The per-verse virtue-summaries, in order: Sobriety. Obedience to Princes. Concord. Industry. Profound counsel. Fidelity. Sincerity. Execution of Justice. Necessity of grace. Equity. Good toward lives. Right use of senses. Diligent travail. Prudence. Knowledge is a jewel. Security in suretyship. Truth. Counsel in war. Consult with the faithful. Honour of parents. Lawful gain. Meekness. Equity. Trust in God's providence. Performance of vows. Public justice. Purity of mind. Three kingly virtues. Prudence with fortitude. Punishment of sins.[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:] Sobrietie. Obedience to Princes. Concord. Industrie. Profound counsel. Fidelitie. Sinceritie. Execution of Iustice. Necessitie of grace. Equitie. Good toward liues. Right vse of senses. Diligent trauel. Prudence. Knowlege is a iewel. Securitie in suertiship. Truth. Counsel in warre. Consult with the faithful. Honour of parents. Lawful gaine. Meeknes. Equitie. Trust in Gods prouidence. Performance of vowes. Publique iustice. Puritie of minde. Three kinglie vertues. Prudence with fortitude. Punishment of sinnes.✦
Wine is a luxuriosa: sumptuous, opulent; riotous, wanton, given to excess thing, and drunkenness tumultuous: whosoever is delighted therewith shall not be wise.VVIne is a luxurious thing, & drunkenes tumultuous: whosoeuer is delighted therwith shal not be wise.✦Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas : quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
2As the roaring of a lion, so also the terror of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth also against his own soul.As the roaring of a lyon, so also the terrour of a king: he that prouoketh him, sinneth also against his owne soule.✦Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis : qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
3It is honour to a man, that separateth himself from contentions: but all fools meddle with contumeliis: insults, reproaches, abusive words.It is honour to a man, that separateth himself from contentions: but al fooles medle with contumelies.✦Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus ; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
4Because of cold the slothful would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.Because of cold the slothful would not plowe: he shal begge therfore in the summer, and it shal not be geuen him.✦Propter frigus piger arare noluit ; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
5As deep water, so counsel in the heart of a man: but a wise man shall draw it out.As deepe water, so counsel in the hart of a man: but a wise man shal draw it out.✦Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri ; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
6Many men are called merciful: but a faithful man who shall find?Manie men are called merciful: but a faithful man who shal fynd?✦Multi homines misericordes vocantur ; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet ?
7The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave blessed children.The iust that walketh in his simplicitie, shal leaue blessed children.✦Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.
8The king, that sitteth in the throne of judgement, dissipateth all evil with his look.The king, that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, dissipateth al euil with his looke.✦Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
9Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?Who can say: My hart is cleane, I am pure from sinne?✦Quis potest dicere : Mundum est cor meum ; purus sum a peccato ?
10Weight and weight, measure and measure: both are abominable before God.Weight and weight, measure and measure: both are abominable before God.✦Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura : utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
11By his conversation a child is perceived, if his works be clean and right.By his conuersation a child is perceiued, if his workes be cleane and right.✦Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
12The ear hearing, and the eye seeing, our Lord made both.The eare hearing, and the eie seing, our Lord made both.✦Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem : Dominus fecit utrumque.
13Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thine eyes and be filled with breads.Loue not sleepe, lest pouertie oppresse thee: open thyne eies and be filled with breades.✦Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat : aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
14It is malum: nothing, worthless quantity; bad, worthless, no good, it is naught, saith every buyer: and when he is departed he will boast.It is naught, it is naught, sayth euerie byer: and when he is departed he wil boast.✦Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor ; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
15There is gold, and multitude of pearls: but a precious vessel the lips of knowledge.There is gold, and multitude of pearles: but a precious vessel the lippes of knowlege.✦Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.
16Take his garment, that was the fidejussor: certainty, assurance; a guarantor who pledges for another of a stranger, and for strangers take a pledge from him.Take his garment, that was the suretie of a stranger, and for strangers take a pledge from him.✦Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
17The bread of lying is sweet to a man: and afterward his mouth shall be filled with the calculo: gravel, grit, small stones.The bread of lying is swete to a man: and afterward his mouth shal be filled with the grauelstone.✦Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
18Cogitations are strengthened by counsels: and battles are to be handled by governments.Cogitations are strengthened by counsels: and battels are to be handled by gouernmentes.✦Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
19Meddle not with him that revealeth mysteries, and walketh fraudulently, and dilateth his lips.Medle not with him that reuealeth mysteries, and walketh fraudulently, and dilateth his lippes.✦Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
20He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be extinguished in the midst of darkness.He that curseth his father, and mother, his lampe shal be extinquished in the middes of darkenes.✦Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris :
21The inheritance whereunto haste is made in the beginning, in the later end shall lack blessing.The inheritance wherunto haste is made in the beginning, in the later end shal lacke blessing.✦hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
22Say not: I will requite evil: exspecta: wait for, await our Lord, and he will deliver thee.Say not: I wil requit euil: expect our Lord, and he wil deliuer thee.✦Ne dicas : Reddam malum : exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
23Weight and weight are abomination with our Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.Weight and weight are abomination with our Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.✦Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus ; statera dolosa non est bona.
24The steps of man are directed of our Lord: but who of men can understand his own way?The steppes of man are directed of our Lord: but who of men can vnderstand his owne way?✦A Domino diriguntur gressus viri : quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam ?
25It is ruin to a man, to devour sanctos: holy things, things consecrated to God, and afterward to retract the vows.It is ruine to a man, to deuoure saintes, and afterward to retracte the vowes.✦Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
26A wise king dissipateth the impious, and bendeth over them a triumphant arch.A wise king dissipateth the impious, and bendeth ouer them a triumphant arch.✦Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
27The lamp of our Lord, the breath of a man, which searcheth all the secrets of the belly.The lampe of our Lord, the breath of a man, which searcheth al the secretes of the bellie.✦Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
28Mercy, and truth keep the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.Mercie, & truth kepe the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemencie.✦Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
29The joy of young men their strength: and the dignity of old men a gray head.The ioy of yongmen their strength: and the dignitie of oldmen a gray head.✦Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.
30The livor: a bruise, black-and-blue mark of the wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more secret place of the belly.The blewnesse of the wound shal wipe away euils: and stripes in the more secrete place of the bellie.✦Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.