A few good children, yea none at all, are better than many wicked. 9. God's wrath falleth upon the evil, and his mercy on the good. 14. works of mercy merit great reward. 15. Nothing is hid from God, 20. but many things from men.A few good children, yea none at al, are better then manie wicked. 9. Gods wrath falleth vpon the euil, and his mercie on the good. 14. workes of mercie merite great reward. 15. Nothing is hid from God, 20. but manie thinges from men.✦
Rejoice not in impious children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted upon them, if the fear of God be not in them.REIOICE not in impious children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted vpon them, if the feare of God be not in them.✦Ne jucunderis in filiis impiis, si multiplicentur : nec oblecteris super ipsos, si non est timor Dei in illis.
2Credit not their life, and respect not their labours.Credite not their life, and respect not their labours.✦Non credas vitæ illorum, et ne respexeris in labores eorum.
3For better is one fearing God, than a thousand impious children.For better is one fearing God, then a thousand impious children.Melior est enim unus timens Deum, quam mille filii impii :
4And it is more profitable to die without children, rather than to leave impious children.And it is more profitable to die without children, rather then to leaue impious children.et utile est mori sine filiis, quam relinquere filios impios.
5By one wise a country shall be inhabited, and the tribe of the impious shall be made desolate.By one wise a countrie shal be inhabited, and the tribe of the impious shal be made desolate.✦Ab uno sensato inhabitabitur patria : tribus impiorum deseretur.
6Many such things hath mine eye seen, and mine ear hath heard things of more force than these.Manie such thinges hath mine eie sene, and myne eare hath heard thinges of more force then these.✦Multa talia vidit oculus meus, et fortiora horum audivit auris mea.
7In the synagoga: assembly, congregation of sinners a fire shall flame, and in an incredulous nation wrath shall wax hot.In the synagogue of sinners a fire shal flame, and in an incredulous nation wrath shal waxe hotte.✦In synagoga peccantium exardebit ignis, et in gente incredibili exardescet ira.
8The old giants did not obtain for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:The old giantes did not obteine for their sinnes, who were destroied trusting to their owne strength:✦Non exoraverunt pro peccatis suis antiqui gigantes, qui destructi sunt confidentes suæ virtuti.
9and he spared not the peregrinatio: sojourning, wandering as a stranger of Lot, and he detested them for the pride of their word.and he spared not the peregrination of Lot, and he detested them for the pride of their word.✦Et non pepercit peregrinationi Lot, et execratus est eos præ superbia verbi illorum.
10He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation, and extolling themselves in their sins.He had not pitie on them, destroying the whole nation, and extolling themselues in their sinnes.✦Non misertus est illis, gentem totam perdens, et extollentem se in peccatis suis.
11And as the six hundred thousand foot men, which were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiff necked, it is marvel if he had been unpunished.And as the six huudred thousand foote men, which were gathered together in the hardnes of their hart : and if one had bene stiffe necked, it is meruel if he had bene vnpunished.✦Et sicut sexcenta millia peditum, qui congregati sunt in duritia cordis sui : et si unus fuisset cervicatus, mirum si fuisset immunis.
12For there is mercy and wrath with him. Mighty exoratio: prevailing entreaty, the power of being effectually besought, and pouring out wrath:For there is mercie and wrath with him. Mightie exoration, & powring out wrath :✦Misericordia enim et ira est cum illo : potens exoratio, et effundens iram.
13according to his mercy, so his chastisement judgeth a man according to his works.according to his mercie, so his chastisement iudgeth a man according to his workes.✦Secundum misericordiam suam, sic correptio illius homines secundum opera sua judicat.
14The sinner shall not escape in robbery, and the sufferentia: grudging toleration; forbearance, patient endurance of him that doth mercy shall not slack.The sinner shal not escape in robberie, and the sufferance of him that doth mercie shal not slacke.✦Non effugiet in rapina peccator, et non retardabit sufferentia misericordiam facientis.
15All mercy shall make a place to every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the understanding of his peregrination.Al mercie shal make a place to euerie man according to the merite of his workes, & according to the vnderstanding of his peregrination.✦Omnis misericordia faciet locum unicuique, secundum meritum operum suorum, et secundum intellectum peregrinationis ipsius.
16Say not; I shall be hid from God, and from on high who shall remember me?Say not; I shal be hid from God, and from on high who shal remember me?Non dicas : A Deo abscondar : et ex summo, quis mei memorabitur ?
17In a great people I shall not be known: for what is my soul among so innumerable creatures?In a great people I shal not be knowen : for what is my soule among so innumerable creatures?in populo magno non agnoscar : quæ est enim anima mea in tam immensa creatura ?
18Behold heaven, and the heavens of heavens; the depth, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, in his sight shall be moved,Behold heauen, and the heauens of heauens; the depth, and al the earth, & the thinges that are in them, in his sight shal be moued,Ecce cælum et cæli cælorum, abyssus, et universa terra, et quæ in eis sunt, in conspectu illius commovebuntur.
19the mountains together, and the little hills, and the foundations of the earth: and when God shall behold them, they shall be shaken with trembling.the mountaines together, and the litle hilles, & the fundations of the earth: & when God shal behold them, they shal be shaken with trembling.Montes simul, et colles, et fundamenta terræ, cum conspexerit illa Deus, tremore concutientur.
20And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood of him:And in al these thinges the hart is senseles: and euerie hart is vnderstood of him :✦Et in omnibus his insensatum est cor, et omne cor intelligitur ab illo.
21and his ways who doth understand, and the storm, which neither the eye of man shall see?and his wayes who doth vnderstand, and the storme, which neither the eie of man shal see?✦Et vias illius quis intelligit, et procellam quam nec oculus videbit hominis ?
22For many of his works are in secrets: but the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall sustain? For the testamentum: covenant is far from some, and the examination of all is in consummatio: completion, the end of all things.For manie of his workes are in secretes: but the workes of his iustice who shal declare? or who shal susteine? For the testament is far from some, and the examination of al is in consummation.✦Nam plurima illius opera sunt in absconsis : sed opera justitiæ ejus quis enuntiabit, aut quis sustinebit ? longe enim est testamentum a quibusdam, et interrogatio omnium in consummatione est.
23He that is less of heart, thinketh vain things: and the unwise, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.He that is lesse of hart, thinketh vaine thinges : and the vnwise, and erring man, thinketh folish thinges.✦Qui minoratur corde cogitat inania, et vir imprudens et errans cogitat stulta.
24Hear me my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart,Heare me my sonne, and lerne the discipline of vnderstanding, and attend to my wordes in thy hart,✦Audi me, fili, et disce disciplinam sensus, et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo :
25and I will speak discipline in equity, and will search to declare wisdom, and to my words attend in thy heart, and I speak in equity of spirit the virtues, that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and in truth I show forth his knowledge.and I wil speake discipline in equitie, and wil search to declare wisedom, and to my wordes attend in thy hart, and I speake in equitie of spirit the vertues, that God hath put vpon his workes from the beginning, and in truth I shew forth his knowlege.et dicam in æquitate disciplinam, et scrutabor enarrare sapientiam : et in verbis meis attende in corde tuo, et dico in æquitate spiritus virtutes quas posuit Deus in opera sua ab initio, et in veritate enuntio scientiam ejus.
26In the judgement of God are his works from the beginning, and from the institution of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their nations.In the iudgement of God are his workes from the beginning, and from the institution of them he distinguished their partes, and their beginninges in their nations.✦In judicio Dei opera ejus ab initio, et ab institutione ipsorum distinxit partes illorum, et initia eorum in gentibus suis.
27He adorned their works for ever, neither have they hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.He adorned their workes for euer, neither haue they hungred, nor laboured, and they haue not ceased from their workes.✦Ornavit in æternum opera illorum : nec esurierunt, nec laboraverunt, et non destiterunt ab operibus suis.
28Every one shall not vex his neighbour for ever.Euerie one shal not vexe his neighbour for euer.✦Unusquisque proximum sibi non angustiabit in æternum :
29Be not incredulous to his word.Be not incredulous to his word.✦non sis incredibilis verbo illius.
30After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his good things.After this God looked vpon the earth, & filled it with his good thinges.✦Post hæc Deus in terram respexit, et implevit illam bonis suis :
31And the soul of every living thing shall show before the face thereof, and into it again is their return.And the soule of euerie liuing thing shal shew before the face thereof, and into it againe is their returne.✦anima omnis vitalis denuntiavit ante faciem ipsius, et in ipsam iterum reversio illorum.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.