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[1] He that applieth his mynde to vnderstande the lawe of God, doth diligently seke out the wysdome of them of the olde time, and exerciseth hym selfe in the prophetes.
[2] He kepeth the sayinges of famous men, and preasseth to the vnderstanding of darke sentences of wysdome.
[3] He seketh out the misterie of secrete sayinges, and exerciseth himselfe therin continually.
[4] He doth seruice among great men, and appeareth before the prince: he goeth into a straunge countrey, and trauayleth thorowe it: loke what good or euyll is among men, he proueth and seketh it out.
[5] He purposeth in his heart to resort early vnto the Lord that made him, and to pray before the highest God: he openeth his mouth in prayer, and prayeth for his sinnes.
[6] When the great Lorde will, he shalbe filled with the spirite of vnderstanding, that he may then powre out wyse sentences, and geue thankes vnto the Lord in his prayer.
[7] He shall order his deuice, and leade his knowledge a right, and geue him vnderstanding of secrete thinges.
[8] He shall shewe foorth the science of his learning, and reioyce in the couenaunt of the lawe of the Lorde:
[9] The whole congregation shall commende his wysdome, and it shall neuer be put out: the remembraunce of hym shall neuer be forgotten, and his name shal continue from one generation to an other.
[10] His wysdome shalbe spoken of among the people, and the whole congregation shall openly declare his prayse.
[11] While he liueth, he hath a greater name then a thousand beside: and after death, the same name remayneth vnto hym.
[12] Yet will I speake of mo men of vnderstanding, for I am ful as the moone.
[13] Hearken vnto me ye holy vertuous children, bring foorth fruite as the rose that is planted by the brookes of the fielde,
[14] And geue ye a sweete smell as incense, florishe as the rose garden, sing a song of prayse, O geue thankes vnto God ouer all his workes:
[15] Geue magnificence vnto his name, and set hym foorth in his prayse with your lippes, & with musicke and harmonie: Yea euen with the song of your lippes, with harpes and playing, and in geuing thankes vnto him, say after this maner:
[16] All the workes of the Lord are exceeding good, & all his commaundementes are meete and conuenient in due season.
[17] A man neede not to say, what is that? what is that? for at a time conuenient they shall all be sought: At his commaundement the water was as a wall, and at the worde of his mouth the water stoode still.
[18] In his commaundement is euery thing acceptable and reconciled, and his health can not be minished.
[19] The workes of all fleshe are before him, and there is nothing hyd from his eyes.
[20] He seeth from euerlasting to euerlasting, and there is nothing to wonderful or hye vnto hym.
[21] A man neede not to say then, what is this, or that? for he hath made al thinges to do good vnto man.
[22] His blessing shall run ouer as the streame, and moysture the earth lyke a fludde of water.
[23] Like as he maketh the drouth: so shall his wrath fall vpon the heathen.
[24] His wayes are playne and right vnto the iust: but the vngodly stumble at them.
[25] For the good, are good thinges created from the beginning, & euyll thinges for the vngodly.
[26] All thinges necessarie for the lyfe of man are created from the beginning: water, fire, iron, and salt, meale, wheate, and hony, milke, and wine, oyle and clothing:
[27] All these thinges are created for the best to the faythfull: but to the vngodly shall all these thinges be turned to hurt and harme.
[28] There be spirites that are created for vengeaunce, and in their rigorousnesse haue they fastened their tormentes: In the time of the ende they shall poure out their strength, and pacifie the wrath of him that made them.
[29] Fire, hayle, hunger, and death: al these thinges are created for vengeaunce.
[30] The teeth of wilde noysome beastes, the scorpions, serpentes, and the sworde, are created also for vengeaunce, to the destruction of the vngodly.
[31] They shalbe glad to do his commaundementes, and when neede is, they shalbe redy vpon earth: and when their houre is come, they shall not ouerpasse the commaundement of the Lorde.
[32] Therfore haue I taken a good courage vnto me from the beginning, and haue thought to put these thinges in writing, and to leaue them behinde me:
[33] All the workes of the Lorde are good, and he geueth euery one in due season, and when neede is.
[34] So that no man neede not to say: This is worse then that: for in due season they are all pleasaunt and good.
[35] And therefore prayse the Lorde with whole heart and mouth, & geue thankes vnto his name.
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