Concord between brethren, neighbours, and man and wife, much pleaseth God. 3. A poor man proud, a rich man a liar, and an old man doting in carnal, or worldly things, are very hateful. 9. He that seeth his children good; and his enemies overthrown; hath a good wife; offendeth not in speech; consenteth not to sin; hath a true friend; teacheth good doctrine; hath sacred; and human knowledge: hath undoubtedly nine happy things: but to fear God containeth 14. and excelleth all. 17. A wicked woman (heresy) is very detestable, 30. and most intolerable, if she have supreme dominion.Concord betwen bretheren, neighboures, and man and wife, much pleaseth God. 3. A poore man proud, a richman a lier, and an old man doting in carnal, or worldlie thinges, are very hateful. 9. He that seeth his children good; and his enimies ouerthrowne; hath a good wife; offendeth not in speach; consenteth not to sinne; hath a true freind; teacheth good doctrine; hath sacred; and humane knowlege: hath vndoubtedly nine happie thinges: but to feare God conteyneth 14. and excelleth al. 17. A wicked woman (heresie) is very detestable, 30. and most vntolerable, if she haue supreme dominion.✦
In three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God, and men:IN three thinges my spirit is pleased, which are approued before God, and men:In tribus placitum est spiritui meo, quæ sunt probata coram Deo et hominibus :
2The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife well agreeing together.The concord of bretheren, and the loue of neighboures, and man and wife wel agreeing together.concordia fratrum, et amor proximorum, et vir et mulier bene sibi consentientes.
3Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life;Three sortes my soule hateth, and I am greatly greeued at their life;✦Tres species odivit anima mea, et aggravor valde animæ illorum :
4A poor man proud: and a rich man a liar: an old man a fool, and doting.A poore man proud: & a rich man a lyer: an old man a foole, and doting.✦pauperem superbum, divitem mendacem, senem fatuum et insensatum.
5The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?The thinges that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?✦Quæ in juventute tua non congregasti, quomodo in senectute tua invenies ?
6How beautiful is judgement for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!How beautiful is iudgement for a grey head, and for ancientes to know counsel!✦Quam speciosum canitiei judicium, et presbyteris cognoscere consilium !
7How beautiful is wisdom for the aged, and understanding glorious, and counsel!How beautiful is wisdom for the aged, & vnderstanding glorious, and counsel!✦Quam speciosa veteranis sapientia, et gloriosus intellectus et consilium !
8Much peritia: not the modern craftiness: skill, expert knowledge is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.Much cunning is the croune of old men, and the feare of God is their glorie.✦Corona senum multa peritia, et gloria illorum timor Dei.
9Nine things not to be imagined of the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will tell unto men with my tongue:Nine thinges not to be imagined of the hart haue I magnified, and the tenth I wil tel vnto men with my tongue:✦Novem insuspicabilia cordis magnificavi : et decimum dicam in lingua hominibus :
10A man that hath joy in his children; living and seeing the subversion of his enemies.A man that hath ioy in his children; liuing and seeing the subuersion of his enemies.✦homo qui jucundatur in filiis, vivens et videns subversionem inimicorum suorum.
11Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman; and that hath not offended with his tongue; and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman; & that hath not offended with his tongue; and that hath not serued such as are vnworthie of him.✦Beatus qui habitat cum muliere sensata, et qui lingua sua non est lapsus, et qui non servivit indignis se.
12Blessed is he that findeth a true friend; and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth:Blessed is he that findeth a true freind; and that declareth iustice to an eare that heareth:✦Beatus qui invenit amicum verum, et qui enarrat justitiam auri audienti.
13How great is he, that findeth wisdom; and knowledge; but he is not above him that feareth our Lord.How great is he, that findeth wisdom; and knowlege; but he is not aboue him that feareth our Lord.✦Quam magnus qui invenit sapientiam et scientiam ! sed non est super timentem Dominum.
14The fear of God hath set itself above all things:The feare of God hath set it self aboue al thinges:✦Timor Dei super omnia se superposuit.
15blessed is the man, to whom is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be resembled?blessed is the man, to whom is geuen to haue the feare of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shal he be resembled?Beatus homo cui donatum est habere timorem Dei : qui tenet illum, cui assimilabitur ?
16The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.The feare of God is the beginning of his loue: and the beginning of faith is to be fast ioyned vnto it.Timor Dei initium dilectionis ejus : fidei autem initium agglutinandum est ei.
17The heaviness of the heart is all plague: and all malice, the wickedness of a woman.The heauines of the hart is al plague: & al malice, the wickednes of a woman.✦Omnis plaga tristitia cordis est, et omnis malitia nequitia mulieris.
18And he will see all plague, and not the plague of the heart:And he wil see al plague, and not the plague of the hart:Et omnem plagam, et non plagam videbit cordis :
19and all wickedness, and not the wickedness of a woman:& al wickednes, & not the wickednes of a woman:et omnem nequitiam, et non nequitiam mulieris :
20and all obductum: a covering-over, dissembling of malice, and not the obduction of them that hate him:and al obduction, and not the obduction of them that hate him:et omnem obductum, et non obductum odientium :
21and all revenge, and not the revenge of the enemies.and al reuenge, and not the reuenge of the enemies.et omnem vindictam, et non vindictam inimicorum.
22There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:There is no head worse then the head of a serpent:Non est caput nequius super caput colubri,
23and there is no anger above the anger of woman. It shall be more pleasant to abide with a lion and dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman.and there is no anger aboue the anger of woman. It shal be more pleasant to abide with a lyon and dragon, then to dwel with a wicked woman.et non est ira super iram mulieris. Commorari leoni et draconi placebit, quam habitare cum muliere nequam.
24The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and will show it as a sack. In the midst of her neighbours,The wickednes of a woman changeth her face: and darkeneth her countenance as a beare: and wil shew it as a sacke. In the middes of her neighbours,✦Nequitia mulieris immutat faciem ejus : et obcæcat vultum suum tamquam ursus, et quasi saccum ostendit. In medio proximorum ejus
25her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.her husband groned, and hearing he sighed a litle.ingemuit vir ejus, et audiens suspiravit modicum.
26All malice is short to the malice of a woman, the lot of sinners fall upon her.Al malice is short to the malice of a woman, the lot of sinners fal vpon her.✦Brevis omnis malitia super malitiam mulieris : sors peccatorum cadat super illam.
27As the going up a gravelly way in the feet of the aged, so a woman full of tongue to a quiet man.As the goeing vp a grauelie way in the feete of the aged, so a woman ful of tongue to a quiet man.✦Sicut ascensus arenosus in pedibus veterani, sic mulier linguata homini quieto.
28Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.Looke not vpon a womans beautie, and desire not a woman for beautie.✦Ne respicias in mulieris speciem, et non concupiscas mulierem in specie.
29A woman's anger, and impudency, and confusion is great.A womans anger, and impudencie, and confusion is great.✦Mulieris ira, et irreverentia, et confusio magna.
30A woman if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.A woman if she haue superioritie, is contrarie to her husband.Mulier si primatum habeat, contraria est viro suo.
31An humbled heart, and heavy countenance, and plague of heart, is a wicked woman.An humbled hart, and heauie countenance, and plague of hart, is a wicked woman.Cor humile, et facies tristis, et plaga cordis, mulier nequam.
32Feeble bands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.Feeble bandes, and disiointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happie.✦Manus debiles et genua dissoluta, mulier quæ non beatificat virum suum.
33From woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we do all die.From woman came the beginning of sinne, and by her we doe al die.✦A muliere initium factum est peccati, et per illam omnes morimur.
34Give not exitum: not the modern problem or offspring: an outlet, a letting-out to thy water, no not a little: nor to a wicked woman leave, to go forth.Geue not issue to thy water, no not a litle: nor to a wicked woman leaue, to goe forth.✦Non des aquæ tuæ exitum, nec modicum : nec mulieri nequam veniam prodeundi.
35If she walk not at thine hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thine enemies.If she walke not at thine hand, she wil confound thee in the sight of thyn enemies.✦Si non ambulaverit ad manum tuam, confundet te in conspectu inimicorum.
36Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abutatur: misuse, take advantage of thee.Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she alwaies abuse thee.✦A carnibus tuis abscinde illam, ne semper te abutatur.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.