Offence of the tongue is a frequent and dangerous sin. 3. Riches are hurtful to a covetous, and to an envious mind. 11. works of mercy necessary. 22. and perseverance in Wisdom.Offence of the tongue is a frequent and dangerous sinne. 3. Riches are hurtful to a couetous, and to an enuious mind. 11. workes of mercie necessarie. 22. and perseuerance in Wisdom.✦
Blessed is the man that hath not offended in a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the sorrow of sin.BLESSED is the man that hath not offended in a worde out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the sorrow of sinne.✦Beatus vir qui non est lapsus verbo ex ore suo, et non est stimulatus in tristitia delicti.
2Happy is he, that hath not had heaviness of his mind, and hath not fallen from his hope.Happie is he, that hath not had heauines of his minde, and hath not fallen from his hope.Felix qui non habuit animi sui tristitiam, et non excidit a spe sua.
3Substance is without reason to the covetous man and tenaci: a miser, close-fisted hoarder, and for the spiteful envious man to what purpose is gold?Substance is without reason to the couetous man and niggard, and for the spiteful enuious man to what purpose is gold?✦Viro cupido et tenaci sine ratione est substantia : et homini livido ad quid aurum ?
4He that heapeth together from his heart unjustly, gathereth for others, and in his goods another will keep luxuriabitur: a violent public disturbance; wanton, dissolute excess.He that heapeth together from his hart vniustly, gathereth for others, and in his goodes an other wil kepe riote.Qui acervat ex animo suo injuste, aliis congregat, et in bonis illius alius luxuriabitur.
5He that is wicked to himself, to what other man will he be good? and he shall have no pleasure in his goods.He that is wicked to himselfe, to what other man wil he be good? and he shal haue no pleasure in his goodes.✦Qui sibi nequam est, cui alii bonus erit ? et non jucundabitur in bonis suis.
6He that envieth himself, nothing is worse than he; and this is the reward of his malice.He that enuieth himselfe, nothing is worse then he; and this is the reward of his malice.Qui sibi invidet, nihil est illo nequius : et hæc redditio est malitiæ illius.
7and if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and not willing: and at the last he manifesteth his malice.and if he doe good, he doth yt ignorantly, and not willing: and at the last he manifesteth his malice.Et si bene fecerit, ignoranter et non volens facit : et in novissimo manifestat malitiam suam.
8The eye of the envious is wicked, and turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul.The eye of the enuious is wicked, and turneth away his face, and despiseth his owne soule.✦Nequam est oculus lividi : et avertens faciem suam, et despiciens animam suam.
9The eye of the covetous man insatiable in a portion of iniquity, will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul withering it.The eye of the couetous man insatiable in a portion of iniquitie, wil not be satisfied til he consume his owne soule withering it.Insatiabilis oculus cupidi in parte iniquitatis : non satiabitur donec consumat arefaciens animam suam.
10An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall have his fill of bread, needy and in heaviness shall he be at his table.An euil eye is towards euil thinges: & he shal haue his fil of bread, needie & in heauines shal he be at his table.Oculus malus ad mala, et non saturabitur pane, sed indigens et in tristitia erit super mensam suam.
11Son if thou have it, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy oblations.Sonne if thou haue it, doe good to thyselfe, and offer to God worthie oblations.✦Fili, si habes, benefac tecum, et Deo dignas oblationes offer.
12Be mindful that death tardat: grows loose or lax; delayeth, tarrieth not, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewed thee: for the covenant of this world shall die the death.Be mindful that death slacketh not, and that the couenant of hel hath beene shewed thee: for the couenant of this world shal dye the death.✦Memor esto quoniam mors non tardat, et testamentum inferorum, quia demonstratum est tibi : testamentum enim hujus mundi morte morietur.
13Before death do good to thy friend, and according to thine ability stretching out thy hand, give to the poor.Before death do good to thy freind, and according to thine abilitie stretching out thy hand, geue to the poore.✦Ante mortem benefac amico tuo, et secundum vires tuas exporrigens da pauperi.
14Be not defrauded of thy good day, and let not a little portion of a good gift overpass thee.Be not defrauded of thy good day, and let not a litle portion of a good gift ouerpasse the.✦Non defrauderis a die bono, et particula boni doni non te prætereat.
15Shalt thou not leave to others thy sorrows, and labours in the division of the lot?Shalt thou not leaue to others thy sorrowes, & labours in the deuision of the lotte?Nonne aliis relinques dolores et labores tuos in divisione sortis ?
16Give and take, and justify thy soul.Geue and take, and iustifie thy soule.Da et accipe, et justifica animam tuam.
17Before thy death work justice: for in hell there can not meat be found.Before thy death worke iustice: for in hel there can not meat be found.Ante obitum tuum operare justitiam, quoniam non est apud inferos invenire cibum.
18All flesh shall veterascet: to coat with wax; to grow, become old as grass, and as the leaf fructifying on a green tree.Al flesh shal waxe olde as grasse, and as the leafe fructifying on a greene tree.✦Omnis caro sicut fœnum veterascet, et sicut folium fructificans in arbore viridi.
19Some grow, and some are shaken off: so the generation of flesh and blood, one is ended, and another is born.Some grow, and some are shaken of: so the generation of flesh and bloude, one is ended, and an other is borne.Alia generantur, et alia dejiciuntur : sic generatio carnis et sanguinis, alia finitur, et alia nascitur.
20All corruptible work shall fail in the end: and he that worketh it shall go therewith.Al corruptible worke shal faile in the end: and he that worketh it shal goe therwith.Omne opus corruptibile in fine deficiet, et qui illud operatur ibit cum illo.
21And every excellent work shall be justified: and he that worketh it, shall be honoured therein.And euerie excellent worke shal be iustified: and he that worketh it, shal be honoured therin.Et omne opus electum justificabitur, et qui operatur illud honorabitur in illo.
22Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in understanding shall consider the providence of God.Blessed is the man that shal continew in wisdom, and that shal meditate in his iustice, and in vnderstanding shal consider the prouidence of God.✦Beatus vir qui in sapientia morabitur, et qui in justitia sua meditabitur, et in sensu cogitabit circumspectionem Dei :
23He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, going after her as a searcher, and consistens: being composed of; taking his stand, abiding firm in her ways:He that considereth her wayes in his hart, and hath vnderstanding in her secrets, going after her as a searcher, and consisting in her wayes:qui excogitat vias illius in corde suo, et in absconditis suis intelligens, vadens post illam quasi investigator, et in viis illius consistens :
24He that looketh through her windows, and heareth in her gates:He that looketh through her windowes, and heareth in her gates:qui respicit per fenestras illius, et in januis illius audiens :
25He that resteth by her house, and in her walls fastening a stake will set up his cottage beside her hands, and good things shall rest in his cottage for ever.He that resteth by her house, & in her walles fastening a stake wil set vp his cotage beside her handes, and good thinges shal rest in his cottage for euer.qui requiescit juxta domum illius, et in parietibus illius figens palum, statuet casulam suam ad manus illius, et requiescent in casula illius bona per ævum.
26He shall set his children under her covering, and shall abide under her boughs:He shal set his children vnder her couering, and shal abide vnder her boughes:Statuet filios suos sub tegmine illius, et sub ramis ejus morabitur.
27he shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.he shal be protected vnder her couering from the heate, and shal rest in her glorie.Protegetur sub tegmine illius a fervore, et in gloria ejus requiescet.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.