Reproach, envy, and ferocity hinder from loving our neighbour, 5. sweetness nourisheth it. 6. A trusty friend is much worth. 18. Seek and keep wisdom, with all diligence. 35. Frequent the company of the wise: and meditate in God's law.Reproch, enuie, and ferocitie hinder from louing our neighbour, 5. swetenes norisheth it. 6. A trustie freind is much worth. 18. Seeke and kepe wisdom, with al diligence. 35. Frequent the companie of the wise: and meditate in Gods law.✦
Be not for a friend made an enemy to thy neighbour: for the evil man shall inherit reproach and contumeliam: insolent reproach, dishonour, and every sinner envious and double tongued.BE not for a frend made an enemie to thy neighbour: for the euil man shal inherite reproch and contumelie, and euerie sinner enuious and duble tongued.Noli fieri pro amico inimicus proximo : improperium enim et contumeliam malus hæreditabit : et omnis peccator invidus et bilinguis.
2Extol not thyself in the cogitation of thy soul as it were a bull: lest perhaps thy strength be elidatur: annulled, set aside; crushed, dashed to pieces,Extol not thyself in the cogitation of thy soule as it were a bul: lest perhaps thy strength be quashed,Non te extollas in cogitatione animæ tuæ velut taurus, ne forte elidatur virtus tua per stultitiam :
3and it eat thy leaves, and destroy thy fruits, and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.and it eate thy leaues, and destroy thy fruites, and thou be leaft as a drie tree in the wildernes.et folia tua comedat, et fructus tuos perdat, et relinquaris velut lignum aridum in eremo.
4For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and it giveth him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the impious.For a wicked soule shal destroy him that hath it, and it geueth him to be a ioy to his enemies, and shal lead him into the lot of the impious.Anima enim nequam disperdet qui se habet, et in gaudium inimicis dat illum, et deducet in sortem impiorum.
5A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.A sweete word multiplieth frends, & appeaseth enemies, and a gratious tongue in a good man aboundeth.Verbum dulce multiplicat amicos et mitigat inimicos, et lingua eucharis in bono homine abundat.
6Let there be many at peace with thee, and let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.Let there be manie at peace with thee, and let one of a thousand be thy counseler.Multi pacifici sint tibi : et consiliarius sit tibi unus de mille.
7If thou possess a friend, in tentatione: trial, testing possess him, and not easily credit him.If thou possesse a frend, in tentation possesse him, and not easely credite him.✦Si possides amicum, in tentatione posside eum, et ne facile credas ei.
8For he is a friend according to his own time, and will not abide in the day of tribulation.For he is a frend according to his owne time, and wil not abide in the day of tribulation.✦Est enim amicus secundum tempus suum, et non permanebit in die tribulationis.
9And there is a friend that is turned to enmity: and there is a friend that will disclose hatred, and reproaches.And there is a frend that is turned to emnitie: and there is a frend that wil disclose hatred, and reproches.✦Et est amicus qui convertitur ad inimicitiam, et est amicus qui odium et rixam et convitia denudabit.
10And there is a friend companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of necessity.And there is a frend companion at the table, and he wil not abide in the day of necessitie.✦Est autem amicus socius mensæ, et non permanebit in die necessitatis.
11A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as an equal, and in them of thy household shall deal confidently:A frend if he continew stedfast, shal be to thee as an equal, and in them of thy houshold shal deale confidently:✦Amicus si permanserit fixus, erit tibi quasi coæqualis, et in domesticis tuis fiducialiter aget.
12if he humble himself against thee; and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have friendship of one accord for good.if he humble himself against thee; and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt haue frendshippe of one accord for good.✦Si humiliaverit se contra te, et a facie tua absconderit se, unanimem habebis amicitiam bonam.
13Be separated from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.Be seperated from thine enemies, & take heede of thy frends.✦Ab inimicis tuis separare, et ab amicis tuis attende.
14A faithful friend, is a strong protection: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.A faithful frend, is a strong protection: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.✦Amicus fidelis protectio fortis : qui autem invenit illum, invenit thesaurum.
15To a faithful friend there is no comparison, and there is no ponderatio: composure, self-possession; weight, counterbalance of gold and silver able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.To a faythful frend there is no comparison, and there is no poyse of gold and siluer able to counteruaile the goodnes of his fidelitie.✦Amico fideli nulla est comparatio, et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti contra bonitatem fidei illius.
16A faithful friend, is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear our Lord, shall find him.A faythful frend, is the medecine of life & immortalitie: & they that feare our Lord, shal finde him.✦Amicus fidelis medicamentum vitæ et immortalitatis : et qui metuunt Dominum, invenient illum.
17He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.He that feareth God, shal likewise haue good frendshipe: because according to him shal his frend be.Qui timet Deum æque habebit amicitiam bonam, quoniam secundum illum erit amicus illius.
18Son, from thy youth receive doctrine, and even to thy canos: grey, white with age hairs thou shalt find wisdom.Sonne, from thy youth receiue doctrine, and euen to thy hoare heares thou shalt finde wisdom.Fili, a juventute tua excipe doctrinam, et usque ad canos invenies sapientiam.
19As he that plougheth, and that soweth, go to her, and expect her good fruits.As he that ploweth, and that soweth, goe to her, and expect her good fruites.Quasi is qui arat et seminat accede ad eam, et sustine bonos fructus illius.
20For in her work thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her generation.For in her worke thou shalt labour a litle, and shalt quickly eate of her generation.In opere enim ipsius exiguum laborabis, et cito edes de generationibus illius.
21How exceeding sharp is wisdom to the unlearned men, and the unwise will not continue in her.How exceding sharpe is wisdom to the vnlerned men, and the vnwise wil not continew in her.Quam aspera est nimium sapientia indoctis hominibus ! et non permanebit in illa excors.
22As the virtue of a stone she shall be a probatio: a trial period, parole; a testing, proving in them, and they will not stay to cast her forth.As the vertue of a stone she shal be a probation in them, and they wil not stay to cast her forth.Quasi lapidis virtus probatio erit in illis : et non demorabuntur projicere illam.
23For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest to many, but to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest to manie, but to whom she is knowen, she contineweth euen to the sight of God.Sapientia enim doctrinæ secundum nomen est ejus, et non est multis manifestata : quibus autem cognita est, permanet usque ad conspectum Dei.
24Hear my son, and take counsel of understanding, and cast not away my counsel.Heare my sonne, and take counsel of vnderstanding, and cast not away my counsel.Audi, fili, et accipe consilium intellectus, et ne abjicias consilium meum.
25Thrust thy foot into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:Thrust thy foote into her fetters, and thy necke into her cheynes:Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius, et in torques illius collum tuum.
26put under thy shoulder, and carry her, and be not weary of her bands.put vnder thy shoulder, and carie her, and be not wearie of her bands.Subjice humerum tuum, et porta illam, et ne acedieris vinculis ejus.
27With all thy mind go to her, and with all thy strength keep her ways.With al thy minde goe to her, and with al thy strength keepe her wayes.In omni animo tuo accede ad illam, et in omni virtute tua conserva vias ejus.
28Search her out, and she shall be made manifest to thee, and having obtained her, forsake her not:Search her out, and she shal be made manifest to thee, and hauing obteyned her, forsake her not:Investiga illam, et manifestabitur tibi : et continens factus, ne derelinquas eam :
29for in the later end, thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned unto oblectationem: delight.for in the later end, thou shalt finde rest in her, and she shal be turned vnto delectation.in novissimis enim invenies requiem in ea, et convertetur tibi in oblectationem.
30And her fetters shall be to thee for a protection of strength, and foundation of power, and her chains for a stolam: a long robe, garment of glory of glory:And her fetters shal be to thee for a protection of strength, and foundation of powre, & her cheynes for a stole of glorie:Et erunt tibi compedes ejus in protectionem fortitudinis et bases virtutis, et torques illius in stolam gloriæ :
31For the beauty of life is in her, and her bands are a healthful binding.For the beautie of life is in her, and her bands are a healthful bynding.decor enim vitæ est in illa, et vincula illius alligatura salutaris.
32Thou shalt put on her a stole of glory, and as a crown of gratulationis: rejoicing, congratulation thou shalt set her upon thee.Thou shalt put on her a stole of glorie, and as a crowne of gratulation thou shalt set her vpon thee.Stolam gloriæ indues eam, et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi.
33Son, if thou attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.Sonne, if thou attend to me, thou shal learne: and if thou wilt applie thy minde, thou shalt be wise.Fili, si attenderis mihi, disces : et si accommodaveris animum tuum, sapiens eris.
34If thou wilt incline thine ear, thou shalt receive doctrine: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.If thou wilt incline thine eare, thou shalt receiue doctrine: and if thou loue to heare, thou shalt be wise.Si inclinaveris aurem tuam, excipies doctrinam : et si dilexeris audire, sapiens eris.
35Stand in the multitude of wise ancients, and be joined to their wisdom from thy heart, that thou mayst hear all the narration of God, and the praise may not escape thee.Stand in the multitude of wise ancients, and be ioyned to their wisdom from thy hart, that thou maist heare al the narration of God, and the prayse may not escape thee.In multitudine presbyterorum prudentium sta, et sapientiæ illorum ex corde conjungere, ut omnem narrationem Dei possis audire, et proverbia laudis non effugiant a te.
36And if thou see a wise man, watch after him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.And if thou see a wise man, watch after him, and let thy foote weare the steppes of his doores.Et si videris sensatum, evigila ad eum, et gradus ostiorum illius exterat pes tuus.
37Have thy cogitation in the precepts of God, and in his commandments most of all be daily assiduus: familiar, acquainted; constantly occupied, dwelling: and he will give thee heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given thee.Haue thy cogitation in the precepts of God, and in his commandements most of al be dayly conuersant: and he wil geue thee hart, and the desire of wisdom shal be geuen thee.Cogitatum tuum habe in præceptis Dei, et in mandatis illius maxime assiduus esto : et ipse dabit tibi cor, et concupiscentia sapientiæ dabitur tibi.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.