The first matter of spiritual meditation may be man's misery, contracted by original sin, 4. and increased by actual, 17. relieved by God's grace: 22. which giveth many benefits, 27. man adding his voluntary cooperation.The first matter of spiritual meditation may be mans miserie, contracted by original sinne, 4. and increased by actual, 17. relieued by Gods grace: 22. which geueth manie benefites, 27. man adding his voluntarie cooperation.✦
Great occupatio: toil, hardship is created to all men, and an heavy yoke upon the children of Adam, from the day of their coming forth of their mother's womb, until the day of their burying, into the mother of all.GREAT trauel is created to al men, and an heauie yoke vpon the children of Adam, from the day of their coming forth of their mothers wombe, vntil the day of their burying, into the mother of al.✦Occupatio magna creata est omnibus hominibus, et jugum grave super filios Adam, a die exitus de ventre matris eorum usque in diem sepulturæ in matrem omnium.
2Their cogitations, and fears of the heart, imagination of things to come, and the day of their ending:Their cogitations, and feares of the hart, imagination of thinges to come, and the day of their ending:✦Cogitationes eorum, et timores cordis, adinventio exspectationis, et dies finitionis,
3from him that sitteth upon the glorious seat, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes.from him that sitteth vpon the glorious seate, vnto him that is humbled in earth & ashes.a residente super sedem gloriosam, usque ad humiliatum in terra et cinere :
4From him that weareth hyacinth, and beareth the crown, even to him, that is covered with crudus: impolite; rough, coarse, unwrought linen: fury, envy, tumult, wavering, and the fear of death, anger persevering, and contention,From him that weareth hyacinth, and beareth the crowne, euen to him, that is couered with rude linen: furie, enuie, tumult, wauering, and the feare of death, anger perseuering, and contention,ab eo qui utitur hyacintho et portat coronam, usque ad eum qui operitur lino crudo : furor, zelus, tumultus, fluctuatio, et timor mortis, iracundia perseverans, et contentio :
5and in the time of repose in bed, the sleep of night changeth his knowledge.and in the time of repose in bed, the sleepe of night changeth his knowlege.et in tempore refectionis in cubili, somnus noctis immutat scientiam ejus.
6A little is as nothing in rest, and afterward in sleep, as in the day of watch.A litle is as nothing in rest, and afterward in sleepe, as in the day of watche.Modicum tamquam nihil in requie, et ab eo in somnis, quasi in die respectus.
7He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as he that hath escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and marvelleth at no fear:He is trubled in the vision of his hart, as he that hath escaped in the day of battel. In the time of his safetie he rose vp, and merueleth at noe feare:Conturbatus est in visu cordis sui, tamquam qui evaserit in die belli : in tempore salutis suæ exsurrexit, et admirans ad nullum timorem :
8With all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners sevenfold.With al flesh, from man euen to beast, and vpon sinners seuenfold.✦cum omni carne, ab homine usque ad pecus, et super peccatores septuplum.
9Beside these things, death, blood, contention, and sword, oppressions, famine, and contritio: sorrow for sin; a crushing, destruction, and scourges:Beside these thinges, death, bloud, contention, and sword, oppressions, famine, and contrition, and scourges:Ad hæc mors, sanguis, contentio, et rhomphæa, oppressiones, fames, et contritio, et flagella :
10for the wicked all these were created, and for them the flood was made.for the wicked al these were created, and for them the floud was made.super iniquos creata sunt hæc omnia : et propter illos factus est cataclysmus.
11All things that are of the earth, shall turn into the earth, and all waters shall return into the sea.Al thinges that are of the earth, shal turne into the earth, and al waters shal returne into the sea.✦Omnia quæ de terra sunt in terram convertentur, et omnes aquæ in mare revertentur.
12All bribing, and iniquity shall be clean taken away, and fidelity shall stand for ever.Al bribing, and iniquitie shal be cleane taken away, and fidelitie shal stand for euer.✦Omne munus et iniquitas delebitur, et fides in sæculum stabit.
13The riches of the unjust shall be dried up as a river, and they shall sound as great thunder in rain.The riches of the vniust shal be dried vp as a riuer, and they shal sound as great thunder in rayne.✦Substantiæ injustorum sicut fluvius siccabuntur, et sicut tonitruum magnum in pluvia personabunt.
14In opening his hands he shall rejoice: so transgressors shall pine away in consumption.In opening his handes he shal reioyce: so transgressors shal pine away in consumption.✦In aperiendo manus suas lætabitur : sic prævaricatores in consummatione tabescent.
15The nephews of the impious shall not multiply boughs, nor unclean roots sound upon the top of a rock.The nephewes of the impious shal not multiplie boughes, nor vncleane rootes sound vpon the toppe of a rocke.✦Nepotes impiorum non multiplicabunt ramos : et radices immundæ super cacumen petræ sonant.
16Over all water viriditas: green growth, verdure, and at the brink of the river it shall be plucked up before all grass.Ouer al water grennes, and at the brincke of the riuer it shal be plucked vp before al grasse.✦Super omnem aquam viriditas, et ad oram fluminis ante omne fœnum evelletur.
17Grace is as paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for ever.Grace is as paradise in blessinges, and mercie remayneth for euer.✦Gratia sicut paradisus in benedictionibus, et misericordia in sæculum permanet.
18The life of a workman that is sufficient for himself shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.The life of a workeman that is sufficient for himself shal be sweete, and in it thou shalt finde a treasure.✦Vita sibi sufficientis operarii condulcabitur, et in ea invenies thesaurum.
19Children, and building of a city shall confirm the name, and an unspotted woman shall be counted above this.Children, and building of a citie shal confirme the name, and an vnspotted woman shal be counted aboue this.✦Filii et ædificatio civitatis confirmabit nomen : et super hæc mulier immaculata computabitur.
20Wine and music make a joyful heart: and the love of wisdom is above both.Wine and musicke make a ioyful hart: and the loue of wisdom is aboue both.✦Vinum et musica lætificant cor : et super utraque dilectio sapientiæ.
21tibia: reed pipes, oboe-like wind instruments, and Psaltery make sweet melody, and a sweet tongue is above both.Shalmes, and Psalterie make sweete melodie, and a sweete tongue is aboue both.✦Tibiæ et psalterium suavem faciunt melodiam : et super utraque lingua suavis.
22Thine eye will desire grace and beauty, and green sown fields are above this.Thine eye wil desire grace and beautie, and greene sowen fieldes are aboue this.✦Gratiam et speciem desiderabit oculus tuus : et super hæc virides sationes.
23A friend and companion meeting together in time, and above them both is a woman with her husband.A freind and companion meeting together in time, and aboue them both is a woman with her husband.Amicus et sodalis in tempore convenientes, et super utrosque mulier cum viro.
24Brethren are an help in the time of tribulation, and mercy shall deliver more than they.Bretheren are an helpe in the time of tribulation, and mercie shal deliuer more then they.✦Fratres in adjutorium in tempore tribulationis : et super eos misericordia liberabit.
25Gold and silver are the establishing of the feet: and counsel is well accepted above them both.Gold and siluer are the establishing of the feete: and counsel is wel accepted aboue them both.✦Aurum et argentum est constitutio pedum : et super utrumque consilium beneplacitum.
26Riches and strength exalt the heart, and above these is the fear of our Lord.Riches and strength exalt the hart, and aboue these is the feare of our Lord.✦Facultates et virtutes exaltant cor, et super hæc timor Domini.
27There is no diminution in the fear of our Lord, and in it there is no need to seek for help.There is no diminution in the feare of our Lord, and in it there is no neede to seeke for helpe.✦Non est in timore Domini minoratio : et non est in eo inquirere adjutorium.
28The fear of our Lord is as a paradise of blessing, and they have covered it above all glory.The feare of our Lord is as a paradise of blessing, and they haue couered it aboue al glorie.✦Timor Domini sicut paradisus benedictionis, et super omnem gloriam operuerunt illum.
29Son in thy life time indigere: to desire; to lack, be in need not: for it is better to die than to want.Sonne in thy life time want not: for it is better to die then to want.✦Fili, in tempore vitæ tuæ ne indigeas : melius est enim mori quam indigere.
30A man that looketh toward another man's table, his life is as no life, thinking how to live, for he feedeth his soul with another man's meats.A man that looketh toward an other mans table, his life is as no life, thinking how to liue, for he feedeth his soule with an other mans meates.Vir respiciens in mensam alienam, non est vita ejus in cogitatione victus : alit enim animam suam cibis alienis :
31But a man nurtured, and taught will look to himself.But a man nurtered, and taught wil looke to him selfe.vir autem disciplinatus et eruditus custodiet se.
32Poverty will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, and in his belly a fire will burn.Pouertie wil be sweete in the mouth of the vnwise, and in his bellie a fire wil burne.✦In ore imprudentis condulcabitur inopia, et in ventre ejus ignis ardebit.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.