Use benevolence towards good men. 10. Trust not enemies over much.Vse beneuolence towards good men. 10. Trust not enemies ouer much.✦
If thou wilt do good, know to whom thou doest it, and there shall be much thanks in thy good deeds.IF thou wilt doe good, know to whom thou doest it, and there shal be much thanke in thy good deedes.✦Si benefeceris, scito cui feceris, et erit gratia in bonis tuis multa.
2Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great reward: and if not of him, assuredly of our Lord.Doe good to the iust, and thou shalt finde great rewarde : and if not of him, assuredly of our Lord.✦Benefac justo, et invenies retributionem magnam : et si non ab ipso, certe a Domino.
3For it is not well with him, that is ever occupied in evil things, and that giveth not alms: because the Highest both hateth sinners, and hath mercy on them that are penitent.For it is not wel with him, that is euer occupied in euil thinges, and that geueth not almes : because the Highest both hateth sinners, and hath mercie on them that are penitent.✦Non est enim ei bene qui assiduus est in malis, et eleemosynas non danti : quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores, et misertus est pœnitentibus.
4Give to the merciful, and receive not the sinner: both to the impious, and to sinners he will repay vengeance, keeping them unto the day of vengeance.Geue to the merciful, and receiue not the sinner : both to the impious, & to sinners he wil repay vengeance, keping them vnto the day of vengeance.✦Da misericordi, et ne suscipias peccatorem : et impiis et peccatoribus reddet vindictam, custodiens eos in diem vindictæ.
5Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.Geue to the good, and receiue not a sinner.✦Da bono, et non receperis peccatorem.
6Do good to the humble, and give not to the impious: prohibe panes illi dari: forbid bread to be given to him, withhold bread to give him bread, lest therein he be mightier than thou:Doe good to the humble, and geue not to the impious : prohibite to geue him bread, lest therin he be mightier then thou :Benefac humili, et non dederis impio : prohibe panes illi dari, ne in ipsis potentior te sit :
7for thou shalt find double evils in all the good, whatsoever thou shalt do to him: because the Highest hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the impious.for thou shalt finde duble euils in al the good, whatsoeuer thou shalt do to him : because the Highest hateth sinners, and wil repay vengeance to the impious.✦nam duplicia mala invenies in omnibus bonis quæcumque feceris illi, quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores, et impiis reddet vindictam.
8A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hid in adversity.A freind shal not be knowen in prosperitie, and an enimie shal not be hid in aduersitie.✦Non agnoscetur in bonis amicus, et non abscondetur in malis inimicus.
9In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are in sorrow, and in affliction a friend is known.In the prosperitie of a man, his enimies are in sorow, and in affliction a freind is knowne.In bonis viri, inimici illius in tristitia : et in malitia illius, amicus agnitus est.
10Credit not thine enemy for ever: for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth:Credite not thyn enemie for euer : for as a brasse potte his wickednes rusteth :✦Non credas inimico tuo in æternum : sicut enim æramentum æruginat nequitia illius :
11and if humbling himself he go crouching, be advised in thy mind, and beware of him.and if humbling himself he goe crouching, be aduised in thy mind, and beware of him.✦et si humiliatus vadat curvus, adjice animum tuum, et custodi te ab illo.
12Place him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest perhaps turning into thy place, he seek after thy seat: and at the last thou know my words, and be stimuleris: stung, goaded in my sayings.Place him not by thee, neither let him sitte on thy right hand, lest perhaps turning into thy place, he seke after thy seate : and at the last thou know my wordes, and be pricked in my sayinges.Non statuas illum penes te, nec sedeat ad dexteram tuam, ne forte conversus in locum tuum, inquirat cathedram tuam, et in novissimo agnosces verba mea, et in sermonibus meis stimuleris.
13Who will have pity upon the enchanter percusso: struck, bitten of a serpent, or of any that come near to beasts? so also he that keepeth company with a wicked man, and is wrapped in his sins.Who wil haue pittie vpon the inchanter stricking of a serpent, or of anie that come nere to beastes ? so also he that kepeth companie with a wicked man, and is wrapped in his sinnes.Quis miserebitur incantatori a serpente percusso, et omnibus qui appropiant bestiis ? et sic qui comitatur cum viro iniquo, et obvolutus est in peccatis ejus.
14For one hour he will tarry with thee: but if thou decline, he will not abide it.For one houre he wil tarie with thee : but if thou decline, he wil not abide it.✦Una hora tecum permanebit : si autem declinaveris, non supportabit.
15In his lips the enemy speaketh sweetly, and in his heart he lieth in wait, that he may overthrow thee into the pit.In his lippes the enimie speaketh swetely, and in his hart he lyeth in wayte, that he may ouerthrow thee into the pitte.✦In labiis suis indulcat inimicus, et in corde suo insidiatur ut subvertat te in foveam.
16In his eyes the enemy weepeth: and if he may find a time, he will not be satisfied with blood:In his eyes the enimie weepeth : and if he may finde a time, he wil not be satisfied with bloud :✦In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus, et si invenerit tempus, non satiabitur sanguine.
17and if evils happen to thee, thou shalt find him there firstand if euils happen to thee, thou shalt finde him there firstEt si incurrerint tibi mala, invenies eum illic priorem.
18In his eyes the enemy weepeth, and as it were helping thee, he will undermine thy feet.In his eyes the enimie weepeth, and as it were helping thee, he wil vndermine thy feete.In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus, et quasi adjuvans suffodiet plantas tuas.
19He will shake his head, and clap his hand, and whispering many things he will change his countenance.He wil shake his head, and clappe his hand, and whispering manie thinges he wil change his countenance.✦Caput suum movebit, et plaudet manu, et multa susurrans commutabit vultum suum.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.