[No italic chapter argument is printed; the print sets a virtue-summary in the margin of each sentence, transcribed here in order:] Equitie. Humilitie. Sinceritie. Spiritual riches. Pietie. Iustice. Care of the other life. Future ioy. Troth in wordes. Common good. Publique ioy. True freindshipe. Fidelitie. Good gouernment. Prudence in suretishipe. Diligence. Mercie. Iustice. Clemencie. Sinceritie. Iust dealing. Internal vertue. Expectation of glorie. Almes dedes. Beneuolence. Care of the poore. Good desires. Trust in Gods goodnes. Frugalitie. Spiritual instruction. Straict way of saluation.✦
A deceitful balance, is abomination before God: and an equal weight is his will.A deceitful balance, is abomination before God: and an equal weight is his wil.✦Statera dolosa abominatio est apud Dominum, et pondus æquum voluntas ejus.
2Where pride shall be, there shall be contumelia: haughty contempt; insult, reproach, disgrace also: but where humility, there also wisdom.Where pride shal be, there shal be contumelie also: but where humilitie, there also wisdom.✦Ubi fuerit superbia, ibi erit et contumelia ; ubi autem est humilitas, ibi et sapientia.
3The simplicity of the just shall direct them: and the supplantatio: displacing and taking the place of; tripping up, overthrowing, subverting of the perversorum: morally depraved, wilfully contrary; turned aside, crooked, wrong-directed shall waste them.The simplicitie of the iust shal direct them: and the supplanting of the peruers shal waste them.✦Simplicitas justorum diriget eos, et supplantatio perversorum vastabit illos.
4Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall deliver from death.Riches shal not profit in the day of reuenge: but iustice shal deliuer from death.✦Non proderunt divitiæ in die ultionis ; justitia autem liberabit a morte.
5The justice of the simple shall direct his way: and the impious shall fall in his impiety.The iustice of the simple shal direct his way: and the impious shal fal in his impietie.✦Justitia simplicis diriget viam ejus, et in impietate sua corruet impius.
6The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust shall be caught in their deceitful practices.The iustice of the righteous shal deliuer them: and the vniust shal be caught in their deceitful practises.✦Justitia rectorum liberabit eos, et in insidiis suis capientur iniqui.
7The impious man being dead, there shall be no hope any more: and the expectation of the sollicitorum: cautious, painstaking; full of care, anxious, solicitous shall perish.The impious man being dead, there shal be no hope any more: and the expectation of the careful shal perish.✦Mortuo homine impio, nulla erit ultra spes, et exspectatio sollicitorum peribit.
8The just is delivered from distress: and the impious shall be given for him.The iust is deliuered from distresse: and the impious shal be geuen for him.✦Justus de angustia liberatus est, et tradetur impius pro eo.
9The simulator: a deceiver who feigns, hiding his true mind with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge.The dissembler with his mouth deceiueth his freind: but the iust shal be deliuered by knowlege.✦Simulator ore decipit amicum suum ; justi autem liberabuntur scientia.
10In the good things of the just the city shall rejoice; and in the destruction of the impious there shall be praise.In the good thinges of the iust the citie shal reioyce; and in the destruction of the impious there shal be prayse.✦In bonis justorum exsultabit civitas, et in perditione impiorum erit laudatio.
11With the benediction of the just the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the impious it shall be subverted.With the benediction of the iust the citie shal be exalted: and by the mouth of the impious it shal be subuerted.✦Benedictione justorum exaltabitur civitas, et ore impiorum subvertetur.
12He that despiseth his friend, lacketh heart: but the wise man will hold his peace.He that despiseth his freind, lacketh hart: but the wise man wil hold his peace.✦Qui despicit amicum suum indigens corde est ; vir autem prudens tacebit.
13He that walketh fraudulently, revealeth secrets: but he that is faithful, concealeth the thing committed of his friend.He that walketh fraudulently, reueleth secretes: but he that is faithful, concealeth the thing comitted of his freind.✦Qui ambulat fraudulenter, revelat arcana ; qui autem fidelis est animi, celat amici commissum.
14Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is health where is much counsel.Where there is no gouernour, the people shal fal: but there is health where is much counsel.✦Ubi non est gubernator, populus corruet ; salus autem, ubi multa consilia.
15He shall be afflicted with evil, that is fidem facit: certainty, assurance; a guarantor, one who pledges for another for a stranger: but he that is cavet: wary, aware, on guard of the snares, shall be secure.He shal be afflicted with euil, that is suretie for a stranger: but he that is ware of the snares, shal be secure.✦Affligetur malo qui fidem facit pro extraneo ; qui autem cavet laqueos securus erit.
16A gracious woman shall find glory: and the strong shall have riches.A gracious woman shal finde glorie: and the strong shal haue riches.✦Mulier gratiosa inveniet gloriam, et robusti habebunt divitias.
17A merciful man doth good to his kindred also.A merciful man doth good to his kinred also.✦Benefacit animæ suæ vir misericors ; qui autem crudelis est, etiam propinquos abjicit.
18The impious maketh an unstable work: but to him that soweth justice, is a faithful reward.The impious maketh an vnstable worke: but to him that soweth iustice, is a faythful reward.✦Impius facit opus instabile, seminanti autem justitiam merces fidelis.
19Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things death.Clemencie prepareth life: & the pursewing of euil thinges death.✦Clementia præparat vitam, et sectatio malorum mortem.
20A perverse heart is abominable to our Lord: and his will is in them that walk simply.A peruers hart is abominable to our Lord: and his wil is in them that walke simply.✦Abominabile Domino cor pravum, et voluntas ejus in iis qui simpliciter ambulant.
21Hand in hand the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of the just shall be saved.Hand in hand the euil man shal not be innocent: but the seede of the iust shal be saued.✦Manus in manu non erit innocens malus ; semen autem justorum salvabitur.
22A ring of gold in a swine's snout, a fair woman and a fool.A ring of gold in a swines snoute, a fayre woman & a foole.✦Circulus aureus in naribus suis, mulier pulchra et fatua.
23The desire of the just is all good: the expectation of the impious fury.The desire of the iust is al good: the expectation of the impious furie.✦Desiderium justorum omne bonum est ; præstolatio impiorum furor.
24Some divide their own goods, and are made richer: others take violently not their own, and are always in poverty.Some diuide their owne goodes, and are made richer: others take violently not their owne, and are alwayes in pouertie.✦Alii dividunt propria, et ditiores fiunt ; alii rapiunt non sua, et semper in egestate sunt.
25The soul which blesseth, shall be made fat: and he that inebriat: watereth abundantly, refresheth himself shall also be inebriated.The soule which blesseth, shal be made fatte: and he that inebriateth himself shal also be inebriated.✦Anima quæ benedicit impinguabitur, et qui inebriat, ipse quoque inebriabitur.
26He that hideth corn, shall be cursed among the peoples: but blessing upon the head of them that sell.He that hydeth corne, shal be cursed among the peoples: but blessing vpon the head of them that sel.✦Qui abscondit frumenta maledicetur in populis ; benedictio autem super caput vendentium.
27Well riseth he early who seeketh good things: but he that is a searcher after evil things, shall be oppressed of them.Wel riseth he early who seeketh good thinges: but he that is a searcher after euil thinges, shal be oppressed of them.✦Bene consurgit diluculo qui quærit bona ; qui autem investigator malorum est, opprimetur ab eis.
28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring as a green leaf.He that trusteth in his riches shal fal: but the iust shal spring as a greene leafe.✦Qui confidit in divitiis suis corruet : justi autem quasi virens folium germinabunt.
29He that troubleth his house, shall possess the winds: and he that is a fool shall serve the wise.He that troubleth his house, shal possesse the windes: and he that is a foole shal serue the wise.✦Qui conturbat domum suam possidebit ventos, et qui stultus est serviet sapienti.
30The fruit of the just man a tree of life: and he that gaineth souls, is wise.The fruite of the iust man a tree of life: and he that gaineth soules, is wise.✦Fructus justi lignum vitæ, et qui suscipit animas sapiens est.
31If the just man receive in the earth, how much more the impious and sinner?If the iust man receiue in the earth, how much more the impious and sinner?✦Si justus in terra recipit, quanto magis impius et peccator !
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.