Constant amity. Hearken to good counsel. Speedy repentance. Wise discourse. Equity. Study of peace. Guard of the tongue. Avoid secret bate-makers. Fortitude. Constant labour. Confidence in God. Spiritual riches. Humility. Consideration in answering. Quietness of spirit. Desire to learn. Alms-deeds. Acknowledging of faults. Use of lot to make agreement. Fraternal concord. Godly instructions. Right use of the tongue. A wife's virtue is her best dowry. Meekness. Amity with affability.[No italic chapter argument is printed — per the Chap. X second-part preamble these Parables chapters set a brief virtue-summary in the margin of each sentence in place of a running argument. The per-verse summaries, in order, are:] Constant amitie. Harken to good counsel. Speedie repentance. VVise discourse. Equitie. Studie of peace. Guard of the tongue. Auoid secrete bate makers. Fortitude. Constant labour. Confidence in God. Spiritual riches. Humilitie. Consideration in answering. Quietnes of spirite. Desire to lerne. Almes dedes. Acknowleging offaultes. Vse of lote to make agreement. Fraternal concord. Godlie instructions. Right vse of the tongue. A wiues vertue is her best dowrie. Meeknes. Amitie with affabilitie.✦
He seeketh occasions that will depart from a friend: he shall ever be subject to reproach.HE seeketh occasions that wil depart from a frend: he shal euer be subiect to reproch.✦Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico : omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
2A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.A foole receiueth not the wordes of prudence: vnlesse thou say those thinges which are in his hart.✦Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ, nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde ejus.
3The impious when he shall come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominia: dishonour, disgrace and reproach follow him.The impious when he shal come into the depth of sinnes, contemneth: but ignominie and reproch folow him.✦Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit ; sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.
4Deep water words from the mouth of a man: and a stream overflowing the fountain of wisdom.Deepe water wordes from the mouth of a * man: and a streame ouerflowing the fountaine of wisdom.✦Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri, et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.
5To accept the person of the impious in judgement is not good, that thou decline from the truth of judgement.To accept the person of the impious in iudgement is not good, that thou decline from the truth of iudgement.✦Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate judicii.
6The lips of a fool mingle him with strife: and his mouth provoketh brawls.The lippes of a foole mingle him with strife: and his mouth prouoketh brawles.✦Labia stulti miscent se rixis, et os ejus jurgia provocat.
7The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.The mouth of a foole is his destruction: and his lippes are the ruine of his soule.✦Os stulti contritio ejus, et labia ipsius ruina animæ ejus.
8The words of the double tongued, as it were simple: and the same come even to the inner part of the belly. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminatorum: soft, self-indulgent, unmanly shall be hungry.The wordes of the duble tongued, as it were simple: and the same come euen to the inner part of the bellie. Feare casteth downe the slothful: and the soules of the effeminate shal be hungrie.✦Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum dejicit timor ; animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.
9He that is soft and dissolutus: morally debauched, profligate; slack, loose, negligent in his work in his work, is the brother of him that destroyeth his own works.He that is soft and dissolute in his worke, is the brother of him that destroyeth his owne workes.✦Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo frater est sua opera dissipantis.
10A most strong tower, the name of our Lord: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.A most strong towre, the name of our Lord: the iust runneth to it, and shal be exalted.✦Turris fortissima nomen Domini ; ad ipsum currit justus, et exaltabitur.
11The substantia: material stuff or essence; wealth, goods, property of the rich man a city of his strength: and as a strong wall compassing him about.The substance of the rich man a citie of his strength: and as a strong wal compassing him about.✦Substantia divitis urbs roboris ejus, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
12Before he be broken, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.Before he be broken, the hart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.✦Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis, et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
13He that answereth before he hear, showeth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusione: disgrace, shame.He that answereth before he heare, sheweth him self to be a foole, and worthie of confusion.✦Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
14The spirit of a man upholdeth his imbecilitatem: idiocy, stupidity; weakness, infirmity: but a spirit that is easy to be angry who can sustain?The spirit of a man vpholdeth his imbecilitie: but a spirit that is easie to be angrie who can susteyne?✦Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam ; spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere ?
15A wise heart shall possess knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh doctrine.A wise hart shal possesse knowlege: and the eare of the wise seeketh doctrine.✦Cor prudens possidebit scientiam, et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.
16The gift of a man enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes.The gift of a man enlargeth his way, & maketh him roome before princes.✦Donum hominis dilatat viam ejus, et ante principes spatium ei facit.
17The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.The iust is first accuser of himself: his frend commeth, and shal search him.✦Justus prior est accusator sui : venit amicus ejus, et investigabit eum.
18Lot suppresseth contradictions, and between the mighty also it determineth.Lotte suppresseth contradictions, and betwen the mightie also it determineth.✦Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque dijudicat.
19Brother that is adjuvatur: helped of brother, is as a strong city: and judgements are as the bars of cities.Brother that is holpen of brother, is as a strong citie: and iudgements are as the barres of cities.✦Frater qui adjuvatur a fratre quasi civitas firma, et judicia quasi vectes urbium.
20Of the fruit of man's mouth his belly shall be filled: and the offsprings of his lips shall fill him.Of the fruite of mans mouth his bellie shal be filled: and the offsprings of his lippes shal fil him.✦De fructu oris viri replebitur venter ejus, et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.
21Death and life in the hand of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.Death and life in the hand of the tongue: they that loue it, shal eate the fruites therof.✦Mors et vita in manu linguæ ; qui diligunt eam comedent fructus ejus.
22He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and hath received a pleasure of our Lord.He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and hath receiued a pleasure of our Lord.✦Qui invenit mulierem bonam invenit bonum, et hauriet jucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam expellit bonum ; qui autem tenet adulteram stultus est et impius.
23The poor speaketh with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.The poore speaketh with supplications, and the rich wil speake roughly.✦Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper, et dives effabitur rigide.
24A man amiable to society, shall be more friendly, than a brother.A man amiable to societie, shal be more frendlie, then a brother.✦Vir amabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.