Godly knowledge, 16. purity of soul, 20. humble conceit of ourselves, 27. and consideration of eternal reward, are good dispositions to spiritual contemplation.Godlie knowlege, 16. puritie of soule, 20. humble conceipt of our selues, 27. and consideration of eternal reward, are good dispositions to spiritual contemplation.✦
The wise man will search out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.THE wise man wil search out the wisdom of al the ancientes, and wil be occupied in the prophetes.✦Sapientiam omnium antiquorum exquiret sapiens, et in prophetis vacabit.
2He will keep the narration of famous men, and will enter withal into the subtleties of parables.He wil keepe the narration of famous men, and wil enter withal into the subtilities of parables.✦Narrationem virorum nominatorum conservabit, et in versutias parabolarum simul introibit.
3He will search out the hidden senses of proverbs, and will converse in the secrets of parables.He wil search out the hidden senses of prouerbes, and wil conuerse in the secretes of parables.✦Occulta proverbiorum exquiret, et in absconditis parabolarum conversabitur.
4In the midst of great men he will minister, and in the sight of the præses: an elected head of state; the presiding governor, one set over others he shall appear.In the middes of great men he wil minister, and in the sight of the president he shal appeare.✦In medio magnatorum ministrabit, et in conspectu præsidis apparebit.
5He shall pass into the land of strange nations: for he shall tentare: to attempt; to test, put to the proof good and evil in men.He shal passe into the land of strange nations: for he shal trie good and euil in men.✦In terram alienigenarum gentium pertransiet : bona enim et mala in hominibus tentabit.
6He will give his heart to watch early unto our Lord, that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the Highest.He wil geue his hart to watch early vnto our Lord, that made him, and he wil pray in the sight of the Highest.Cor suum tradet ad vigilandum diluculo ad Dominum, qui fecit illum, et in conspectu Altissimi deprecabitur.
7He will open his mouth in prayer, and will entreat for his sins.He wil open his mouth in prayer, and wil entreate for his sinnes.Aperiet os suum in oratione, et pro delictis suis deprecabitur.
8For if it shall please our great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:For if it shal please our great Lord, he wil fil him with the spirit of vnderstanding:✦Si enim Dominus magnus voluerit, spiritu intelligentiæ replebit illum :
9and he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in prayer will confess to our Lord.and he wil power forth the wordes of his wisdom as showres, and in prayer wil confesse to our Lord.✦et ipse tamquam imbres mittet eloquia sapientiæ suæ, et in oratione confitebitur Domino :
10And he will direct his counsel, and discipline, and in his secrets he will consult.And he wil direct his counsel, and discipline, and in his secretes he wil consult.✦et ipse diriget consilium ejus, et disciplinam, et in absconditis suis consiliabitur.
11He will open the discipline of his doctrine, and will glory in the law of the testament of our Lord.He wil open the discipline of his doctrine, and wil glorie in the law of the testament of our Lord.✦Ipse palam faciet disciplinam doctrinæ suæ, et in lege testamenti Domini gloriabitur.
12Many will praise his wisdom, and it shall not be abolished for ever.Manie wil praise his wisdom, and it shal not be abolished for euer.✦Collaudabunt multi sapientiam ejus, et usque in sæculum non delebitur.
13The memory of him shall not depart, and his name shall be required from generation to generation.The memorie of him shal not depart, and his name shal be required from generation to generation.✦Non recedet memoria ejus, et nomen ejus requiretur a generatione in generationem.
14Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall show forth his praise.Nations shal declare his wisdom, and the church wil shew forth his praise.✦Sapientiam ejus enarrabunt gentes, et laudem ejus enuntiabit ecclesia.
15If he continue, he shall leave a name more than a thousand: and if he rest, it shall profit him.If he continew, he shal leaue a name more then a thousand: and if he rest, it shal profite him.✦Si permanserit, nomen derelinquet plus quam mille : et si requieverit, proderit illi.
16I will yet consult that I may declare: For as with fury I am repletus: filled full.I wil yet consult that I may declare: For as with furie I am replenished.✦Adhuc consiliabor ut enarrem : ut furore enim repletus sum.
17In voice he saith: Hear me ye divine fruits, and as the rose planted upon the rivers of waters fructify ye.In voice he saith: Heare me ye diuine fruites, and as the rose planted vpon the riuers of waters fructifie ye.✦In voce dicit : Obaudite me, divini fructus, et quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum fructificate.
18As Libanus have ye the odours of sweetness.As Libanus haue ye the odours of sweetnes.✦Quasi Libanus odorem suavitatis habete.
19Flourish ye flowers, as the lily, and give forth an odour, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with song, and bless our Lord in his works.Florish ye flowres, as the lilie, and geue forth an odour, and bring forth leaues in grace, and praise with songue, and blesse our Lord in his workes.✦Florete flores quasi lilium : et date odorem, et frondete in gratiam : et collaudate canticum, et benedicite Dominum in operibus suis.
20Give magnificence to his name, and confess unto him in the voice of your lips, and in songs of the lips, and harps, and thus shall ye say in confession:Geue magnificence to his name, and confesse vnto him in the voice of your lippes, and in songues of the lippes, and harpes, & thus shal ye say in confession:Date nomini ejus magnificentiam, et confitemini illi in voce labiorum vestrorum, et in canticis labiorum, et citharis : et sic dicetis in confessione :
21All the works of our Lord are exceeding good.Al the workes of our Lord are exceeding good.Opera Domini universa bona valde.
22At his word the water stood as an heap: and at the word of his mouth as it were receptacles of waters:At his word the water stood as an heape: and at the word of his mouth as it were receptacles of waters:✦In verbo ejus stetit aqua sicut congeries : et in sermone oris illius sicut exceptoria aquarum :
23because in his commandment placor: appeasement, a being made favourable is made, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.because in his commandment placabilitie is made, and there is no diminishing of his saluation.✦quoniam in præcepto ipsius placor fit, et non est minoratio in salute ipsius.
24The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.The workes of al flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.✦Opera omnis carnis coram illo, et non est quidquam absconditum ab oculis ejus.
25From world to world he beholdeth, and nothing is marvellous in his sight.From world to world he beholdeth, and nothing is meruelous in his sight.✦A sæculo usque in sæculum respicit, et nihil est mirabile in conspectu ejus.
26It is not to be said: What is this, or what is that? for all things shall be sought in their time.It is not to be saied: What is this, or what is that? for al thinges shal be sought in their time.✦Non est dicere : Quid est hoc, aut quid est istud ? omnia enim in tempore suo quærentur.
27His blessing hath overflowed as a stream.His blessing hath ouerflowed as a streame.✦Benedictio illius quasi fluvius inundavit.
28And as a flood hath watered the dry land, so his wrath shall inherit the nations, that have not sought him:And as a flood hath watered the drie land, so his wrath shal inherite the nations, that haue not sought him:✦Quomodo cataclysmus aridam inebriavit, sic ira ipsius gentes quæ non exquisierunt eum hæreditabit.
29even as he turned waters into drought, and the earth was made dry: and his ways are direct to the ways of them: so to sinners stumbling blocks in his wrath.euen as he turned waters into drught, and the earth was made drie: and his waies are direct to the waies of them: so to sinners stumbling blockes in his wrath.✦Quomodo convertit aquas in siccitatem, et siccata est terra, et viæ illius viis illorum directæ sunt, sic peccatoribus offensiones in ira ejus.
30Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good things and evil.Good thinges were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good thinges and euil.✦Bona bonis creata sunt ab initio : sic nequissimis bona et mala.
31The beginning of the thing necessary for the life of men, water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flower, and honey, and the cluster of grape, and oil, and clothing.The beginning of the thing necessarie for the life of men, water, fire, and yron, salt, milke, and bread of flower, and honie, and the cluster of grape, and oyle, & clothing.✦Initium necessariæ rei vitæ hominum, aqua, ignis, et ferrum, sal, lac, et panis similagineus, et mel, et botrus uvæ, et oleum, et vestimentum.
32All these shall be converted to saints into good, so also to the impious and to sinners into evil.Al these shal be conuerted to saintes into good, so also to the impious and to sinners into euil.✦Hæc omnia sanctis in bona, sic et impiis et peccatoribus in mala convertentur.
33There are spirits, that were created for vengeance, and in their fury they have confirmed their torments:There are spirites, that were created for vengeance, and in their furie they haue confirmed their tormentes:✦Sunt spiritus qui ad vindictam creati sunt, et in furore suo confirmaverunt tormenta sua.
34in the time of consummatio: the end, the completion they shall pour out strength: and they shall accomplish the fury of him, that made them.in the time of consummation they shal power out strength: and they shal accomplish the furie of him, that made them.✦In tempore consummationis effundent virtutem, et furorem ejus qui fecit illos placabunt.
35Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance:Fire, haile, famine, and death, al these were created for vengeance:Ignis, grando, fames, et mors, omnia hæc ad vindictam creata sunt :
36the teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and sword revenging the impious unto destruction:the teeth of beastes, and scorpions, and serpentes, and sword reuenging the impious vnto destruction:bestiarum dentes, et scorpii, et serpentes, et rhomphæa vindicans in exterminium impios.
37In his commandments they shall make merry, and on the earth they shall be prepared when need is, and in their times they shall not præterire: pass over, leave undone a word.In his commandmentes they shal make merrie, and on the earth they shal be prepared when nede is, and in their times they shal not pretermitte a word.✦In mandatis ejus epulabuntur : et super terram in necessitatem præparabuntur, et in temporibus suis non præterient verbum.
38Therefore from the beginning I was confirmed, and I have consulted, and thought, and left written.Therefore from the beginning I was confirmed, and I haue consulted, and thought, and leaft written.✦Propterea ab initio confirmatus sum, et consiliatus sum, et cogitavi, et scripta dimisi.
39All the works of our Lord are good, and he will give every work in his hour.Al the workes of our Lord are good, & he wil geue euerie worke in his houre.✦Omnia opera Domini bona, et omne opus hora sua subministrabit.
40It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be approved in their time.It is not to be said: This is worse then that: for al shal be approued in their time.✦Non est dicere : Hoc illo nequius est : omnia enim in tempore suo comprobabuntur.
41And now with all heart and mouth praise ye, and bless the name of our Lord.And now with al hart and mouth praise ye, and blesse the name of our Lord.✦Et nunc in omni corde et ore collaudate, et benedicite nomen Domini.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.