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[1] There shall no euil happen vnto him that feareth God: but when he is in temptation, the Lorde shall deliuer him, & keepe him from euill.
[2] A wyse man hateth not the lawe: but an hypocrite is as a ship in raging water.
[3] A man of vnderstanding geueth credence vnto the lawe of God, and the law is faithfull vnto him.
[4] Be sure of the matter, then talke therof: be first wel instructe, then mayst thou geue aunswere.
[5] The heart of the foolishe, is lyke a cart wheele, and his thoughtes runne about lyke the axeltree.
[6] Lyke as a wylde horse that neyeth vnder euery one that sitteth vpon him, so it is with a scornefull friende.
[7] Why doth one day excell an other, seeing all the dayes of the yere come of the sunne?
[8] The wysdome of the Lorde hath so parted them a sunder, and so hath he ordayned the times and solempne feastes.
[9] Some of them hath he chosen and halowed before other dayes.
[10] And all men are made of the grounde, and out of the earth of Adam: In the multitude of science hath the Lorde sundred them, and made their wayes of diuers fashions.
[11] Some of them hath he blessed, made much of them, halowed them, and claymed them to him selfe: but some of them hath he cursed, brought them low, and put them out of their estate.
[12] Lyke as the claye is in the potters hande, and all the ordering therof at his pleasure: so are men also in the hande of him that made them, so that he may geue them as lyketh him best.
[13] Against euil is good, and against death is lyfe: so is the vngodlie against such as feare God.
[14] Beholde, these are the workes of the hiest, and there are euen two against two, and one set against another.
[15] I am awaked vp last of al, as one that gathereth after in haruest: in the giftes of God and in his blessing I am increased, and haue filled my wine presse, lyke a grape gatherer.
[16] Beholde how I haue not laboured onely for my selfe, but for all such as loue nurture and wysdome.
[17] Heare me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your eares ye rulers of the congregation.
[18] Geue not thy sonne, and wyfe, thy brother, and friend, power ouer thee whyle thou liuest: and geue not away thy substaunce & good to another, lest it repent thee, and thou be faine to aske of them againe.
[19] As long as thou lyuest and hast breath let no man chaunge thee.
[20] For better it is thy children to pray thee, then that thou shouldest be faine to loke in their handes.
[21] In all thy workes be excellent, that thy honour be neuer stayned.
[22] At the time when thou shalt ende thy dayes and finishe thy lyfe, distribute thyne inheritaunces.
[23] The fodder, the whippe, and the burthen belongeth vnto the asse: meate, correction, and worke vnto the seruaunt.
[24] If thou set thy seruaunt to labour, thou shalt finde rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seeke libertie.
[25] The yoke and the whippe bowe downe the hard necke: but tame thou thy euill seruaunt with bondes and correction.
[26] Sende him to labour, that he go not idle: for idlenesse bringeth much euill.
[27] Set him to worke, for that belongeth vnto him, and becommeth him wel.
[28] If he be not obedient, binde his feete: but do not to much vnto him in any wyse, and without discretion do nothing.
[29] If thou haue a [faithfull] seruaunt, let him be vnto thee as thyne owne soule: entreate him as a brother, for in blood hast thou gotten him: if thou haue a seruaunt holde him as thy selfe, for thou hast neede of him as of thy selfe:
[30] If thou intreatest him euil, and kepest him hard, and makest him to be proude, and to runne away from thee, thou canst not tell what way thou shalt seeke him.
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