Fear of God defendeth from all adversaries. 5. Folly is inconstant. 8. God disposeth all to the best. 13. Man is in God's hand, as clay in the potter's. 20. Superiors must keep their authority: and their subjects in discipline.Feare of God defendeth from al aduersaries. 5. Follie is vnconstant. 8. God disposeth al to the best. 13. Man is in Gods hand, as clay in the potters. 20. Superiors must keepe their auctoritie: and their subiectes in discipline.✦
To him that feareth our Lord evils shall not happen, but in temptation God will keep him, and deliver him from evils.TO him that feareth our Lord euils shal not happen, but in tentation God wil keepe him, and deliuer him from euils.✦Timenti Dominum non occurrent mala : sed in tentatione Deus illum conservabit, et liberabit a malis.
2A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall not be shaken as a ship in a storm.A wise man hateth not the commaundments and iustices, and he shal not be shaken as a shippe in a storme.✦Sapiens non odit mandata et justitias, et non illidetur quasi in procella navis.
3A man of understanding believeth the law of God, and the law is sure to him.A man of vnderstanding beleueth the law of God, and the law is sure to him.✦Homo sensatus credit legi Dei, et lex illi fidelis.
4He that repeateth an interrogationem: hostile questioning; a question, inquiry, shall better prepare his answer, and so shall be heard, and shall keep discipline.He that repeteth an interrogation, shal better prepare his answer, and so shal be heard, and shal keepe discipline.✦Qui interrogationem manifestat parabit verbum, et sic deprecatus exaudietur : et conservabit disciplinam, et tunc respondebit.
5The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: and his cogitatus: thought as a turning axletree.The hart of a foole is as a wheele of a carte: & his cogitation as a turning axeltree.✦Præcordia fatui quasi rota carri, et quasi axis versatilis cogitatus illius.
6A stallion horse neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him, so a friend that is a scorner.A stalion horse neyeth vnder euerie one that sitteth vpon him, so a freind that is a scorner.✦Equus emissarius, sic et amicus subsannator : sub omni supra sedente hinnit.
7Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and one year another year of the sun?Why doth one day excel an other, and one light an other, and one yeare an other yeare of the sunne?✦Quare dies diem superat, et iterum lux lucem, et annus annum a sole ?
8By the knowledge of our Lord they were separated, the sun being made, and keeping the precept.By the knowlege of our Lord they were seperated, the sunne being made, and keeping the precept.✦A Domini scientia separati sunt, facto sole, et præceptum custodiente.
9And he changed times, and the festival days thereof, and in the same they celebrated the festival days at an hour.And he changed times, and the festiual daies thereof, and in the same they celebrated the festiual daies at an houre.✦Et immutavit tempora, et dies festos ipsorum, et in illis dies festos celebraverunt ad horam.
10Of them God exalted and magnified, and of them he put into the number of days. And all men are of the ground, and of the earth, from whence Adam was created.Of them God exalted and magnified, and of them he put into the number of daies. And al men are of the ground, and of the earth, from whence Adam was created.✦Ex ipsis exaltavit et magnificavit Deus, et ex ipsis posuit in numerum dierum : et omnes homines de solo et ex terra unde creatus est Adam.
11In the multitude of the discipline of our Lord he separated them, and changed their ways.In the multitude of the discipline of our Lord he separated them, and changed their waies.✦In multitudine disciplinæ Dominus separavit eos, et immutavit vias eorum.
12Of them he blessed, and exalted: and of them he sanctified, and applied to himself: and of them he cursed and humbled, and converted them from their separation.Of them he blessed, and exalted: and of them he sanctified, and applied to himself: and of them he cursed and humbled, and conuerted them from their separation.✦Ex ipsis benedixit et exaltavit, et ex ipsis sanctificavit, et ad se applicavit, et ex ipsis maledixit, et humiliavit, et convertit illos a separatione ipsorum.
13As potter's clay is in his hand, to fashion and dispose it.As potters clay is in his hand, to fashion and dispose it.Quasi lutum figuli in manu ipsius, plasmare illud et disponere.
14All his ways according to his disposition: so man in the hand of him, and he will render to him according to his judgment.Al his wayes according to his disposition: so man in the hand of him, and he wil render to him according to his iudgement.Omnes viæ ejus secundum dispositionem ejus : sic homo in manu illius qui se fecit, et reddet illi secundum judicium suum.
15Against evil is good, and against death life: so also against a just man a sinner. And so look upon all the works of the Highest. Two against two, and one against one.Against euil is good, and against death life: so also against a iust man a sinner. And so looke vpon al the workes of the Highest. Two against two, and one against one.✦Contra malum bonum est, et contra mortem vita : sic et contra virum justum peccator, et sic intuere in omnia opera Altissimi, duo et duo, et unum contra unum.
16And I awaked last, and as he that gathereth berries after the grape gatherers.And I awaked last, and as he that gathereth bearies after the grape gatherers.Et ego novissimus evigilavi, et quasi qui colligit acinos post vindemiatores.
17In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as he that gathereth grapes, have I filled the wine press.In the blessing of God I also haue hoped: and as he that gathereth grapes, haue I filled the wine presse.In benedictione Dei et ipse speravi, et quasi qui vindemiat replevi torcular.
18See that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that seek out discipline.See that I haue not laboured for myself only, but for al that seeke out discipline.✦Respicite quoniam non mihi soli laboravi, sed omnibus exquirentibus disciplinam.
19Hear me ye great men, and all peoples, and ye rulers of the Church hearken with your ears.Heare me ye great men, and al peoples, and ye rulers of the Church harken with your eares.✦Audite me, magnates et omnes populi : et rectores ecclesiæ, auribus percipite.
20To son and wife, brother and friend, give not power over thee in thy life: and give not thy possession to another: lest perhaps thou repent thee, and thou entreat for them.To sonne and wife, brother and freind, geue not power ouer thee in thy life: and geue not thy possession to an other: lest perhaps thou repent thee, and thou entreate for them.✦Filio et mulieri, fratri et amico, non des potestatem super te in vita tua : et non dederis alii possessionem tuam, ne forte pœniteat te, et depreceris pro illis.
21Whiles thou art yet alive and takest breath, all flesh shall not change thee.Whiles thou art yet aliue and takest breath, al flesh shal not change thee.✦Dum adhuc superes et aspiras, non immutabit te omnis caro.
22For it is better that thy children ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.For it is better that thy children aske of thee, then that thou looke toward the hands of thy children.✦Melius est enim ut filii tui te rogent, quam te respicere in manus filiorum tuorum.
23In all thy works be praecellens: delicately beautiful; excellent, surpassing, pre-eminent.In al thy workes be exquisite.In omnibus operibus tuis præcellens esto.
24Give no stain to thy glory. In the day of the consummation of the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease distribute thine inheritance.Geue no staine to thy glorie. In the day of the consummation of the dayes of thy life, and in the time of thy decease distribute thine inheritance.Ne dederis maculam in gloria tua. In die consummationis dierum vitæ tuæ, et in tempore exitus tui, distribue hæreditatem tuam.
25Fodder, and virga: a magician's rod; a rod or staff for driving, and burden for an ass: bread, and discipline, and work for a servant.Fodder, and wande, and burden for an asse: bread, and discipline, and worke for a seruant.✦Cibaria, et virga, et onus asino : panis, et disciplina, et opus servo.
26He worketh in discipline, and seeketh to rest: release him his hands, and he seeketh liberty.He worketh in discipline, and seeketh to rest: release him his handes, and he seeketh libertie.✦Operatur in disciplina, et quærit requiescere : laxa manus illi, et quærit libertatem.
27The yoke and the rein bend a stiff neck, and continual works do bow a servant.The yoke and the reyne bend a stiff necke, and continual workes do bowe a seruant.Jugum et lorum curvant collum durum, et servum inclinant operationes assiduæ.
28For a malicious servant torment and fetters, send him into work, that he be not idle.For a malicious seruant torment & fetters, send him into worke, that he be not idle.✦Servo malevolo tortura et compedes : mitte illum in operationem, ne vacet :
29For idleness hath taught much malitiam: mild misbehaviour; wickedness, malice.For idlenes hath taught much naughtines.✦multam enim malitiam docuit otiositas.
30Set him to work: for so it becometh him. And if he be not obedient, bow him with fetters, and exceed not over all flesh: but without judgment do no grievous thing.Set him to worke: for so it becometh him. And if he be not obedient, bow him with fetters, and exceede not ouer al flesh: but without iudgement doe no greuous thing.✦In opera constitue eum : sic enim condecet illum. Quod si non obaudierit, curva illum compedibus, et non amplifices super omnem carnem : verum sine judicio nihil facias grave.
31If thou have a faithful servant, let him be unto thee as thy soul: as a brother so tracta: to beg or plead with; to treat, deal with, handle him: because in the blood of thy soul thou hast gotten him.If thou haue a faithful seruant, let him be vnto thee as thy soule: as a brother so entreate him: because in the bloud of thy soule thou hast gotten him.✦Si est tibi servus fidelis, sit tibi quasi anima tua : quasi fratrem sic eum tracta, quoniam in sanguine animæ comparasti illum.
32If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away:If thou hurt him vniustly, he wil runne away:Si læseris eum injuste, in fugam convertetur :
33if rising up he depart: thou knowest not whom to ask, and what way to seek him.if rising vp he depart: thou knowest not whom to aske, and what way to seeke him.et si extollens discesserit, quem quæras et in qua via quæras illum nescis.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.