God's wonderful works exceed man's capacity. 7. Our weakness is strengthened by grace. 15. whereto man must cooperate, 19. by purging his conscience, 22. by prayer, 24. by meditating God's judgements, 30. and by mortifying his own concupiscence.Gods wonderful workes excede mans capacitie. 7. Our weaknes is streingthened by grace. 15. wherto man must cooperate, 19. by purging his conscience, 22. by prayer, 24. by meditating Gods iudgements, 30. and by mortifying his owne concupiscence.✦
He that liveth for ever, created all things together. God only shall be justified, and remaineth an invincible king for ever.HE that liueth for euer, created al thinges together. God onlie shal be iustified, and remaineth an inuincible king for euer.✦Qui vivit in æternum creavit omnia simul. Deus solus justificabitur, et manet invictus rex in æternum.
2Who is sufficient to declare his works?Who is sufficient to declare his workes?Quis sufficit enarrare opera illius ?
3For who shall search out his glorious things?For who shal search out his glorious thinges?quis enim investigabit magnalia ejus ?
4and who shall shew forth the power of his greatness? or who shall add to declare his mercy?and who shal shew forth the powre of his greatnesse? or who shal adde to declare his mercie?✦virtutem autem magnitudinis ejus quis enuntiabit ? aut quis adjiciet enarrare misericordiam ejus ?
5It is not possible to diminish, nor add, neither is it possible to find the glorious works of God:It is not possible to diminish, nor adde, neither is it possible to finde the glorious workes of God:✦Non est minuere neque adjicere, nec est invenire magnalia Dei.
6When a man shall have done, then shall he begin: and when he shall rest, he shall work.When a man shal haue done, then shal he beginne: and when he shal rest, he shal worke.✦Cum consummaverit homo, tunc incipiet : et cum quieverit, aporiabitur.
7What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what his evil?What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what his euil?✦Quid est homo ? et quæ est gratia illius ? et quid bonum aut quid nequam illius ?
8The number of the days of men at the most an hundred years: as drops of the water of the sea they are reputed: and as the gravel stone of the sand, so a few years in the day of eternity.The number of the daies of men at the most an hundred yeares: as droppes of the water of the sea they are reputed: and as the grauel stone of the sand, so a few yeares in the day of eternitie.✦Numerus dierum hominum, ut multum centum anni, quasi gutta aquæ maris deputati sunt : et sicut calculus arenæ, sic exigui anni in die ævi.
9For this cause God is patient toward them, and poureth out his mercy upon them.For this cause God is patient toward them, and powreth out his mercie vpon them.✦Propter hoc patiens est Deus in illis, et effundit super eos misericordiam suam.
10He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is mala: nothing; worthless, evil, and hath known their subversion that it is evil.He hath senne the presumption of their hart that it is naught, and hath knowen their subuersion that it is euil.✦Vidit præsumptionem cordis eorum, quoniam mala est : et cognovit subversionem illorum, quoniam nequam est.
11Therefore hath he fulfilled his propitiatio toward them, and hath shewed them the way of equity.Therefore hath he fulfilled his propitiation toward them, and hath shewed them the way of equitie.Ideo adimplevit propitiationem suam in illis, et ostendit eis viam æquitatis.
12Man's compassion is touching his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh.Mans compassion is touching his neigbour: but the mercie of God is vpon al flesh.Miseratio hominis circa proximum suum : misericordia autem Dei super omnem carnem.
13He that hath mercy, teacheth, and instructeth, as a pastor his flock.He that hath mercie, teacheth, and instructeth, as a pastour his flocke.✦Qui misericordiam habet, docet et erudit quasi pastor gregem suum.
14He hath mercy on him that receiveth the doctrine of compassion, and he that hasteneth in his judgements.He hath mercie on him that receiueth the doctrine of compassion, and he that hasteneth in his iudgementes.✦Miseretur excipientis doctrinam miserationis, et qui festinat in judiciis ejus.
15Son in good deeds give no blame, and in every gift give not the sadness of an evil word.Sonne in good deedes geue no blame, and in euerie gift geue not the sadnes of an euil word.Fili, in bonis non des querelam, et in omni dato non des tristitiam verbi mali.
16Shall not the dew cool heat? so also a word better than a gift.Shal not the dew coole heate? so also a word better then a gift.Nonne ardorem refrigerabit ros ? sic et verbum melius quam datum.
17Is not a word above a good gift? but both are with a justified man.Is not a word aboue a good gift? but both are with a iustified man.Nonne ecce verbum super datum bonum ? sed utraque cum homine justificato.
18A fool will upbraid bitterly: and the gift of one untaught maketh the eyes to dry away.A foole wil vpbraide bitterly: and the gift of one vntaught maketh the eies to drie away.Stultus acriter improperabit : et datus indisciplinati tabescere facit oculos.
19Before judgement prepare thee justice, and before thou speak learn.Before iudgement prepare thee iustice, and before thou speake lerne.✦Ante judicium para justitiam tibi, et antequam loquaris, disce.
20Before sickness take medicine, and before judgement examine thyself, and in the sight of God thou shalt find propitiation.Before sickenes take medicine, and before iudgement examine thyself, and in the sight of God thou shalt finde propitiation.Ante languorem adhibe medicinam : et ante judicium interroga teipsum, et in conspectu Dei invenies propitiationem.
21Before sickness humble thy self, and in time of infirmity shew thy conversatio: talk; manner of life, conduct.Before sickenes humble thy self, and in time of infirmitie shew thy conuersation.Ante languorem humilia te, et in tempore infirmitatis ostende conversationem tuam.
22Be not hindered to pray always, and fear not to be justified even to death: because the reward of God abideth for ever.Be not hindered to pray alwayes, & feare not to be iustified euen to death: because the reward of God abideth for euer.✦Non impediaris orare semper, et ne verearis usque ad mortem justificari, quoniam merces Dei manet in æternum.
23Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that tempteth God.Before praier prepare thy soule: and be not as a man that tempteth God.✦Ante orationem præpara animam tuam, et noli esse quasi homo qui tentat Deum.
24Remember the wrath in the day of consummation, and the time of reward in conversation of the face.Remember the wrath in the day of consummation, and the time of reward in conuersation of the face.✦Memento iræ in die consummationis, et tempus retributionis in conversatione faciei.
25Remember poverty in the time of abundance, and the necessities of poverty in the day of riches.Remember pouertie in the time of abundance, and the necessities of pouertie in the day of riches.Memento paupertatis in tempore abundantiæ, et necessitatum paupertatis in die divitiarum.
26From morning unto evening time shall be changed, and all these are sown in the eyes of God.From morning vnto euening time shal be changed, & al these are sowne in the eies of God.A mane usque ad vesperam immutabitur tempus, et hæc omnia citata in oculis Dei.
27A wise man in all things will fear, and in the days of offences will beware of sloth.A wise man in al thinges wil feare, & in the daies of offences wil beware of sloth.✦Homo sapiens in omnibus metuet, et in diebus delictorum attendet ab inertia.
28Every subtle man knoweth wisdom, and to him that findeth her he will give praise.Euerie subtile man knoweth wisdom, and to him that findeth her he wil geue prayse.Omnis astutus agnoscit sapientiam, et invenienti eam dabit confessionem.
29The wise in words, and they also have done wisely: and have understood truth and justice, and have impluerunt: poured forth, showered down proverbs and judgements.The wise in wordes, and they also haue done wisely: and haue vnderstood truth and iustice, and haue rayned prouerbes & iudgementes.Sensati in verbis et ipsi sapienter egerunt, et intellexerunt veritatem et justitiam, et impluerunt proverbia et judicia.
30Go not after thy concupiscences, and turn away from thy will.Goe not after thy concupiscences, and turne away from thy wil.Post concupiscentias tuas non eas, et a voluntate tua avertere.
31If thou give to thy soul her concupiscences; she will make thee a joy to the enemies.If thou geue to thy soule her concupiscences; she wil make thee a ioy to the enemies.Si præstes animæ tuæ concupiscentias ejus, faciet te in gaudium inimicis tuis.
32Be not delighted in multitudes, nor in few: for their commissio: contention, strife is continual.Be not delighted in multitudes, nor in few: for their concertation is continual.Ne oblecteris in turbis nec in modicis : assidua enim est commissio illorum.
33Be not poor in contention of borrowing, and thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be envious to thine own life.Be not poore in contention of borowing, and thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be enuious to thine owne life.Ne fueris mediocris in contentione ex fœnore, et est tibi nihil in sacculo : eris enim invidus vitæ tuæ.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.