|
[1] Stryue not with a mightie man, lest thou chaunce to fall into his handes.
[2] Make no variaunce with a riche man, lest he happen to bring vp an harde quarell against thee: For golde and siluer hath vndone many a man, yea euen the heartes of kinges hath it made to fall.
[3] Stryue not with a man that is full of wordes, and lay no stickes vpon his fire.
[4] Kepe no companie with the vnlearned, lest he geue thy kinred an euyll report.
[5] Despise not a man that turneth hym selfe away from sinne, and cast him not in the teeth withall: but remember that we are frayle euerichone.
[6] Thinke scorne of no man in his olde age, for we waxe olde also.
[7] Be not glad of the death of thyne enemie: but remember that we must dye all the sort of vs, and fayne would we come into ioy.
[8] Despise not the sermons of such elders as haue vnderstandyng, but acquaynt thy selfe with the wyse sentences of them: for of them thou shalt learne wisdome, & the doctrine of vnderstandyng, and howe to serue great men without complaynt.
[9] Go not from the doctrine of the elders, for they haue learned it of their fathers: for of them thou shalt learne vnderstanding, so that thou mayest make aunswere in the time of neede.
[10] Kindle not the coales of sinners when thou rebukest them, lest thou be brent in the fyrie flambes of their sinnes.
[11] Resist not the face of the blasphemer, that they lay not wayte for thy mouth.
[12] Lende not vnto hym that is mightier then thy selfe: yf thou lendest hym, count it but lost.
[13] Be not suertie aboue thy power: if thou be, then thinke surely to paye it.
[14] Go not to lawe with the iudge: for he will iudge according to his owne honour.
[15] Trauayle not by the way with hym that his braynlesse, lest he do the euyll: for he foloweth his owne wilfulnesse, and so shalt thou perishe thorowe his follie.
[16] Striue not with him that is angry and cruel, & go not with him into the wildernesse: for blood is nothing in his sight, and where there is no helpe he shall murther thee.
[17] Take no counsel at fooles: for they can not kepe a thing close.
[18] Do no secrete thing before a straunger, for thou canst not tell what will come of it.
[19] Open not thine heart vnto euery man, lest he be vnthankefull to thee, and put thee to reprofe.
|