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[1] My sonne, if thou hast sinned, do it no more: but pray for thy foresinnes that they may be forgeuen thee.
[2] Flee from sinne, euen as from a serpent: for if thou comest to nye her, she wyll bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, to slay the soules of men.
[3] The wickednesse of man is as a sharpe two edged sword, which maketh such woundes that they cannot be healed.
[4] Strife and wrongfull dealing, shall waste away a mans goodes, & through pride a riche house shalbe brought to naught: so the riches of the proude shalbe rooted out.
[5] The prayer of the poore goeth out of the mouth, & commeth vnto the eares, and his vengeaunce [or defence] shall come hastyly.
[6] Who so hateth to be refourmed, it is a toke of an vngodly person: but he that feareth God, wyll remember him selfe.
[7] A mightie man is knowen a farre of by his tongue: but he that hath vnderstanding, perceaueth that he shall haue a fall.
[8] Who so buildeth his house with other mens cost, is lyke one that gathereth stones to make his graue.
[9] The congregation of the vngodly, is lyke stubble gathered together, their ende is a flambe of fire.
[10] The way of the vngodly is set with stones: but in their ende is hell, darkenesse, and paines.
[11] He that kepeth the lawe, wyll holde fast the vnderstanding thereof: and the ende of the feare of God is wysdome and vnderstanding.
[12] He that is not wyse, wyl not be taught in good, but the vnwyse man aboundeth in wickednesse: and where bitternesse is, there is no vnderstanding.
[13] The knowledge of the wyse shal flowe lyke water that runneth ouer, and his counsaile is lyke a pure fountaine of life.
[14] The heart of a foole is lyke a broken vessel, he can keepe no wysdome.
[15] When a man of vnderstanding heareth a wyse worde, he shall commend it and make much of it: but if a voluptuous man heare it, he shall haue no pleasure therein, but cast it behinde his backe.
[16] The talking of a foole is lyke an heauy burthen by the way: but to heare a wise man speake, it is pleasure.
[17] Where a doubt is in the congregation, it is asked at the mouth of the wyse, and they shall ponder his wordes in their heartes.
[18] Lyke as is a house that is destroyed, euen so is wysdome vnto a foole: as for the knowledge of the vnwyse, it is but darke wordes.
[19] Doctrine is vnto him that hath no vnderstanding, euen as fetters about his feete, and lyke manicles vpon his right hande.
[20] A foole lifteth vp his voyce with laughter: but a wyse man shall sease laugh secretly.
[21] Learning is vnto a wyse man a iewell of golde, and lyke an armlet vpon his right arme.
[22] A foolishe mans foote is soone in his neighbours house: but one that hath experience shalbe ashamed at the person of the mightie.
[23] A foole wyll peepe in at the windowe into the house: but he that is wel nurtured wyll stande without.
[24] A foolishe man standeth hearkening at the doore: but he that is wyse wyll be ashamed.
[25] The lippes of the vnwyse wyl be telling foolishe thinges: but the wordes of such as haue vnderstanding shalbe wayed in the balaunce.
[26] The heart of fooles is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wyse is in their heart.
[27] When the vngodly curseth the blasmer, he curseth his owne soule.
[28] A priuie accuser of other men shall defile his owne soule, and be hated of euery man: but he that keepeth his tongue and is discreete, shal come to honour.
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