Wisdom in general. Justice. Confidence in God. Industry. Truth. Diligence. Equity. Good fame. Desire to learn. Sincerity. Unfeigned friendship. Wholesome talk. Charity. Prudent speech. Discretion in speaking. Just gain. Just intention. Love to be corrected. Internal and external charity. Moderate speech. Sincerity of heart. Love of doctrine. Spiritual riches. Sorrow for sin. Remorse of conscience. Justice in general. Diligence. Fear of God. Piety. Observation of God's law, fulfilling all justice. Speaking and meditating good things.[No italic chapter argument is printed; the print sets a virtue-summary in the margin of each sentence, transcribed here in order:] VVisdom in general. Iustice. Confidence in God. Industrie. Truth. Diligence. Equitie. Good fame. Desire to lerne. Sinceritie. Vnfained freindshipe. VVholsome talke. Charitie. Prudent speach. Discretion in speaking. Iust gaine. Iust intention. Loue to be corrected. Internal and external charitie. Moderate speach. Sinceritie of hart. Loue of doctrin. Spiritual riches. Sorow for sinne. Remorse of conscience. Iustice in general. Diligence. Feare of God. Pietie. Obseruation of Gods law, fulfulling al iustice. Speaking and Meditating good thinges.✦
The second part of Proverbs, the Parables of Salomon. This repetition of the title signifieth, that the sentences which follow are more properly called Parables, then the former. From which they also differ in manner of utterance, by the figure Antithesis, for most part opposing, and comparing contrary virtues and vices, shewing their contrary effects; with great elegancy, especially in the original tongue; which could not be so fully expressed in Greek, nor Latin, much less in vulgar language. But are the same in sense, though often obscure by reason of the Hebrew phrase, shortness of sentences, and so without any certain connexion, that we can not with perspicuity, comprehend the sum thereof in brief contents, after the ordinary manner before the chapters. And therefore have thought it better for the vulgar reader, to set down in the margin of the twenty chapters next following, in brief terms, the virtues, or other good things (rather then the bad, not having place for both) commended in every sentence. For though the same be not always expressed in the text, yet they may be understood by their opposite vices. Whosoever desireth further explication, may find many of these divine sentences, excellently expounded by S. Jerome, S. Augustin, S. Gregory and other Fathers in several places. Or read S. Bede's Commentaries upon this whole book: To. 4. vel apud S. Jerome. To. 7. Or amongst late writers, our learned countryman D. Radulphus Bainus, Bishop Jansenius, and F. Peltanus.
A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.A wise sonne maketh the father glad: but a foolish sonne is the sorow of his mother.✦Filius sapiens lætificat patrem, filius vero stultus mœstitia est matris suæ.
2The treasures of impiety shall profit nothing: but justice shall deliver from death.The treasures of impietie shal profit nothing: but iustice shal deliuer from death.✦Nil proderunt thesauri impietatis, justitia vero liberabit a morte.
3Our Lord will not afflict with famine the soul of the just, and the deceitful practices of the impious he will overthrow.Our Lord wil not afflict with famine the soule of the iust, and the deceitful practises of the impious he wil ouerthrow.✦Non affliget Dominus fame animam justi, et insidias impiorum subvertet.
4The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: the hand of the strong getteth riches. Whoso trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: and the selfsame man followeth the flying birds.The slothful hand hath wrought pouertie: the hand of the strong getteth riches. Who so trusteth to lyes feedeth the windes: and the selfe same man foloweth the flying birdes.✦Egestatem operata est manus remissa ; manus autem fortium divitias parat. Qui nititur mendaciis, hic pascit ventos ; idem autem ipse sequitur aves volantes.
5He that gathereth in the harvest, is a wise son: but he that stertit: snoreth, sleepeth in summer, is the son of confusion.He that gathereth in the haruest, is a wise sonne: but he that snorteth in summer, is the sonne of confusion.✦Qui congregat in messe, filius sapiens est ; qui autem stertit æstate, filius confusionis.
6The blessing of our Lord is upon the head of the just: but iniquity covereth the mouth of the impious.The blessing of our Lord is vpon the head of the iust: but iniquitie couereth the mouth of the impious.✦Benedictio Domini super caput justi ; os autem impiorum operit iniquitas.
7The memory of the just is with praises: and the name of the impious shall rot.The memorie of the iust is with prayses: and the name of the impious shal rotte.✦Memoria justi cum laudibus, et nomen impiorum putrescet.
8The wise of heart shall receive precepts: a fool is beaten with lips.The wise of hart shal receiue preceptes: a foole is beaten with lippes.✦Sapiens corde præcepta suscipit ; stultus cæditur labiis.
9He that walketh plainly, walketh confidently: but he that depravat: perverteth, maketh his ways crooked his ways, shall be manifest.He that walketh playnly, walketh confidently: but he that depraueth his wayes, shal be manifest.✦Qui ambulat simpliciter ambulat confidenter ; qui autem depravat vias suas manifestus erit.
10He that winketh with the eye, shall give sorrow: and the fool in lips shall be beaten.He that wincketh with the eye, shal geue sorow: and the foole in lippes shal be beaten.✦Qui annuit oculo dabit dolorem ; et stultus labiis verberabitur.
11A vena: a spring, the source of running water of life, the mouth of the just: and the mouth of the impious covereth iniquity.A vayne of life, the mouth of the iust: and the mouth of the impious couereth iniquitie.✦Vena vitæ os justi, et os impiorum operit iniquitatem.
12Hatred raiseth brawls: and charity covereth all sins.Hatred rayseth brawles: and charitie couereth al sinnes.✦Odium suscitat rixas, et universa delicta operit caritas.
13In the lips of the wise wisdom is found: and a rod on his back that lacketh wit.In the lippes of the wise wisdom is found: and a rod on his backe that lacketh witte.✦In labiis sapientis invenitur sapientia, et virga in dorso ejus qui indiget corde.
14Wise men hide knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is next to confusion.Wise men hide knowlege: but the mouth of the foole is next to confusion.✦Sapientes abscondunt scientiam ; os autem stulti confusioni proximum est.
15The substance of a rich man, is a city of his strength: the fear of the poor their poverty.The substance of a rich man, is a citie of his strength: the feare of the poore their pouertie.✦Substantia divitis, urbs fortitudinis ejus ; pavor pauperum egestas eorum.
16The work of the just unto life: but the fruit of the impious unto sin.The worke of the iust vnto life: but the fruite of the impious vnto sinne.✦Opus justi ad vitam, fructus autem impii ad peccatum.
17The way of life, to him that keepeth discipline: but he that forsaketh increpationes: reproofs, rebukes, erreth.The way of life, to him that keepeth discipline: but he that forsaketh reprehensions, erreth.✦Via vitæ custodienti disciplinam ; qui autem increpationes relinquit, errat.
18Lying lips hide hatred: he that uttereth contumeliam: insult, reproachful speech is unwise.Lying lippes hide hatred: he that vttereth contumelie is vnwise.✦Abscondunt odium labia mendacia ; qui profert contumeliam, insipiens est.
19In much talk there shall not want sin: but he that moderateth his lips is most wise.In much talke there shal not want sinne: but he that moderateth his lippes is most wise.✦In multiloquio non deerit peccatum, qui autem moderatur labia sua prudentissimus est.
20The tongue of the just, is chosen silver: but the heart of the impious is nothing worth.The tongue of the iust, is chosen siluer: but the hart of the impious is nothing worth.✦Argentum electum lingua justi ; cor autem impiorum pro nihilo.
21The lips of the just teach very many: but they that are untaught, shall die in the egestate: want, lack, destitution of wit.The lippes of the iust teach verie many: but they that are vntaught, shal die in the penurie of witte.✦Labia justi erudiunt plurimos ; qui autem indocti sunt in cordis egestate morientur.
22The blessing of our Lord maketh men rich: neither shall affliction be joined to them.The blessing of our Lord maketh men rich: neither shal affliction be ioyned to them.✦Benedictio Domini divites facit, nec sociabitur eis afflictio.
23A fool worketh mischief as it were by laughter: but wisdom is prudence to a man.A foole worketh mischeefe as it were by laughter: but wisdom is prudence to a man.✦Quasi per risum stultus operatur scelus, sapientia autem est viro prudentia.
24That which the impious feareth, shall come upon him: to the just their desire shall be given.That which the impious feareth, shal come vpon him: to the iust their desire shal be geuen.✦Quod timet impius veniet super eum ; desiderium suum justis dabitur.
25As a tempest passing the impious shall not be: but the just as an everlasting foundation.As a tempest passing the impious shal not be: but the iust as an euerlasting fundation.✦Quasi tempestas transiens non erit impius ; justus autem quasi fundamentum sempiternum.
26As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so a sluggard to them, that sent him.As vinegre to the teeth, and smoke to the eies, so a sluggard to them, that sent him.✦Sicut acetum dentibus, et fumus oculis, sic piger his qui miserunt eum.
27The fear of our Lord shall add days: and the years of the impious shall be shortened.The feare of our Lord shal adde dayes: and the yeares of the impious shal be shortened.✦Timor Domini apponet dies, et anni impiorum breviabuntur.
28The expectation of the just is joy: but the hope of the impious shall perish.The expectation of the iust is ioy: but the hope of the impious shal perish.✦Exspectatio justorum lætitia, spes autem impiorum peribit.
29The strength of the simple the way of our Lord: and fear is to them that work evil.The strength of the simple the way of our Lord: and feare is to them that worke euil.✦Fortitudo simplicis via Domini, et pavor his qui operantur malum.
30The just for ever shall not be moved: but the impious shall not dwell on the earth.The iust for euer shal not be moued: but the impious shal not dwel on the earth.✦Justus in æternum non commovebitur, impii autem non habitabunt super terram.
31The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom: the tongue of the pravorum: perverse, contrary shall perish.The mouth of the iust shal bring forth wisdom: the tongue of the froward shal perish.✦Os justi parturiet sapientiam ; lingua pravorum peribit.
32The lips of the just consider placita: pleasing, acceptable things: and the mouth of the impious perversa: crooked, wrong-directed things.The lippes of the iust consider gratful thinges: and the mouth of the impious peruerse thinges.✦Labia justi considerant placita, et os impiorum perversa.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.