Honest fame. Contentment with our state. Prudence. Poverty of spirit. Care of the soul's health. Good custom in virtues. Diligent travail. Equity. Alms deeds. Better to give than to take. Expel the incorrigible. Cleanness of heart. The godly prosper. Fortitude. Care of chastity. Chastisement. Compassion. Rules of wisdom are necessary, profitable, and upon practice found pleasant: rightly directing all our thoughts, words and deeds. Care of the poor, because they are dear to God. Flee from evil company which may corrupt thee. Avoid suretyship, lest thou fall into distress. Keep ancient traditions. Diligent travail.[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 marginal summaries, in order, are:] Honest fame. Contentment with our state. Prudence. Pouertie of spirite. Care of the soules health. Good custome in vertues. Diligent trauel. Equitie. Almes dedes. Better to geue then to take. Expel the incorrigible. Cleanes of hart. The godlie prosper. Fortitude. Care of chastitie. Chatisment. Compassion. Rules of wisdom are necessarie, profitable, and vpon practise found pleasant: rightly directing al our thougtes wordes and dedes. Care of the poore, because they are deare to God. Flee from euil companie which may corrupt thee. Auoide suretishipe, lest thou fal into distresse. Kepe ancient traditions. Diligent trauel.✦
Better is a good name, than much riches: above silver and gold, good grace.BEtter is a good name, then much riches: aboue siluer and gold, good grace.✦Melius est nomen bonum quam divitiæ multæ ; super argentum et aurum gratia bona.
2The rich and poor have met one another: our Lord is the maker of both.The rich and poore haue mette one an other: our Lord is the maker of both.✦Dives et pauper obviaverunt sibi : utriusque operator est Dominus.
3The subtle saw evil, and hid himself: the innocent passed by, and was afflicted with damage.The subtel saw euil, and hyd himself: the innocent passed by, and was afflicted with damage.✦Callidus vidit malum, et abscondit se ; innocens pertransiit, et afflictus est damno.
4The end of modestiæ: reserve about dress or conduct; moderation, humility, self-restraint the fear of our Lord, riches and glory and life.The end of modestie the feare of our Lord, riches and glorie and life.✦Finis modestiæ timor Domini, divitiæ, et gloria, et vita.
5Armour and swords in the way of the perverse: but the keeper of his own soul departeth far from them.Armour and swordes in the way of the peruerse: but the keper of his owne soule departeth far from them.✦Arma et gladii in via perversi ; custos autem animæ suæ longe recedit ab eis.
6It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, when he is old, will not depart from it.It is a prouerbe: A yongman according to his way, when he is old, wil not depart from it.✦Proverbium est : adolescens juxta viam suam ; etiam cum senuerit, non recedet ab ea.
7The rich man ruleth over the poor: and he that borroweth is the servant of him that lendeth.The richman ruleth ouer the poore: and he that boroweth is the seruant of him that lendeth.✦Dives pauperibus imperat, et qui accipit mutuum servus est fœnerantis.
8He that soweth iniquity, shall reap evils, and with the rod of his wrath, he shall be consumed.He that soweth iniquitie, shal reape euils, and with the rod of his wrath, he shal be consumed.✦Qui seminat iniquitatem metet mala, et virga iræ suæ consummabitur.
9He that is pronus: liable to something bad; inclined, disposed to mercy, shall be blessed: for of his breads he hath given to the poor. He that giveth gifts shall purchase victory and honour: but he that receiveth taketh away the soul of the giver.He that is prone to mercie, shal be blessed: for of his breades he hath geuen to the poore.✦Qui pronus est ad misericordiam benedicetur : de panibus enim suis dedit pauperi. Victoriam et honorem acquiret qui dat munera ; animam autem aufert accipientium.
10Cast out the scorner, and brawling shall go forth with him, and cause shall cease and contumeliæ: insults, reproaches, abusive words.Cast out the scorner, and brawling shal goe forth with him, and cause shal cease and contumelies.✦Ejice derisorem, et exibit cum eo jurgium, cessabuntque causæ et contumeliæ.
11He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips, shall have the king his friend.He that loueth cleanes of hart, for the grace of his lippes, shal haue the king his frend.✦Qui diligit cordis munditiam, propter gratiam labiorum suorum habebit amicum regem.
12The eyes of our Lord keep knowledge: and the words of the just are supplantantur: displaced and superseded; overthrown, tripped up, brought to nothing.The eies of our Lord keepe knowlege: and the wordes of the iust are supplanted.✦Oculi Domini custodiunt scientiam, et supplantantur verba iniqui.
13The slothful saith: A lion is without, in the midst of the streets I am to be slain.The slothful sayth: A lyon is without, in the middes of the streates I am to be slayne.✦Dicit piger : Leo est foris ; in medio platearum occidendus sum.
14A deep pit the mouth of a strange woman: he with whom our Lord is angry, shall fall into it.A deepe pitte the mouth of a strange woman: he with whom our Lord is angrie, shal fal into it.✦Fovea profunda os alienæ : cui iratus est Dominus, incidet in eam.
15Folly is tied together in the heart of a child, and the rod of discipline shall drive it away.Follie is tyed together in the hart of a childe, and the rod of discipline shal driue it away.✦Stultitia colligata est in corde pueri, et virga disciplinæ fugabit eam.
16He that doth calumniatur: slander, defame; oppress, defraud, wrong the poor, to increase his riches, himself shall give to a richer, and shall be in need.He that doth calumniate the poore, to increase his riches, himself shal geue to a richer, and shal be in neede.✦Qui calumniatur pauperem ut augeat divitias suas, dabit ipse ditiori, et egebit.
17Incline thine ear, and hear the words of wise men: and set thy heart to my doctrine:Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of wisemen: and set thy hart to my doctrine:✦Inclina aurem tuam, et audi verba sapientium : appone autem cor ad doctrinam meam,
18which shall be beautiful for thee, when thou shalt keep it in thy belly, and it shall flow in thy lips.which shal be beautiful for thee, when thou shalt kepe it in thy bellie, and it shal flow in thy lippes.quæ pulchra erit tibi cum servaveris eam in ventre tuo, et redundabit in labiis tuis :
19That thy confidence may be in our Lord, wherefore I have shewed also it to thee this day.That thy confidence may be in our Lord, wherfore I haue shewed also it to thee this day.✦ut sit in Domino fiducia tua, unde et ostendi eam tibi hodie.
20Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in cogitations and knowledge:Behold I haue described it to thee three maner of wayes, in cogitations and knowledge:✦Ecce descripsi eam tibi tripliciter, in cogitationibus et scientia :
21that I might shew thee the stability, and the words of truth, out of these to answer them, that sent thee.that I might shew thee the stabilitie, and the wordes of truth, out of these to answer them, that sent thee.✦ut ostenderem tibi firmitatem et eloquia veritatis, respondere ex his illis qui miserunt te.
22Do not violence to the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the needy in the gate:Doe not violence to the poore, because he is poore: neither oppresse the needie in the gate:✦Non facias violentiam pauperi quia pauper est, neque conteras egenum in porta :
23because our Lord will judge his cause, and will pierce them, that have pierced his soul.because our Lord wil iudge his cause, and wil pearse them, that haue pearsed his soule.quia judicabit Dominus causam ejus, et configet eos qui confixerunt animam ejus.
24Be not friend to an angry man, nor walk with a furious man:Be not frend to an angrie man, nor walke with a furious man:✦Noli esse amicus homini iracundo, neque ambules cum viro furioso :
25lest perhaps thou learn his paths, and take scandal to thy soul.lest perhaps thou lerne his pathes, and take scandal to thy soule.ne forte discas semitas ejus, et sumas scandalum animæ tuæ.
26Be not with them, that stick down their hands, and that offer themselves vades: certainties; guarantors who pledge for another's debt for debts:Be not with them, that sticke downe their handes, and that offer themselues sureties for debts:✦Noli esse cum his qui defigunt manus suas, et qui vades se offerunt pro debitis :
27for if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?for if thou haue not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the couering from thy bed?si enim non habes unde restituas, quid causæ est ut tollat operimentum de cubili tuo ?
28Transgress not the ancient bounds, which thy fathers have put.Trangresse not the ancient boundes, which thy fathers haue put.✦Ne transgrediaris terminos antiquos, quos posuerunt patres tui.
29Hast thou seen a man quick in his work? he shall stand before kings, neither shall be before the ignobiles: the ignoble, lowborn, obscure.Hast thou sene a man quicke in his worke? he shal stand before kinges, neither shal be before the vnnoble.✦Vidisti virum velocem in opere suo ? coram regibus stabit, nec erit ante ignobiles.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.