Wise superiors are very necessary, because the multitude follow their example. 6. Remit and forget injuries, detest pride, injustice, contumely, and avarice. 12. Life is short. 14. Pride is the root of all sins. 23. Just poverty is better than sinful riches. 31. Meekness and modesty are necessary in all men.Wise superiors are very necessarie, because the multitude folow their example. 6. Remitte and forget iniuries, detest pride, iniustice, contumelie, and auarice. 12. Life is short. 14. Pride is the roote of al sinnes. 23. Iust pouertie is better then sinful riches. 31. Mekenes and modestie are necessarie in al men.✦
A wise judge shall judge his people, and the principatus: rule, sovereignty, chief place, not a small sovereign state of the wise shall be stable.A wise iudge shal iudge his people, and the principalitie of the wise shal be stable.✦Judex sapiens judicabit populum suum, et principatus sensati stabilis erit.
2According to the Judge of the people, so also are his ministers: and what manner of man the ruler of a city is, such also are the inhabitants therein.According to the Iudge of the people, so also are his ministers : and what maner of man the ruler of a citie is, such also are the inhabitants therein.✦Secundum judicem populi, sic et ministri ejus : et qualis rector est civitatis, tales et inhabitantes in ea.
3An unwise king shall destroy his people: and cities shall be inhabited by the understanding of the prudent.An vnwise king shal destroy his people : and cities shal be inhabited by the vnderstanding of the prudent.✦Rex insipiens perdet populum suum : et civitates inhabitabuntur per sensum potentium.
4The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and he will raise up a profitable ruler for a time over it.The powre of the earth is in the hand of God, and he wil rayse vp a profitable ruler for a time ouer it.✦In manu Dei potestas terræ : et utilem rectorem suscitabit in tempus super illam.
5The prosperity of man is in the hand of God, and upon the face of the scribe he will put his honour.The prosperitie of man is in the hand of God, & vpon the face of the scribe he wil put his honour.In manu Dei prosperitas hominis, et super faciem scribæ imponet honorem suum.
6Any injury of thy neighbour remember not, and do nothing by works of injury.Anie iniurie of thy neighbour remember not, and doe nothing by workes of iniurie.✦Omnis injuriæ proximi ne memineris, et nihil agas in operibus injuriæ.
7Pride is odious before God and men: and all the iniquity of the nations is execrable.Pride is odious before God and men : and al the iniquitie of the nations is execrable.✦Odibilis coram Deo est et hominibus superbia, et execrabilis omnis iniquitas gentium.
8A kingdom is transfertur: transferred, carried over from one to another, not rendered into another language from nation unto nation, because of injustices, and injuries, and contumelias: insults, affronts, outrages, and diverse deceits.A kingdome is translated from nation vnto nation, because of iniustices, and iniuries, and contumelies, and diuerse deceites.✦Regnum a gente in gentem transfertur propter injustitias, et injurias, et contumelias, et diversos dolos.
9But nothing is more wicked then the covetous man. Why is earth and ashes proud?But nothing is more wicked then the couetous man. Why is earth and ashes proud?✦Avaro autem nihil est scelestius. Quid superbit terra et cinis ?
10Nothing is more wicked then to love money. For he hath his soul also to sell: because in his life he hath cast forth his most inward things:Nothing is more wicked then to loue money. For he hath his soule also to sel : because in his life he hath cast forth his most inward thinges :Nihil est iniquius quam amare pecuniam : hic enim et animam suam venalem habet, quoniam in vita sua projecit intima sua.
11All power is of short life. Long sickness grieveth the Physician.Al power is of short life. Long sicknes greueth the Physicion.✦Omnis potentatus brevis vita ; languor prolixior gravat medicum.
12Short sickness the Physician cutteth off at the first: so also the king is to day, and to morrow he shall die.Short sicknes the Physicion cutteth of at the first : so also the king is to day, & to morow he shal die.Brevem languorem præcidit medicus : sic et rex hodie est, et cras morietur.
13For when a man shall die, he shall inherit serpents, and beasts, and worms.For when a man shal die, he shal inherite serpents, and beasts, and wormes.Cum enim morietur homo, hæreditabit serpentes, et bestias, et vermes.
14The beginning of the pride of man, is to apostatare: revolt, fall away, forsake allegiance from God:The begynning of the pride of man, is to apostate from God :✦Initium superbiæ hominis apostatare a Deo :
15because his heart is departed from him that made him, for pride is the beginning of all sin: he that holdeth it, shall be filled with curses, and it shall subvertet: overthrow, cast down, ruin, not undermine an institution him in the end.because his hart is departed from him that made him, for pride is the begynning of al sinne : he that holdeth it, shal be filled with curses, & it shal subuert him in the end.quoniam ab eo qui fecit illum recessit cor ejus, quoniam initium omnis peccati est superbia. Qui tenuerit illam adimplebitur maledictis, et subvertet eum in finem.
16Therefore hath our Lord dishonoured the congregations of the evil, and hath destroyed them even to the end.Therfore hath our Lord dishonoured the congregations of the euil, & hath destroyed them euen to the end.✦Propterea exhonoravit Dominus conventus malorum, et destruxit eos usque in finem.
17God hath destroyed the seats of proud princes, and hath made the meek sit in their stead.God hath destroyed the seates of proud princes, and hath made the meeke sitte in their stead.Sedes ducum superborum destruxit Deus, et sedere fecit mites pro eis.
18God hath made the roots of the proud nations to wither, and hath planted the humble of the nations themselves.God hath made the rootes of the proud nations to wither, and hath planted the humble of the nations themselues.✦Radices gentium superbarum arefecit Deus, et plantavit humiles ex ipsis gentibus.
19Our Lord hath subverted the lands of the gentiles, and hath destroyed them even to the foundation.Our Lord hath subuerted the landes of the gentiles, and hath destroyed them euen to the fundation.✦Terras gentium evertit Dominus, et perdidit eas usque ad fundamentum.
20He hath made of them to wither, and hath destroyed them, and hath made the memory of them to cease from the earth.He hath made of them to wither, and hath destroyed them, and hath made the memorie of them to cease from the earth.Arefecit ex ipsis, et disperdidit eos, et cessare fecit memoriam eorum a terra.
21God hath destroyed the memory of the proud, and hath left the memory of them that are humble in understanding.God hath destroyed the memorie of the proud, and hath left the memorie of them that are humble in vnderstanding.Memoriam superborum perdidit Deus, et reliquit memoriam humilium sensu.
22Pride was not created to men: nor wrath to the nation of women.Pride was not created to men : nor wrath to the nation of wemen.✦Non est creata hominibus superbia, neque iracundia nationi mulierum.
23That seed of men shall be honoured, which feareth God: but that seed shall be dishonoured, which transgresseth the commandments of our Lord.That seede of men shal be honoured, which feareth God : but that seede shal be dishonoured, which transgresseth the commandments of our Lord.✦Semen hominum honorabitur hoc, quod timet Deum : semen autem hoc exhonorabitur, quod præterit mandata Domini.
24In the midst of brethren their ruler shall be in honour: and they that fear our Lord, shall be in his eyes.In the middes of brethren their ruler shal be in honour : and they that feare our Lord, shal be in his eyes.In medio fratrum rector illorum in honore : et qui timent Dominum erunt in oculis illius.
25The glory of the rich, of the honourable, and of the poor, is the fear of God:The glorie of the rich, of the honourable, and of the poore, is the feare of God :✦Gloria divitum, honoratorum, et pauperum, timor Dei est.
26Despise not the just man that is poor, and magnify not the sinful man that is rich.Despise not the iust man that is poore, and magnifie not the sinful man that is rich.✦Noli despicere hominem justum pauperem, et noli magnificare virum peccatorem divitem.
27The great one, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour, and there is none greater then he, that feareth God.The great one, and the iudge, and the mightie is in honour, and there is none greater then he, that feareth God.✦Magnus, et judex, et potens est in honore : et non est major illo qui timet Deum.
28Free men will serve a servant, that is wise: and a man that is prudent and hath disciplinatus: instruction, training, learning, not punishment only, will not murmur being rebuked, and the ignorant shall not be honoured.Free men wil serue a seruant, that is wise : and a man that is prudent and hath discipline, wil not murmur being rebuked, and the ignorant shal not be honoured.✦Servo sensato liberi servient : et vir prudens et disciplinatus non murmurabit correptus, et inscius non honorabitur.
29Extol not thyself in doing thy work, and linger not in the time of distress:Extol not thyself in doing thy worke, and linger not in the time of distresse :✦Noli extollere te in faciendo opere tuo, et noli cunctari in tempore angustiæ.
30better is he that worketh, and aboundeth in all things, then he that glorieth, and lacketh bread.better is he that worketh, and abundeth in al thinges, then he that glorieth, and lacketh bread.✦Melior est qui operatur et abundat in omnibus, quam qui gloriatur et eget pane.
31Son in mildness keep thy soul, and give him honour according to his desert.Sonne in mildenes keepe thy soule, and geue him honour according to his desert.✦Fili, in mansuetudine serva animam tuam, et da illi honorem secundum meritum suum.
32Him that sinneth against his own soul who shall justify? and who shall honour him that dishonoureth his own soul?Him that sinneth agaynst his owne soule who shal iustifie? and who shal honour him that dishonoureth his owne soule?Peccantem in animam suam quis justificabit ? et quis honorificabit exhonorantem animam suam ?
33The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear: and there is a man that is honoured for his substance.The poore man is glorified by his discipline and feare : & there is a man that is honoured for his substance.✦Pauper gloriatur per disciplinam et timorem suum : et est homo qui honorificatur propter substantiam suam.
34But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in substance? and he that is glorified in substance, let him fear poverty.But he that is glorified in pouertie, how much more in substance? and he that is glorified in substance, let him feare pouertie.Qui autem gloriatur in paupertate, quanto magis in substantia ! et qui gloriatur in substantia, paupertatem vereatur.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.