13 He accepteth not the person of the poore: but he heareth the prayer of the oppressed.
14 He despiseth not the desire of the fatherlesse, nor the wydowe when she powreth out her prayer before him.
15 Doth not God see the teares that runne downe the cheekes of the wydowe? or heareth he not the complaint ouer such as make her to weepe? For from her cheekes do the teares go vp vnto heauen, and the Lord which heareth them doth accept them.
16 Who so serueth God after his pleasure, shalbe accepted: and his prayer reacheth vnto the cloudes.
17 The prayer of him that humbleth him selfe, goeth through the cloudes: till she come nye she wyll not be comforted, nor go her way tyll the highest God haue respect vnto her, geue true sentece, and perfourme the iudgement.
18 And the Lorde wyll not be slacke in comming, nor tary long, tyll he haue smitten in sunder the backes of the vnmercifull, and auenged him selfe of the heathen, tyll he haue taken away the multitude of the cruell, and broken the scepter of the vnrighteous, tyll he geue euery man after his workes, and rewarde them after their doinges, tyll he haue delyuered his people, maintayned their cause, and reioyced them in his mercie.
19 O how faire a thing is mercie in the time of anguishe and trouble? it is lyke a cloude of rayne that commeth in the time of drouth.
1 Haue mercie vpon vs, O Lorde, thou God of all thinges, haue respect vnto vs: shewe vs the light of thy mercies,
2 And sende thy feare among the heathen and straungers which seeke not after thee, that they may knowe that there is no God but thou, and that they may shew thy wonderous workes.
3 Lyft vp thyne hande ouer the outlandishe heathen, that they may learne to knowe thy might and power.
4 Lyke as thou art halowed in vs before them: so bring to passe that thou mayst be magnified also in them before vs.
5 That they may know thee, lyke as we know thee: for there is none other God but onely thou O Lorde.
6 Renue the tokens, and chaunge the wonderous workes: shew thyne hand and thy right arme gloriouslie.
7 Rayse vp thyne indignation, and poure out thy wrath: take away the aduersarie, and smite the enemie.
8 Make the time shorte, remember thy couenaunt, that thy woderous workes may be praysed.
9 Let the wrath of the fyre consume them that lyue so carelesse: and let them perishe that do thy people hurt.
10 Smyte in sunder the head of the princes that be our enemies, and say, there is none other but we.
11 Gather all the tribes of Iacob together againe, that they may knowe how that there is none other God but onely thou, that they may shewe thy wonderous workes: and be thou thy peoples heritage, lyke as from the beginning.
12 O Lorde haue mercie vpon the people that hath thy name, and vpon Israel whom thou hast lykened to a first borne sonne.
13 O be mercifull vnto Hierusalem the citie of thy sanctuarie, the citie of thy rest.
14 Fill Sion with thyne vnspeakable vertues, and thy people with thy glorie.
15 Geue witnesse vnto thy creature who thou madest from the beginning, and rayse vp the prophesies that haue ben shewed in thy name.
16 Rewarde them that wayte for thee, that thy prophetes may be founde faithfull.
17 O Lorde heare the prayer of thy seruauntes according to the blessing of Aaron ouer thy people, and guide thou vs in the way of righteousnes: that al they which dwell vpon the earth may know that thou art the Lorde the eternall God, which is from euerlasting.
18 The belly deuoureth all meates: yet is one meate better then another.
19 Lyke as the tongue tasteth venison: so doth an heart of vnderstandyng marke false wordes.
20 A froward heart geueth heauines: but a man of experience lyfteth him vp againe.
21 The woman receaueth euery man: yet is one daughter better then another.
22 A faire wyfe reioyceth her husband: and a man loueth nothing better.
23 If there be in her tongue gentlenes, meekenes, and holsome talke: then is not her husband lyke other men.
24 He that hath gotten a vertuous woman, hath a goodlie possession: she is vnto him a helpe, and piller wherevpon he resteth.
25 Where no hedge is, there the goodes are spoyled: and where no huswyfe is, there the frendles mourneth.
26 Lyke as there is no credence geuen to a robber that goeth from one citie to another: so is not the man beleued that hath no nest, and must turne in where he may abide in the night.
1 Euery friende sayth, I wyll be friendly vnto him also: but there is some friend, which is onely a frende in name.
2 Remaineth not there heauines vnto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemie?
3 O most wicked presumption: from whence art thou sprong vp to couer the earth with falshood and disceite?
4 There is some companion which in prosperitie reioyceth with his friend: but in the time of trouble, he taketh part against him.
5 There is some companion that mourneth with his friend for the bellies sake: but when trouble commeth, he taketh holde of the shielde.
6 Forget not thy friend in thy minde, & thinke vpon him in thy riches.
7 Seeke no counsell at thy kinsmen, and hide thy counsel from such as beare thee no good wyll.
8 Euery counseller prayseth his counsell: neuerthelesse, there is some that counselleth but for his owne profite.
9 Beware of the counseller, and be aduised afore whereto thou wylt vse him (for he wyll counsaile for him selfe) lest he cast the lot vpon thee,
10 And say vnto thee, Thy way and purpose is good: and afterwarde he stande against thee, and loke what shal become of thee.
11 Aske no counsaile at him that suspecteth thee for an enemie, & hide thy counsaile from such as hate thee: aske no counsell for religion of him that is without religion, nor for iustice of him that hath no iustice: aske no counsel at a woman, touching her of who she is ielous, nor at a fearefull and faint harted body in matters of warre: or at a marchaunt how deare he wyl cheape thy wares toward his: or at a byer, of selling: or at an enuious man, of thankesgeuing: or at the vnmerciful, of louing kindnesse: or at an vnhonest man, of honestie: or at the slothfull, of working: or at an hyreling which hath no house, of profit or wealth: or at an idle body of much labour: take no such folkes to counsell.
12 But be diligent to seeke counsaile at a vertuous man that feareth God, such a one as thou knowest to be a keper of the commaundementes, which hath a minde after thyne owne minde, and is sory for thee when thou stumblest.
13 And holde thy counsell fast in thyne heart: for there is no man more faithfull to kepe it, then thou thy selfe.
14 For a mans minde is sometime disposed to tell out more, then seuen watchmen that sit aboue in an hie place loking about them.
15 And aboue all this, pray the highest that he wyll leade thy way in faithfulnes and trueth.
16 Before all thy workes aske counsell first: and or euer thou doest any thing, be well aduised.
17 There be foure thinges that declare a chaunged heart, whereout there springeth euill and good, death and lyfe, and a maisterfull tongue that bableth much.
18 Some man is apt and well instructed in many thinges, and yet very vnprofitable vnto him selfe.
19 Some man there is that can geue wyse and prudent counsel, and yet is he hated and continueth a begger,
20 For that grace is not geuen him of God to be accepted.
21 Another is robbed of al wysdome: yet is he wyse vnto himselfe, and the fruite of vnderstanding is commedable in his mouth.
22 A wyse man maketh his people wyse, & the fruites of his wysdome fayle not.
23 A wyse man shalbe plenteously blessed of God: and all they that see him, shall speake good of him.
24 The lyfe of man standeth in the number of the dayes: but the dayes of Israel are innumerable.
25 A wyse man shall obtayne faithfulnes and credence among his people, and his name shalbe perpetuall.
26 My sonne, prooue thy soule in thy selfe, and if thou see any euill thing, geue it not vnto her:
27 For all thinges are not profitable for all men, neither hath euery soule pleasure in euery thing.
28 Be not greedy in euery eating, and be not to hastie vpon all meates.
29 For excesse of meates bringeth sickenesse, and gluttonie commeth at the last to an vnmeasurable heate.
30 Through surfet haue many one perished: but he that dieteth him selfe temperatelie, prolongeth his lyfe.
1 Honour the phisition, honour him with that honour that is due vnto him, because of necessitie: for God hath created him.
2 For of the highest commeth medicine, and he shall receaue giftes of the king.
3 The wysdome of the phisition bringeth him to great worship, and in the sight of the great men of this worlde he shalbe honourably taken.
4 The Lorde hath created medicine of the earth: and he that is wyse, wyll not abhorre it.
5 Was not the bitter water made sweete with a tree, that men might learne to knowe the vertue thereof.
6 The Lord hath geuen men wysdome and vnderstanding, that he might be honoured in his wonderous workes.
7 With such doth he heale men, and taketh away their paynes:
8 Of such doth the pothecarie make a confection, yet can no man perfourme al his workes: for of the Lorde commeth prosperous wealth ouer all the earth.
9 My sonne, despise not this in thy sickenes: but pray vnto the Lorde, and he shall make thee whole.
10 Leaue of from sinne, and order thy handes a right, clense thyne heart from all wickednesse.
11 Geue a sweete sauoured offering, and the fine floure for a token of remembraunce: make the offering fat, as one that geueth the first fruites,
12 And geue roome to the phisition, for the Lorde hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast neede of him.
13 The houre may come, that the sicke may be helped through them,
14 When they pray vnto the Lorde, that he may recouer and get health to lyue longer.
15 He that sinneth before his maker, shall fall into the handes of the phisition.
16 My sonne, bring foorth thy teares ouer the dead, and beginne to mourne as if thou haddest suffered great harme thy selfe: and then couer his body after a conuenient maner, and despise not his buriall.
17 Enforce thy selfe to weepe, & prouoke thy selfe to mourne, and make lamentation expediently, and be earnest in mourning, and vse lamentation as he is worthie, and that a day or two, lest thou be euill spoken of: and then comfort thy selfe, because of the heauines.
18 For of heauines commeth death, the heauines of the heart breaketh stregth.
19 Heauines and pouertie, greeueth the heart in temptation and offence.
20 Take no heauines to heart, driue it away, and remember the last thinges.
21 Forget it not, for there is no turning againe, thou shalt do him no good, but hurt thy selfe.
22 Remember his iudgement, thyne also shalbe lykewyse: vnto me yesterday, vnto thee to day.
23 Let the remembraunce of the dead ceasse in his rest, & comfort thee againe ouer him, seing his spirite is departed from him.
24 The wysdome of the scribe is at conuenient time of rest: and he that ceasseth from exercises and labour, shalbe wyse.
25 How can he get wysdome that holdeth the plough, and he that hath pleasure in the goade and in driuing the oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and his talke is but of the breeding of bullockes?
26 He setteth his heart to make forowes, and is diligent to geue the kine fodder.
27 So is euery carpenter also and workmaister, that laboureth still night and day: he carueth, graueth, cutteth out, & his desire is insundry cunning thinges, his heart imagineth how he may cunningly cast an image, his diligence also and watching perfourmeth the worke.
28 The iron smith in lyke maner bydeth by his stithie, and doth his diligence to labour the iron: the vapour of the fyre brenneth his fleshe, and he must fight with the heate of the fornace: the noyse of the hammer euer soundeth in his eares, and his eyes loke still vpon the thing that he maketh: he hath set his minde thereupon that he wyll make out his worke, & therefore he watcheth how he may set it out, and bring it to an ende.
29 So doth the potter set by his worke: he turneth the wheele about with his feete, he is diligent and carefull in all doinges, and maketh his worke in number.
30 He fashioneth the clay with his arme, and with his feete he tempereth it: his heart imagineth howe he may make it pleasaunt, and his diligence is to clense the ouen.
31 All these hope in their handes, & euery one thinketh to be cunning in his worke.
32 Without these may not the cities be mayntayned, inhabited, nor occupied:
33 Yet come they not hye in the congregation, neither sit they vpon the iudgement seates: they vnderstand not the couenaunt of the lawe, they can not declare equitie and iudgement, they can not finde out the darke sentences.
34 But through them shall the creature of the worlde be maintayned, their desire concerneth onely the worke and labour of cunning.
1 He that applieth his mynde to vnderstande the lawe of God, doth diligently seke out the wysdome of them of the olde time, and exerciseth hym selfe in the prophetes.
2 He kepeth the sayinges of famous men, and preasseth to the vnderstanding of darke sentences of wysdome.
3 He seketh out the misterie of secrete sayinges, and exerciseth himselfe therin continually.
4 He doth seruice among great men, and appeareth before the prince: he goeth into a straunge countrey, and trauayleth thorowe it: loke what good or euyll is among men, he proueth and seketh it out.
5 He purposeth in his heart to resort early vnto the Lord that made him, and to pray before the highest God: he openeth his mouth in prayer, and prayeth for his sinnes.
6 When the great Lorde will, he shalbe filled with the spirite of vnderstanding, that he may then powre out wyse sentences, and geue thankes vnto the Lord in his prayer.
7 He shall order his deuice, and leade his knowledge a right, and geue him vnderstanding of secrete thinges.
8 He shall shewe foorth the science of his learning, and reioyce in the couenaunt of the lawe of the Lorde:
9 The whole congregation shall commende his wysdome, and it shall neuer be put out: the remembraunce of hym shall neuer be forgotten, and his name shal continue from one generation to an other.
10 His wysdome shalbe spoken of among the people, and the whole congregation shall openly declare his prayse.
11 While he liueth, he hath a greater name then a thousand beside: and after death, the same name remayneth vnto hym.
12 Yet will I speake of mo men of vnderstanding, for I am ful as the moone.
13 Hearken vnto me ye holy vertuous children, bring foorth fruite as the rose that is planted by the brookes of the fielde,
14 And geue ye a sweete smell as incense, florishe as the rose garden, sing a song of prayse, O geue thankes vnto God ouer all his workes:
15 Geue magnificence vnto his name, and set hym foorth in his prayse with your lippes, & with musicke and harmonie: Yea euen with the song of your lippes, with harpes and playing, and in geuing thankes vnto him, say after this maner:
16 All the workes of the Lord are exceeding good, & all his commaundementes are meete and conuenient in due season.
17 A man neede not to say, what is that? what is that? for at a time conuenient they shall all be sought: At his commaundement the water was as a wall, and at the worde of his mouth the water stoode still.
18 In his commaundement is euery thing acceptable and reconciled, and his health can not be minished.
19 The workes of all fleshe are before him, and there is nothing hyd from his eyes.
20 He seeth from euerlasting to euerlasting, and there is nothing to wonderful or hye vnto hym.
21 A man neede not to say then, what is this, or that? for he hath made al thinges to do good vnto man.
22 His blessing shall run ouer as the streame, and moysture the earth lyke a fludde of water.
23 Like as he maketh the drouth: so shall his wrath fall vpon the heathen.
24 His wayes are playne and right vnto the iust: but the vngodly stumble at them.
25 For the good, are good thinges created from the beginning, & euyll thinges for the vngodly.
26 All thinges necessarie for the lyfe of man are created from the beginning: water, fire, iron, and salt, meale, wheate, and hony, milke, and wine, oyle and clothing:
27 All these thinges are created for the best to the faythfull: but to the vngodly shall all these thinges be turned to hurt and harme.
28 There be spirites that are created for vengeaunce, and in their rigorousnesse haue they fastened their tormentes: In the time of the ende they shall poure out their strength, and pacifie the wrath of him that made them.
29 Fire, hayle, hunger, and death: al these thinges are created for vengeaunce.
30 The teeth of wilde noysome beastes, the scorpions, serpentes, and the sworde, are created also for vengeaunce, to the destruction of the vngodly.
31 They shalbe glad to do his commaundementes, and when neede is, they shalbe redy vpon earth: and when their houre is come, they shall not ouerpasse the commaundement of the Lorde.
32 Therfore haue I taken a good courage vnto me from the beginning, and haue thought to put these thinges in writing, and to leaue them behinde me:
33 All the workes of the Lorde are good, and he geueth euery one in due season, and when neede is.
34 So that no man neede not to say: This is worse then that: for in due season they are all pleasaunt and good.
35 And therefore prayse the Lorde with whole heart and mouth, & geue thankes vnto his name.
1 A great trauaile is created for all men, and an heauy yoke vpon all the sonnes of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mothers wombe, till they be buried in [the earth] the mother of all thinges.
2 [namely] their thoughtes and imaginations, feare of the heart, counsel, meditations, longing & desire, the day of death:
3 From the hyghest that sitteth vpon the glorious seate, vnto the lowest and most simple vpon the earth:
4 From him that is gloriously arayde and weareth a crowne, vnto him that is but homely and simplie clothed.
5 There is nothing but wrath, zeale, fearefulnesse, vnquietnesse, and feare of death, rigorousnes, anger, & stryfe: And in the night when one shoulde rest and sleepe vpon his bed, the sleepe chaungeth his vnderstanding and knowledge.
6 A litle or nothing is his rest in the sleepe, aswel as in the day of labour: He feareth & is disquieted in the vision of his heart, as one that runneth out of a battayll.
7 And in the time of health he awaketh, and maruayleth that the feare was nothing.
8 Such thinges happen vnto all fleshe, both man and beast: but seuen folde to the vngodly.
9 Moreouer, death, bloodshedding, strife, and sworde, oppression, hunger, destruction, and punishement:
10 These thinges are all created against the vngodly, and for their sakes came the fludde also.
11 All that is of the earth, shall turne to earth againe, and al waters ebbe againe into the sea.
12 All bribes and vnrighteousnesse shalbe put away: but faythfulnesse and trueth shall endure for euer.
13 The substaunce and goodes of the vngodly shalbe dryed vp, and sinke away as a water fludde, & they shal make a sound like a great thunder in the rayne.
14 Like as the righteous reioyceth when he openeth his hande: so shall the transgressours be faynt when their goodes vanishe and consume away.
15 The children of the vngodly shal not obtayne many braunches:
16 And the vncleane rootes vpon the hye rockes, shalbe rooted out before the grasse by the water side, & vpon the riuer bankes.
17 Frendlinesse and liberalitie in the increase & blessing of God, is like a paradise and garden of pleasure: such mercie also and kindnesse endureth for euer.
18 To labour and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweete pleasaunt life: and that is, to finde a treasure of al treasures.
19 To beget children and to repayre the citie, maketh a perpetuall name: but an honest woman is more worth then they both.
20 Wine and minstrelsie reioyceth the heart: but the loue of wysdome is aboue them both.
21 Pyping and harping make a sweete noyse: but a friendly tongue goeth beyonde them both.
22 Thyne eye desireth fauour and beautie: but a greene seede time, rather then they both.
23 A friende and companion come together at oportunitie: but aboue them both is a wyfe that agreeth with her husbande.
24 Brethren and helpes are profitable in time of trouble: but almes shal deliuer more then they both.
25 Golde and siluer fasten the feete: but a good counsell is more pleasaunt then they both.
26 Temporal substaunce and strength lift vp the minde: but the feare of the Lord, more then they both: The feare of the Lorde wanteth nothing, and needeth no helpe.
27 The feare of the Lorde is a pleasaunt garden of blessing, and nothing so beautifull as it is.
28 My sonne leade not a beggers lyfe: for better it were to die then to begge.
29 The life of hym that loketh vpon an other mans table, is not to be counted for a life, for he vexeth his soule in other mens meate: but a wyse and well nurtured man will beware therof.
30 Begging is sweete in the mouth of the vnshamefast: but in his belly there burneth a fire.
1 O death how bitter is the remembraunce of the, to a man that seketh rest and comfort in his substaunce & riches, vnto the man that hath nothing to vexe him, & that hath prosperitie in all thinges, yea vnto him that yet is able to receaue meate?
2 O death, howe acceptable and good is thy iudgement vnto the needefull, and vnto him whose strength fayleth, and that is nowe in his last age, and that in all thinges is full of care and fearfulnesse, vnto him also that is in dispayre, and hath no hope nor patience?
3 Be not thou afraide of death, remember them that haue ben before thee, and that come after thee: this is the iudgement of the Lord ouer all fleshe.
4 And why wouldest thou be against this pleasure of the hyghest? Whether it be ten, an hundreth, or a thousand yeres, death asketh not howe long one hath lyued.
5 The children of the vngodly are abhominable children, and so are they that kepe company with the vngodly.
6 The inheritaunce of vngodly children shall come to naught, & their posteritie shal haue perpetuall shame & confusion.
7 The children complayne of an vngodly father: and why? for his sake they are rebuked and dispised.
8 Wo be vnto you, O ye vngodly, whiche haue forsaken the lawe of the hyghest God: for though ye do encrease, yet shal you perishe.
9 If ye do liue, ye shalbe accursed: if ye die, the curse shall be your portion.
10 All that is of the earth, shall turne to earth againe: so go the vngodly also out of the curse into destruction.
11 Though men mourne for their body: yet the name of the vngodly shall be put out, for it is nothing worth.
12 Labour to get thee a good name: for that shall continue surer by thee, then a thousande great treasures of golde.
13 A good life hath a number of dayes: but a good name endureth euer.
14 My children, kepe wisdome in peace: for wisdome that is hid and a treasure that is not seene, what profite is in them both?
15 A man that hydeth his foolishenes, is better then a man that hydeth his wysdome.
16 Therefore be ye turned at my wordes: for it is not good in all thinges and alway to be ashamed: True fayth must proue and measure it.
17 Be ashamed of whordome before father and mother: be ashamed to leasing before the prince and men of auctoritie:
18 Of sinne, before the iudge and ruler: of offence, before the congregation & people: of vnrighteousnes, before a companoin and friende:
19 Of theft, before thy neyghbours: As for the trueth of God and his couenaunt, be not ashamed therof: be ashamed to lye with thyne elbowes vpon the bread, or to be reproued for geuing or taking,
20 And of silence vnto them that salute thee: be ashamed to loke vpon harlottes:
21 Be ashamed to turne away thy face from thy kinsman, be ashamed to take and not to geue,
22 Be ashamed also to loke vpon an other mans wyfe, and to make many trifling wordes with her mayden, or to stand by her bed side.
23 Be ashamed to vnbrayde thy friende: when thou geuest any thing, cast hym not in the teeth withall,
24 Or to report the matter that thou hast heard, or to disclose the secrete wordes: so shalt thou well be shamefast, and shalt find fauour with all men.
1 Of these thinges be not ashamed, and accept no person to offend. [Namely of these thinges be not ashamed:]
2 Of the lawe of God, of the couenaunt, of iudgement to bring the vngodly from his vngodlinesse vnto righteousnesse, & to make him a good man,
3 To deale faithfully with thy neyghbour and companion, to distribute the heritage vnto the friendes:
4 To be diligent to kepe true measure & wayght: to be content whether thou gettest much or litle:
5 To deale truely with temporall goodes in bying and selling, to bring vp children with diligence, to correct an euyll seruaunt:
6 To kepe that thyne is from an euyll wyfe, to set a locke where many handes are:
7 What thou deliuerest and geuest out to be kept, to tell it, and to wey it: to write vp all thy outgeuing and receauing:
8 To enforme the vnlearned and vnwise, of the aged that are iudged of the young: If thou be diligent in these thinges, truely thou shalt be learned and wyse, and accepted of all men.
9 The daughter maketh the father to watch secretly, and the carefulnesse that he hath for her, taketh away his sleepe, yea in her youth, lest she shoulde ouergrowe him, and when she hath an husbande lest she shoulde be hated:
10 Lest she shoulde be defiled or rauished in her virginitie, or gotten with childe in her fathers house: or when she commeth to the man, lest she behaue her selfe not right, or continue vnfruitefull.
11 If thy daughter be wanton, kepe her straytly, lest she cause thyne enemies to laugh thee to scorne, and the whole citie to geue thee an euyll report: and so thou be fayne to heare thy shame of euery man, and be confounded before all the people.
12 Behold not euery bodies beautie, and haue not much dwelling among wome.
13 For like as the worme and moth commeth out of clothing: so doth wickednesse come of women.
14 It is better to be with an euyll man, then with a friendly wyfe that putteth one to shame and rebuke.
15 I will remember the wordes of the Lord, and declare the thing that I haue seene: In the wordes of the Lorde are his workes.
16 The sunne ouerloketh all thinges with his shine, and all his workes are full of the clearenes therof.
17 Hath not the Lord brought to passe, that his sainctes shoulde tell out all his wonderous workes which the almightie Lord hath stablished? Al thinges endure in his glorie.
18 He seketh out the grounde of the deepe, and the heart of men, and he knoweth all their imaginations and wisdome: for the Lord knoweth all science, and he loketh into the token of the time.
19 He declareth the thinges that are past and for to come, and discloseth thinges that are secrete.
20 No thought may escape hym, neither may any worde be hyd from him.
21 He hath garnished the hye excellent workes of his wysdome, and he is from euerlasting to euerlasting: Unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be minished, he hath no neede also of any mans counsel.
22 O howe amiable are all his workes, and as a sparke to loke vpon?
23 They liue all, and endure for euer: and when so euer neede is, they are all obedient vnto him.
24 They are all double, one against another: he hath made nothing that hath fault or blemishe.
25 He hath stablished the goodes of euery one: and who may be satisfied with his glorie when he seeth it?
1 The glorie of the height is the faire and cleare firmament, the beautie of the heauen is his glorious clearnesse.
2 The sunne when it appeareth, declareth the day in the goyng out of it, a maruelous worke of the hyghest:
3 At noone it burneth the earth, and who may abyde for the heate therof?
4 Who so kepeth an ouen when it is hot, three times more doth the sunne burne vpon the mountaynes: when it breatheth out the fire beames & shineth, with the brightnesse of it it blindeth the eyes.
5 Great is the Lorde that made it, and in his commaundement he causeth it to runne hastyly.
6 The moone also in al thinges according to her season is a declaration of the time, and a signe for the world.
7 The token of the solempne feast is taken of the moone, a light that minisheth and increaseth againe.
8 The moneth is called after the moone, it groweth wonderously in her changing.
9 The armie of heauen also is in ye heyght: in the firmament of heauen it geueth a cleare and a glorious shyne: This is the clearnesse of the starres, the beautifull apparell of heauen, the apparel that the Lorde lighteneth in the heyght.
10 In his holy worke they continue in their order, and not one of them fayleth in his watch.
11 Loke vpon the raynebow, and prayse hym that made it: very beautifull is it in his shine.
12 He compasseth the heauen about with a glorious circle, the handes of the highest haue bended it.
13 Through his commaundement he maketh the snow to fall, and the thunder of his iudgement to smyte hastyly.
14 Thorowe his commaundement the treasures are opened, and the cloudes flee as the foules.
15 In his power hath he strengthened the cloudes, and broken the hayle stones.
16 The mountaynes leape at the sight of hym, the winde bloweth accorcording to his will.
17 The sounde of his thunder beateth the earth, & so doth the storme of the north: the whirle wind also lighteth downe as a fethered foule, casteth out & spreadeth the snowe abrode, and as the grashoppers that destroy al, so falleth it downe.
18 The eye maruayleth at the beautie of the whytenesse therof, and the heart is afrayde at the rayne of it.
19 He powreth out the frost vpon earth like salt, and when it is frosen, it is as sharpe as the pricke of a thistle.
20 When the colde north winde bloweth, harde christall commeth of the water: He lighteth downe vpon all the gatheringes together of water, and putteth on the water as a brestplate.
21 He deuoureth the mountaynes, & burneth the wildernesses: and loke what is greene, he putteth it out lyke fire.
22 The medicine of all these is, when a cloude commeth hastyly, and when a deaw commeth vpon the heate, it shalbe refreshed againe.
23 In his worde he stilleth the winde, in his counsell he appeaseth the deepe, and hath planted Ilandes in it.
24 They that sayle ouer the sea, tel of the peryls and harmes therof, and when we heare it with our eares, we maruell therat.
25 For there be straunge wonderous workes, diuers maners of nyce beastes, and whale fishes.
26 Thorow him are al thinges set in good order and perfourmed, and in his word all thinges endure.
27 I speake much, but I can not sufficiently attayne vnto it: for he hym selfe onely is the perfection of all wordes.
28 We shoulde prayse the Lorde after all our power, for he is great in all his workes.
29 The Lorde is to be feared, yea very great is he, & maruelous is his power.
30 Prayse the Lord, and magnifie him as much as ye may, yet doth he far exceede all prayse: O magnifie him with al your power, and labour earnestly, yet are ye in no wise able sufficiently to prayse him.
31 Who hath seene hym, that he might tell vs? Who can magnifie hym so greatly as he is?
32 For there are hyd yet greater thinges then these be: as for vs, we haue seene but fewe of his workes.
33 For the Lorde hath made all thinges, & geuen wisdome to such as feare God.
1 Let vs commende the noble famous men, & the generation of our fore elders and fathers.
2 Many more glorious actes haue the Lorde done in them, and shewed his great power euer sence the beginning.
3 The noble famous men raigned in their kingdomes, and bare excellent rule, in their wysdome and vnderstanding, they folowed the counsel shewed in the prophecies.
4 They led the folke thorow the counsell and wysdome of the scribes of the people, wyse sentences are founde in their instruction:
5 They sought the sweetnesse and melodie of musicke, and brought foorth the pleasaunt songues in scripture:
6 They were riche also, and coulde comfort and pacifie those that dwelt with them.
7 All these were very noble and honorable men in their generations, & were well reported of in their times.
8 These haue left a name behynde them, so that their prayse shall alway be spoken of.
9 Afterward, there were some whose remembraunce is gone, they came to naught & perished as though they had neuer ben, and became as though they had neuer ben borne, yea and their children also with them.
10 Neuerthelesse these are louyng men, whose righteousnesse shall neuer be forgotten, but continue by their posteritie.
11 Their children are an holy good heritage: their seede endured fast in the couenaunt.
12 For their sakes shall their children and seede continue for euer, and their prayse shal neuer be put downe.
13 Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name lyueth for euermore.
14 The people can speake of their wysdome, and the congregation can talke of their prayse.
15 Enoch walked right and acceptably before the Lorde, therfore was he translated for an example of amendement to the generations.
16 Noe was a stedfast and righteous man, and in the time of wrath he became a reconciling: therfore was he left a remnaunt vnto the earth when the fludde came.
17 An euerlasting couenaunt was made with him, that all fleshe should perishe no more with the water.
18 Abraham was a great father of many people, in glorie was there none like vnto hym.
19 He kept the law of the hyghest, & came into a couenaunt with him.
20 He set the couenaunt in his fleshe, and when he was proued, he was founde faythfull.
21 Therfore swore God vnto him with an oth, that he woulde blesse all people in his seede, that he woulde multiplie and increase him as the dust of the earth, and to exalt his seede as the starres: yea and that his seede shoulde haue the possession, an inheritaunce of the lande, from sea to sea, and from the riuer vnto the borders of the worlde.
22 With Isaac dyd he stablishe the same couenaunt for Abraham his fathers sake: Yea that gratious blessing & health of all men, and couenaunt dyd he stablishe with Isaac, and made it rest vpon the head of Iacob.
23 He knewe him, in that he prospered him so wel and richely, and gaue him an heritage, and sundered his portion by it selfe, and parted among the twelue tribes.
24 Mercifull men brought he out of hym, whiche founde fauour in the sight of all fleshe.
1 Moyses beloued of God & men, whose remembraunce is in hie prayse:
2 Hym that the Lorde made like in the glorie of the sainctes, & magnified him, so that the enemies stoode in awe of him.
3 Through his wordes he did great wonders: he made hym glorious in the sight of kinges, gaue him commaundement before his people, and shewed him glorious power.
4 He stablished hym with faythfulnesse and mekenesse, and chose him out of all men.
5 For he hearde his voyce, and he led hym in the darke cloude, and there he gaue him the commaundementes, yea the law of life and wysdome: that he might teach Iacob the couenaunt and Israel his lawes.
6 He chose Aaron his brother also out of the tribe of Leui, exalted him, and made hym such like.
7 An euerlasting couenaunt made he with him, and gaue hym the priesthod in the people: He made him glorious in beautifull aray, and clothed him with the garment of honour.
8 He put perfect ioy vpon him, and girded hym with strength, he deckt hym with side clothes and a tunicle, with an ouerbody coate also, and a girdle.
9 Round about made he hym belles of golde, and that many: that when he went int, he sounde might be heard, that they might make a noyse in the sanctuarie, and geue the people warning.
10 The holy garment was wrought and bordered with golde, yelow silke, and purple: and in the brestlappe there was a goodly worke, wherin was fastened light and perfectnesse.
11 Upon the same also there was a worke fastened and set with costly precious stones all bound with golde, and this he brought in his ministration: The stones were fastened for a remembraunce, after the number of the twelue tribes of Israel.
12 Upon his miter there was a plate of pure gold, a grauen image of holinesse, a famous and noble worke, garnished, and pleasaunt to loke vpon.
13 Before hym were there seene no such faire ornamentes, & these it behoued him alway to vse: There might none other put them on, but onely his children, and his childers children perpetually.
14 Dayly perfourmed he his burnt offeringes two times.
15 Moyses filled his handes, & annoynted him with holy oyle: This was now confirmed him with an euerlasting couenaunt, and to his seede as the dayes of heauen: namely, that his children should alway minister before him, & perfourme the office of the priesthood, and wyshe the people good in his name.
16 Before al men lyuing chose he him, that he shoulde offer incense before the Lord, and make odours for a sweete sauour and remembraunce, that he should reconcile the people of the Lord with hym agayne.
17 He gaue him auctoritie also in his commaundementes and in the couenaunt, that he should teach Iacob the statutes and testimonies, and to enfourme Israel in the lawe.
18 Therfore there stoode vp certayne against him, and had enuie at him in the wildernesse: namely they that were of Dathan and Abirons side, and the furious congregation of Core.
19 This the Lorde saw, and it displeased hym, and in his wrathfull indignation were they consumed: A great wonder did he vpon them, and consumed them with the fire.
20 Besides this, he made Aaron yet more honorable and glorious, he gaue hym an heritage, & parted the first fruites vnto him: Unto him specially he appoynted the bread of sustenaunce,
21 For the priestes dyd eate of the offeringes of the Lorde: this gaue he vnto him and his seede.
22 Els had he no heritage nor portion in the land & with the people: for the Lord him selfe is his portion & inheritaunce.
23 The thirde noble and excellent man, is Phinehes the sonne of Eleazer, which pleased the God of Israel, because he had the zeale and feare of the Lord: For when the people were turned backe, he put him selfe foorth right soone, and that with a good will, to pacifie the wrath of the Lord towarde Israel.
24 Therfore was there a couenaunt of peace made with him, that he should be the principall among the righteous in the people, that he and his posteritie shoulde haue the office of the priesthood for euer.
25 Like as there was made a couenaunt with Dauid of the tribe of Iuda, that from among his sonnes only there shoulde be a king: and that Aaron also and his seede should be an heritage, to geue vs wysdome in our heart, to iudge his people in righteousnesse, that his goodes shoulde not come into forgetfulnesse, and that their honour might endure for euer.
1 Manly & strong in battel was Iesus the sonne of Naue, and was the successour of Moyses in prophesies, & was geuen to be captaine of the people, which according vnto his name was a great sauiour vnto the elect of God, to punishe the enemies that rose vp against Israel, that Israel might optayne their inheritaunce.
2 O how great, noble, and excellent was he, when he lift vp his hande and drewe out his sworde against the cities?
3 Who stoode so manly before him? for the Lord him selfe brought in the enemies?
4 Stoode not the sunne still at his commaundement, and one day was as long as two?
5 He called vpon the hyghest and most mightie when the enemies preassed vpon him on euery side, and the mightie Lord heard him with the hayle stones.
6 They smote the Heathenishe people mightyly, and in falling downe they slue all the aduersaries: so that the heathen knew his hoast, and all his defence, that the Lord him selfe fought against them: for he folowed vpon the mightie men of them.
7 In the time of Moyses also, he and Caleb the sonne of Iephune dyd a good worke, whiche stoode against the enemies, withheld the people from sinne, and stilled the wicked murmuring.
8 And of sixe hundreth thousande people of foote, they two were preserued to bring them into the heritage, namely, a lande that floweth with mylke & hony.
9 The Lord gaue strength also vnto Caleb, which remayned with him vnto his age: so that he went vp into the hie places of the land, and his seede conquered the same for an heritage:
10 That al the children of Israel might see howe good a thing it is to be obedient vnto the Lorde.
11 And the iudges or rulers euery one after his name, whose heart went not a whoring nor departed from the Lorde, and that forsooke not the Lord vnfaithfully, whose remembraunce hath a good report.
12 Yea their bones florishe out of their place, and their names shall neuer be chaunged: but honour remayneth still with the children of those holy men:
13 Samuel the prophete, beloued of the Lorde his God, ordayned a king, and annoynted the princes ouer the people.
14 In the lawe of the Lord ruled he, and iudged the congregation, and the Lorde had respect vnto Iacob.
15 The prophete was founde diligent in his faithfulnes: yea & he is knowen faithful in his workes, because he sawe the God of light.
16 He called vpon the Lorde almightie, when the enemies preassed vpon him on euery side, what time as he offered the sucking lambe.
17 And the Lorde thundered from heauen, & made his voyce to be heard with a great noyse.
18 He discomfited the princes of Tyre, and all the rulers of the Philistines.
19 Before his last ende, he made protestation in the sight of the Lorde and his annoynted, that he toke neither substaunce nor good of any man, no not so much as a shoe: and no man might accuse him.
20 After this he tolde that his ende was at hand, and shewed the king also his ende and death: and from the earth lyft he vp his voyce in the prophecie, that the vngodlie people should perishe.
1 Afterward in the time of king Dauid, there rose vp a prophet called Nathan.
2 For lyke as the fat is taken away from the offering: so was Dauid chosen out of the children of Israel.
3 He played with the lions as with kiddes, and with beares lyke as with lambes of sheepe.
4 Slewe he not a giaunt when he was yet but young, & toke away the rebuke fro his people, what time as he toke the stone in his hande, and smote downe proude Goliath with the sling?
5 For he called vpon the highest Lorde, which gaue him strength in his right hande, so that he ouerthrewe the mightie giaunt in the battaile, that he might set vp the horne of his people againe.
6 So he glorified him in ten thousand, and made him to haue a good report in the prayse of the Lorde, that he should weare a crowne of glorie.
7 For he destroyed the enemies on euery side, rooted out the Philistines his aduersaries, and brake their horne in sunder, lyke as it is broken yet this day.
8 In all his workes he praysed the hyest and holiest, and ascribed the honour vnto him: with his whole heart did he prayse the Lorde, and loued God that made him.
9 He set singers also before the aulter, & in their tune he made sweete songes, that they might geue prayses euery day to God with songes.
10 He ordayned to kepe the holy dayes worshipfully, & that the solempe feastes through the whole yere should be honorably holden, with praysing the name of the Lorde, and with singing betimes in the morning in the sanctuary.
11 The Lorde toke away his sinnes, and exalted his horne for euer: he gaue him the couenaunt of the kingdome, and the throne of worship in Israel.
12 After him there rose vp the wyse sonne [called Solomon.] who by him dwelt in a large possession, and for his sake he droue the enemies away far of.
13 This Solomon raigned with peace in his time, and he obtayned glory: For God gaue him rest from his enemies on euery side, that he might builde him an house in his name, and prepare the sanctuarie for euer.
14 How wyse wast thou in thy youth, and filled with wysdome and vnderstanding, as it were with a water flood?
15 Thou coueredst and filledst the whole lande with similitudes, & wyse prudent sentences.
16 Thy name went abrode in the Iles, because of thy peace thou wast beloued.
17 All landes maruailed at thy songes, prouerbes, similitudes, and at thy interpretations.
18 And in the name of the Lorde God, which is called the God of Israel, thou gatheredst golde as tinne, & thou hadst as much siluer as leade.
19 Thou wast moued in inordinate loue toward women, and wast ouercome in affection.
20 Thou staynedst thy honour & worship, yea thy posteritie defiledst thou also, in bringing the wrath of the Lorde vpon thy children, and hast felt sorowe for thy folly.
21 So that thy kingdome was deuided, and Ephraim became an vnfaithfull and a rebellious kingdome.
22 Neuerthelesse, God forsooke not his mercie, neither was he vtterly destroyed because of his workes, that he should leaue him no posteritie: as for the seede that came vpon him, which he loued, he brought it not vtterly to naught, but gaue yet a remnaunt vnto Iacob, and a roote vnto Dauid out of him.
23 Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and out of his seede he left behinde him a verie foolishnes of the people, and such one as had no vnderstanding: euen Roboam, which turned away the people through his counsell, and Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, which caused Israel to sinne, and shewed Ephraim the way of vngodlines:
24 Insomuch that their sinnes and misdeedes had the vpper hande so sore, that at the last they were driuen out of the lande for the same:
25 Yea, he sought out and brought vp all wickednes, tyll the vengeaunce came vpon them.
1 Then stoode vp Elias the prophete as a fyre, and his worde brent lyke a cresset.
2 He brought an hunger vpon them, and in his zeale he made the fewe in number: for they might not away with the commaundementes of the Lorde.
3 Through the worde of the Lorde he shut the heauen, & three times brought he the fire downe.
4 O Elias, howe honorable art thou in thy wonderons deedes? who may make his hoast to be lyke thee?
5 One that was dead thou raysedst vp from death, and in the worde of the hyest thou broughtest him out of the graue againe.
6 Thou hast cast downe kinges and destroyed them, and the honorable from their seate.
7 Upon the mount Sina thou heardest the iudgement, & vpon Horeb the iudgement of the vengeaunce.
8 Which diddest annoynt kinges to recompence, and ordaynedst prophetes after thee.
9 Thou wast taken vp in the storme of fire, in a charet of firie horses.
10 Thou wast ordayned in the reproouinges in time, to pacifie the wrath of the Lorde before it raged, to turne the heartes of the fathers vnto the children, & to set vp the tribes of Iacob againe.
11 Blessed were they that sawe thee, and were garnished in loue, for we lyue in lyfe: but after death we shall haue no such name.
12 Elias was couered in the storme, but Elizeus was filled with his spirite: while he lyued he was afrayde of no prince, and no man might ouercome him.
13 There coulde no worde deceaue him, and after his death his body prophecied.
14 He did wonders in his lyfe, & in death were his workes maruaylous.
15 For all this the people amended not, neither departed they from their sinnes, tyll they were caryed away prisoners out of the lande, and were scattered abrode in all countries, so that of them there remayned but a very litle people, and a prince vnto the house of Dauid.
16 Howbeit some of them did right, and some heaped vp vngodlynes.
17 Ezechias made his citie strong, conueyed water into it, digged through the stony rocke with iron, and made vp a wall by the water side.
18 In his time came Sennacherib vp, and sent Rabsakes, lyft vp his hande against Sion, & defied them with great pride.
19 Then trembled their heartes and handes, so that they sorowed lyke a woman trauayling with childe.
20 So they called vpon the Lord which is mercifull, and lyft vp their handes before him, immediately the Lorde heard them out of heauen.
21 He thought no more vpon their sinnes, nor gaue them ouer to their enemies: but deliuered them by the hande of Esaias.
22 He smote the hoast of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them.
23 For Ezechias had done the thing that pleased the Lorde, and remayned stedfastly in the way of Dauid his father, as Esaias the great & faithfull prophete in the sight of God had commaunded him.
24 In his time the sunne went backward, and he lengthened the kinges lyfe.
25 With a right spirite prophecied he what shoulde come to passe at the last: and to such as were sorowfull in Sion, he gaue consolation, wherewith they might comfort them selues for euermore.
26 He shewed thinges that were for to come and secrete, or euer they come to passe.
1 The remembraunce of Iosias, is lyke as whe the apothecarie maketh many precious sweete smelling thinges together: his remembraunce shalbe sweete as hony in all mouthes, and as the playing of musicke at a banket of wine.
2 He was appoynted to turne the people againe, and to take away all abhominations of the vngodlie.
3 He directed his heart vnto the Lorde, and in the time of the vngodlie he set vp the worship of God againe.
4 All kinges except Dauid, Ezechias, and Iosias, committed wickednes: for euen the kinges of Iuda also forsoke the lawe of God.
5 For they gaue their horne vnto other, their honour & worship also to a strauge people.
6 Therefore was the elect citie of the sanctuarie brent with fire, and the streetes therof layd desolate and waste in the hande of Ieremie.
7 For they entreated him euill, which neuerthelesse was a prophete, ordayned from his mothers wombe, that he might roote out, breake of, and destroy: and that he might builde vp, and plant againe.
8 Ezechiel sawe the glorie of the Lorde in a vision, which was shewed him vpon the charet of the Cherubims.
9 For he thought vpon the enemies in the rayne, to do good vnto such as had ordered their wayes aright.
10 And the bones of the twelue prophetes florished from out of their place: for they gaue comfort and consolation vnto Iacob, and deliuered them faithfully.
11 How shal we prayse Zorobabel, which was as a ring on the right hande?
12 So was Iesus also the sonne of Iosedec: these men in their times builded the house, & set vp the sanctuarie of the Lorde againe, which was prepared for an euerlasting worship.
13 And among the elect was Nehemias, whose renowme was great, which set vp for vs the walles that were broken downe, made the portes and barres againe, and builded our houses a new.
14 But vpon the earth is there no man created lyke Enoch: for he was taken vp from the earth.
15 Neither was there a lyke man vnto Ioseph, which was lord of his brethren, and the vpholder of his people: his bones were couered and kept.
16 Seth and Sem were in great honour among the people, and so was Adam aboue all the beastes when he was created.
1 Simon the sonne of Onias the hye priest, which in his lyfe set vp the house againe, and in his dayes made fast the temple.
2 The height of the temple also was founded of him, the double building, and the hye walles of the temple.
3 In his dayes the welles of water flowed out, and were exceeding full as the sea.
4 He toke care for his people, and deliuered them from destruction: he kept his citie & made it strong, that it shoulde not be besieged.
5 How honorable was his conuersation among the people, and when he came out of the house couered with the vaile?
6 He gaue lyght as the morning starre in the middest of the cloudes, and as the moone when it is full:
7 He shined as the sunne in the temple of God, he is as bright as the raynebowe in the faire cloudes,
8 And florisheth as the floures and roses in the spring of the yere, and as lylies by the riuers of water, like as the brauches vpon the mount Libanus in the time of summer:
9 As a fire and incense that is kindled, lyke as an whole ornament of pure gold set with all maner of precious stones,
10 And as an Oliue tree that is fruiteful, and as a Cypres tree which groweth vp an hye.
11 When he put on the garment of honour, and was clothed with al beawtie, when he went to the holy aulter, he made the garment of holynes honorable.
12 When he toke the portions out of the priestes hande, he him selfe stoode by the hearth of the aulter, and his brethren rounde about in order: as the braunches of Cedar tree vpo the mount Libanus, so stoode they rounde about him:
13 And as the braunches of the Oliue tree, so stoode all the sonnes of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lorde in their handes before al the congregation of Israel.
14 And that he might sufficiently perfourme his seruice vpon the aulter, and garnishe the offering of the highest god,
15 He stretched out his hande, and toke of the drinke offering, and powred in of the wine: so he poured vpon the bottome of the aulter a good smell vnto the highest prince.
16 Then began the sonnes of Aaron to sing, and to blow with trumpettes, and to make a great noyse, for a remembraunce and prayse vnto the Lorde.
17 Then al the people together were hasted, and fell downe to the earth vpon their faces to worship the Lorde their God, & to geue thankes to the almightie God.
18 They long goodly also with their voyces, so that there was a pleasaunt noyse in the great house of the Lorde.
19 And the people in their prayer besought the Lorde the highest that he would be mercifull, tyll the honour of the Lorde were perfourmed, and they had ended their ministration and seruice.
20 Then went he downe and stretched out his handes ouer the whole multitude of the people of Israel, that they shoulde geue prayse and thankes out of their lippes vnto the Lorde, and to reioyce in his name.
21 He began yet once also to pray, that he might openly shewe the thankesgeuing before the highest,
22 [Namely thus] O geue prayse and thankes all ye vnto the Lord our God, which hath euer done noble and great thinges, which hath increased our dayes from our mothers wombe, and dealt with vs according to his mercie,
23 That he wyll geue vs the ioyfulnes of heart, and peace for our time in Israel:
24 Which faithfully kepeth his mercie for vs euermore, and alway deliuereth vs in due season.
25 There be two maner of people that I abhorre from my heart, as for the third whom I hate, it is no people:
26 They that sit vpon the mountaine of Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolishe people that dwelt in Sichimis.
27 I Iesus, the sonne of Sirach Eleazarus, of Hierusalem, haue tokened vp these informations and documentes of wysdome and vnderstanding in this booke, and poured out the wysdome of my heart.
28 Blessed is he that exerciseth him selfe therein: & who so taketh such to heart, shalbe wyse for euer.
29 If he do these thinges, he shalbe strong in all: for the lyght of the Lorde leadeth him, which geueth wysdome to the godlie: The Lorde be praysed for euermore, so be it, so be it.
1 I wyll thanke thee O Lorde and king, and prayse thee O God my sauiour: I wyll yeelde prayse vnto thy name.
2 For thou art my defender and helper, and hast preserued my body from destruction, from the snares of trayterous tongues, and from the lippes that are occupied with lyes.
3 Thou hast ben my helper from such as stoode vp against me, and hast deliuered me after the multitude of thy mercie, and for thy holy names sake, from the roring of them that prepared them selues to deuour me, out of the handes of such as sought after my lyfe, from the multitude of them that troubled me,
4 And from them that went about to set fyre vpon me on euery side, so that I am not brent in the middest of the fyre:
5 From the deepe of hell, from an vncleane tongue, from lying wordes, from false accusation to the king, and from an vnrighteous tongue.
6 My soule shall prayse the Lorde vnto death: for my lyfe drewe nye vnto hell downewarde.
7 They compassed me round about on euery syde, and there was no man to helpe me: I loked about me if there were any man that would succour me: but there was none.
8 Then thought I vpon thy mercie O Lorde, and vpon thy actes that thou hast done euer of olde: [namely] that thou deliuerest such as put their trust in thee, and riddest them out of the handes of the heathen.
9 Thus lyft I vp my prayer from the earth, and prayed for deliueraunce from death.
10 I called vpon the Lorde the father of my Lorde, that he would not leaue me without helpe in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proude.
11 I wyll prayse thy name continually, yeelding honour and thankes vnto it: and so my prayer was heard.
12 Thou sauedst me from destruction, and deliueredst me from the vnrighteous time: therefore wyll I acknoweledge and prayse thee, and magnifie the name of the Lorde.
13 When I was yet but young, or euer I went astray, I desired wysdome openly in my prayer.
14 I came therfore before the temple and sought her vnto the last: then florished she vnto me, as a grape that is soone rype.
15 My heart reioyced in her, then went my foote the right way: yea from my youth vp sought I after her.
16 I bowed downe myne eare and receaued her: I founde me much wysdome, and prospered greatly in her.
17 Therfore wyll I ascribe the glory vnto him that geueth me wysdome.
18 For I am aduised to do thereafter, I wyll be gelous to cleaue vnto the thing that is good, so shall I not be confounded.
19 My soule hath wrestled with her, and I haue ben diligent to be occupied in her: I lift vp myne handes on hye, then was my soule lightened through wysdome that I knowledged my foolishnes.
20 I ordered my soule after her, she and I were one heart from the beginning, and I found her in cleannesse, and therfore shall I not be forsaken.
21 My heart longed after her, and I gat a good treasure.
22 Through her the Lorde hath geuen me a new tongue, wherewith I wyll prayse him.
23 O come vnto me ye vnlearned, and dwell in the house of wysdome:
24 Withdrawe not your selues from her, but talke & commune of these thinges: for your soules are very thirstie.
25 I opened my mouth, and spake: O come and bye wysdome without money.
26 Bowe downe your necke vnder her yoke, and your soule shall receaue wysdome: she is harde at hande, and is content to be founde.
27 Beholde with your eyes, howe that I haue had but litle labour, & yet haue founde much rest.
28 O receaue wysdome, and ye shal haue plenteousnes of siluer and golde in possession.
29 Let your minde reioyce in his mercie, and be not ashamed of his prayse.
30 Worke his worke betimes, and he shal geue you your rewarde in due season.