Wisdom by humility meriteth exaltation. 7. Judge not before examination. 16. Trust not in riches. 14. God sendeth both prosperity and adversity, for the good of his servants. 31. Take heed of the deceitful.Wisdom by humilitie meriteth exaltation. 7. Iudge not before examination. 16. Trust not in riches. 14. God sendeth both prosperitie and aduersitie, for the good of his seruants. 31. Take heede of the deceiptful.✦
The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make him sit in the midst of great men.THE wisdom of the humble shal exalt his head, & shal make him sitte in the middes of great men.✦Sapientia humiliati exaltabit caput illius, et in medio magnatorum consedere illum faciet.
2Praise not a man in his beauty, neither despise a man by his look.Prayse not a man in his beautie, neither despise a man by his looke.✦Non laudes virum in specie sua, neque spernas hominem in visu suo.
3The bee is small among fowls, and her fruit hath the beginning of sweetness.The bee is smal among fowles, and her fruite hath the beginning of sweetnes.✦Brevis in volatilibus est apis, et initium dulcoris habet fructus illius.
4In apparel do not glory at any time, nor be extolled in the day of thine honour, because the works of the Highest only be marvellous, and his works are glorious, and secret, and not seen.In apparel doe not glorie at any time, nor be extolled in the day of thine honour, because the workes of the Highest onlie be meruelous, and his workes are glorious, and secrete, and not seene.✦In vestitu ne glorieris umquam, nec in die honoris tui extollaris : quoniam mirabilia opera Altissimi solius, et gloriosa, et absconsa, et invisa opera illius.
5Many tyrants have sat in the throne, and he whom no man would think hath worn the crown.Manie tyrantes haue sitte in the throne, and he whom no man would thincke hath worne the crowne.✦Multi tyranni sederunt in throno : et insuspicabilis portavit diadema.
6Many mighty men have been greatly oppressed, and the glorious have been delivered into the hands of others.Manie mightie men haue bene greatly oppressed, and the glorious haue bene deliuered into the handes of others.Multi potentes oppressi sunt valide, et gloriosi traditi sunt in manus alterorum.
7Before thou enquire, blame no man: and when thou hast enquired, chasten justly.Before thou enquire, blame no man : and when thou hast enquired, chasten iustly.✦Priusquam interroges, ne vituperes quemquam : et cum interrogaveris, corripe juste.
8Before thou hear, answer not a word, and in the midst of ancients add not to speak.Before thou heare, answer not a word, and in the middes of ancients adde not to speake.Priusquam audias, ne respondeas verbum : et in medio sermonum ne adjicias loqui.
9Strive not for that thing, which doeth not molestat: physically or sexually assault; trouble, vex thee: and consistas: be composed of; take thy stand, take part not in the judgement of sinners.Striue not for that thing, which doeth not molest thee : and consiste not in the iudgement of sinners.✦De ea re quæ te non molestat, ne certeris : et in judicio peccantium ne consistas.
10Son let not thy doings be in many things: and if thou be rich, thou shalt not be free from sin. for if thou pursue, thou shalt not attain: and if thou run before, thou shalt not escape.Sonne let not thy doings be in manie things : and if thou be rich, thou shalt not be free from sinne. for if thou pursew, thou shalt not attayne : and if thou runne before, thou shalt not escape.✦Fili, ne in multis sint actus tui : et si dives fueris, non eris immunis a delicto. Si enim secutus fueris, non apprehendes : et non effugies, si præcucurreris.
11There is one that laboureth, and hasteneth, and is a sorrowful impious man, and so much the more he shall not abound.There is one that laboureth, and hasteneth, and is a sorowful impious man, and so much the more he shal not abound.✦Est homo laborans et festinans, et dolens : impius, et tanto magis non abundabit.
12There is a marcidus: sluggish and feeble man that wanteth recovery, more failing in strength, and abounding in poverty:There is a lither man that wanteth recouerie, more fayling in strength, and abunding in pouertie :Est homo marcidus egens recuperatione, plus deficiens virtute, et abundans paupertate :
13and the eye of God hath respected him in good, and hath erected him from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many have marvelled at him, and have honoured God.and the eie of God hath respected him in good, and hath erected him from his low estate, and hath exalted his head : and manie haue merueled at him, and haue honoured God.et oculus Dei respexit illum in bono, et erexit eum ab humilitate ipsius, et exaltavit caput ejus : et mirati sunt in illo multi, et honoraverunt Deum.
14Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and honesty are of God.Good thinges and euil, life and death, pouertie and honestie are of God.✦Bona et mala, vita et mors, paupertas et honestas, a Deo sunt :
15Wisdom and disciplina: instruction, training, and the knowledge of the law are with God. Love, and the ways of good things are with him.Wisdom and discipline, and the knowlege of the law are with God. Loue, and the wayes of good thinges are with him.sapientia, et disciplina, et scientia legis, apud Deum : dilectio, et viæ bonorum, apud ipsum.
16Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that rejoice in evils, wax old in evil.Errour and darkenes are created with sinners : and they that reioyce in euils, waxe old in euil.Error et tenebræ peccatoribus concreata sunt : qui autem exsultant in malis consenescunt in malo.
17The gift of God is permanent to the just, and his prospering shall have success for ever.The gift of God is permanent to the iust, and his prospering shal haue successe for euer.Datio Dei permanet justis, et profectus illius successus habebit in æternum.
18There is that is enriched by doing sparingly, and this is the portion of his rewardThere is that is enriched by doing sparingly, and this is the portion of his reward✦Est qui locupletatur parce agendo, et hæc est pars mercedis illius.
19in that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of my goods alone:in that he sayth : I haue found me rest, and now I wil eate of my goods alone :In eo quod dicit : Inveni requiem mihi, et nunc manducabo de bonis meis solus :
20and he knoweth not that time passeth, and death approacheth, and he must leave all to others, and shall die.and he knoweth not that time passeth, & death approcheth, and he must leaue al to others, and shal die.et nescit quod tempus præteriet, et mors appropinquet, et relinquat omnia aliis, et morietur.
21Stand in thy covenant, and colloquere: converse, discourse therein, and grow old in the work of thy commandments.Stand in thy couenant, and commen therein, and grow old in the worke of thy commandements.✦Sta in testamento tuo, et in illo colloquere, et in opere mandatorum tuorum veterasce.
22Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and tarry in thy place.Abide not in the workes of sinners. But trust in God, and tarie in thy place.Ne manseris in operibus peccatorum : confide autem in Deo, et mane in loco tuo.
23For it is easy in the eyes of God suddenly to enrich the poor man.For it is easie in the eies of God sodainly to enrich the poore man.✦Facile est enim in oculis Dei subito honestare pauperem.
24The blessing of God hasteth to the reward of the just, and in a swift hour his prospering fructifieth.The blessing of God hasteth to the reward of the iust, and in a swift houre his prospering fructifieth.Benedictio Dei in mercedem justi festinat, et in hora veloci processus illius fructificat.
25Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this?Say not : What neede I, and what good shal I haue by this?✦Ne dicas : Quid est mihi opus ? et quæ erunt mihi ex hoc bona ?
26Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made worse by this?Say not : I am sufficient for my self : and what shal I be made worse by this?Ne dicas : Sufficiens mihi sum : et quid ex hoc pessimabor ?
27In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the day of evils be not unmindful of good things:In the day of good things be not vnmindful of euils : and in the day of euils be not vnmindful of good thinges :In die bonorum ne immemor sis malorum, et in die malorum ne immemor sis bonorum :
28because it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every one according to his ways.because it is easie before God in the day of death to reward euerie one according to his wayes.✦quoniam facile est coram Deo in die obitus retribuere unicuique secundum vias suas.
29The malice of an hour maketh oblivion of great voluptuousness, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works.The malice of an houre maketh obliuion of great voluptuousnes, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his workes.✦Malitia horæ oblivionem facit luxuriæ magnæ, et in fine hominis denudatio operum illius.
30Before death praise no man, because a man is known in his children.Before death prayse no man, because a man is knowen in his children.✦Ante mortem ne laudes hominem quemquam : quoniam in filiis suis agnoscitur vir.
31Bring not every man into thine house: for there be many insidiae: snares, treacherous wiles of the deceitful man.Bring not euerie man into thine house : for there be manie traynes of the deceitful man.✦Non omnem hominem inducas in domum tuam : multæ enim sunt insidiæ dolosi.
32For as the stomachs belch of stinking breaths, and as the partridge is brought in the cage, and as the doe into the snare: so also the heart of the proud, and as a watchman that seeth the fall of his neighbour.For as the stomakes belche of stinking breathes, and as the partriche is brought in the cage, and as the doe into the snare : so also the hart of the proude, and as a watche man that seeth the fal of his neighbour.✦Sicut enim eructant præcordia fœtentium, et sicut perdix inducitur in caveam, et ut caprea in laqueum : sic et cor superborum, et sicut prospector videns casum proximi sui.
33For turning good things into evil he lieth in wait, and on the elect he will lay a blot.For turning good thinges into euil he lyeth in wayte, and on the elect he wil lay a blot.✦Bona enim in mala convertens insidiatur, et in electis imponet maculam.
34For of one spark fire is increased, and of a deceitful man blood is increased: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.For of one sparke fire is increased, and of a deceitful man bloud is increased : and a sinful man lyeth in wayte for bloud.✦A scintilla una augetur ignis, et ab uno doloso augetur sanguis : homo vero peccator sanguini insidiatur.
35Take heed to thyself of the pestifero: pestilent, plague-bringing person, for he forgeth evils: lest perhaps he bring upon thee derision for ever.Take heede to thy self of the pestiferous person, for he forgeth euils : lest perhaps he bring vpon thee derision for euer.✦Attende tibi a pestifero, fabricat enim mala, ne inducat super te subsannationem in perpetuum.
36Admit a stranger to thee, and he shall overthrow thee in a turbo: whirlwind, and shall make thee an alien from thine own.Admitte a straunger to thee, and he shal ouerthrow thee in an hurlewind, & shal make thee an aliene from thine owne.✦Admitte ad te alienigenam : et subvertet te in turbine, et abalienabit te a tuis propriis.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.