An exhortation to practise works of mercy. 12. With commendation of wisdom: 23. (and observing due times) not to omit for any fear, or shamefastness, to say the truth, 34. also to be diligent, meek, and liberal.An exhortation to practise workes of mercie. 12. With commendation of wisdom: 23. (& obseruing due times) not to omite for anie feare, or shamfastnes, to say the truth, 34. also to be diligent, meke, and liberal.✦
Son defraud not the alms of the poor, and turn not away thine eyes from the poor.SONNE defraude not the almes of the poore, and turne not away thyne eies from the poore.✦Fili, eleemosynam pauperis ne defraudes, et oculos tuos ne transvertas a paupere.
2Despise not the hungry soul: and exasperes: provoke, embitter not the poor in his poverty.Despise not the hungrie soule: and exasperate not the poore in his pouertie.✦Animam esurientem ne despexeris, et non exasperes pauperem in inopia sua.
3Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not the gift to him that is in distress.Afflict not the hart of the needie, and deferre not the gift to him that is in distresse.✦Cor inopis ne afflixeris, et non protrahas datum angustianti.
4Reject not the petition of him that is afflicted: and turn not away thy face from the needy.Reiect not the petition of him that is afflicted: and turne not away thy face from the needie.✦Rogationem contribulati ne abjicias, et non avertas faciem tuam ab egeno.
5From the poor turn not away thine eyes for anger: and leave not to them that ask of thee, to curse thee behind thy back.From the poore turne not away thine eies for anger: and leaue not to them that aske of thee, to curse thee behinde thy backe.✦Ab inope ne avertas oculos tuos propter iram : et non relinquas quærentibus tibi retro maledicere.
6For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his soul, shall be heard: and he that made him, will hear him.For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitternes of his soule, shal be heard: and he that made him, wil heare him.✦Maledicentis enim tibi in amaritudine animæ, exaudietur deprecatio illius : exaudiet autem eum qui fecit illum.
7Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and to the ancient humble thy soul, and to a great man bow thy head.Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poore, and to the ancient humble thy soule, and to a great man bow thy head.✦Congregationi pauperum affabilem te facito : et presbytero humilia animam tuam, et magnato humilia caput tuum.
8Bow down thine ear to the poor without sadness, and render thy debt, and answer him peaceable words in mildness.Bow downe thyne eare to the poore without sadnesse, and render thy debt, and answer him peaceable wordes in mildenes.✦Declina pauperi sine tristitia aurem tuam, et redde debitum tuum, et responde illi pacifica in mansuetudine.
9Deliver him that suffereth injury out of the hand of the proud: and be not faint hearted in thy soul.Deliuer him that suffereth iniurie out of the hand of the proud: and be not faynt harted in thy soule.✦Libera eum qui injuriam patitur de manu superbi, et non acide feras in anima tua.
10In judging be merciful to pupillis: schoolchildren; orphans, fatherless wards as a father, and as an husband to their mother:In iudging be merciful to pupils as a father, & as an husband to their mother:✦In judicando esto pupillis misericors ut pater, et pro viro matri illorum :
11and thou shalt be as the obedient son of the Highest, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.and thou shalt be as the obedient sonne of the Highest, and he wil haue mercie on thee more then a mother.✦et eris tu velut filius Altissimi obediens, et miserebitur tui magis quam mater.
12Wisdom inspireth life to her children, and receiveth them that seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.Wisdom inspireth life to her children, and receaueth them that seeke after her, and wil goe before them in the way of iustice.✦Sapientia filiis suis vitam inspirat : et suscipit inquirentes se, et præibit in via justitiæ.
13And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that shall watch to her, shall embrace her sweetness.And he that loueth her, loueth life: and they that shal watch to her, shal embrace her sweetnes.✦Et qui illam diligit, diligit vitam, et qui vigilaverint ad illam complectentur placorem ejus.
14They that shall hold her, shall inherit life: and whithersoever he shall enter, God will bless him.They that shal hold her, shal inherite life: and whither soeuer he shal enter, God wil blesse him.✦Qui tenuerint illam, vitam hæreditabunt : et quo introibit benedicet Deus.
15They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy: and them that love her God loveth.They that serue her, shal be seruants to the holie: and them that loue her God loueth.Qui serviunt ei obsequentes erunt sancto : et eos qui diligunt illam, diligit Deus.
16He that heareth her, shall judge nations: and he that beholdeth her, shall remain confident.He that heareth her, shal iudge nations: and he that beholdeth her, shal remayne confident.✦Qui audit illam judicabit gentes : et qui intuetur illam permanebit confidens.
17If he believe her, he shall inherit her, and her creatures shall be in confirmation:If he beleue her, he shal inherite her, and her creatures shal be in confirmation:✦Si crediderit ei, hæreditabit illam, et erunt in confirmatione creaturæ illius :
18because in tentatione: trial, temptation she walketh with him, and first of all she chooseth him.because in tentation she walketh with him, and first of al she chooseth him.✦quoniam in tentatione ambulat cum eo, et in primis eligit eum.
19Fear and dread, and probationem: supervised period after conviction; proving, testing, trial she will bring upon him: and she will torment him in the tribulation of her doctrine, till she try him in her cogitations, and credit his soul.Feare and dread, and probation she wil bring vpon him: and she wil torment him in the tribulation of her doctrine, til she trie him in her cogitations, and credite his soule.✦Timorem, et metum, et probationem inducet super illum : et cruciabit illum in tribulatione doctrinæ suæ, donec tentet eum in cogitationibus suis, et credat animæ illius.
20And she will establish him, and make a direct way unto him, and rejoice him,And she wil establish him, and make a direct way vnto him, and reioyce him,✦Et firmabit illum, et iter adducet directum ad illum, et lætificabit illum :
21and will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him as treasures knowledge and understanding of justice.and wil disclose her secretes to him, and wil heape vpon him as treasures knowlege and vnderstanding of iustice.✦et denudabit absconsa sua illi, et thesaurizabit super illum scientiam et intellectum justitiæ.
22But if he go amiss, she will forsake him, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy.But if he goe amis, she wil forsake him, and deliuer him into the handes of his enimie.✦Si autem oberraverit, derelinquet eum, et tradet eum in manus inimici sui.
23Son observe time, and avoid from evil.Sonne obserue time, and avoyd from euil.✦Fili, conserva tempus, et devita a malo.
24For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.For thy soule be not ashamed to say the truth.✦Pro anima tua ne confundaris dicere verum :
25For there is shame that bringeth sin, and there is shame that bringeth glory and grace.For there is shame that bringeth sinne, & there is shame that bringeth glorie and grace.✦est enim confusio adducens peccatum, et est confusio adducens gloriam et gratiam.
26Accept no face against thine own face, nor against thy soul a lie.Accept no face against thine owne face, nor against thy soule a lie.✦Ne accipias faciem adversus faciem tuam, nec adversus animam tuam mendacium.
27Reverence not thy neighbour in his offence:Reuerence not thy neighbour in his offence:✦Ne reverearis proximum tuum in casu suo,
28nor keep in a word in time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in the beauty thereof.nor kepe in a word in time of saluation. Hide not thy wisdom in the beautie thereof.✦nec retineas verbum in tempore salutis. Non abscondas sapientiam tuam in decore suo :
29For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and knowledge, and doctrine by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in the works of justice.For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and vnderstanding, and knowlege, and doctrine by the word of the wise, and steedfastnes in the workes of iustice.in lingua enim sapientia dignoscitur : et sensus, et scientia, et doctrina in verbo sensati, et firmamentum in operibus justitiæ.
30Do not contradicas: contradict, deny, speak against the word of truth by any means, and be ashamed of the lie of thine unskilfulness.Doe not gaynesay the word of truth by any meanes, and be ashamed of the lie of thyne vnskilfulnes.✦Non contradicas verbo veritatis ullo modo, et de mendacio ineruditionis tuæ confundere.
31Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, and submit not thyself to every man for sin.Be not ashamed to confesse thy sinnes, and submite not thy self to euerie man for sinne.Non confundaris confiteri peccata tua, et ne subjicias te omni homini pro peccato.
32Resist not against the face of the mighty, neither labour against the stream of the river.Resist not against the face of the mightie, neither labour against the streame of the riuer.✦Noli resistere contra faciem potentis, nec coneris contra ictum fluvii.
33For justice contend for thy soul, and unto death strive for justice, and God will overthrow thine enemies for thee.For iustice contend for thy soule, and vnto death striue for iustice, and God wil ouerthrow thyne enemies for thee.✦Pro justitia agonizare pro anima tua, et usque ad mortem certa pro justitia : et Deus expugnabit pro te inimicos tuos.
34Be not hasty in thy tongue: and unprofitable, and remiss in thy works.Be not hastie in thy tongue: and vnprofitable, and remisse in thy workes.✦Noli citatus esse in lingua tua, et inutilis, et remissus in operibus tuis.
35Be not as a lion in thy house, overthrowing them of thy household, and oppressing them that are subject to thee.Be not as a lion in thy house, ouerthrowing them of thy houshold, and oppressing them that are subiect to thee.✦Noli esse sicut leo in domo tua, evertens domesticos tuos, et opprimens subjectos tibi.
36Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and closed to give.Let not thine hand be stretched out to receiue, and closed to geue.✦Non sit porrecta manus tua ad accipiendum, et ad dandum collecta.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.