1 THE heauy burthen which the Lorde hath deuised for Israel Thus saith the Lorde which spread the heauens abrode layde the foundatiō of the earth and gaue man the breath of lyfe 2 Beholde I wyll make Hierusalem a cuppe of surfet vnto all the people that are rounde about her yea Iuda him selfe also shal be in the siege against Hierusalem 3 At the same time wyll I make Hierusalem an heauy stone for all people so that al such as lyft it vp shal be torne and rent and all the people of the earth shal be gathered together against it 4 In that day saith the Lorde I wyll make al horses astonyed and those that ryde vpon thē to be out of their wittes I wyll open myne eyes vpon the house of Iuda and smite all the horses of the people with blindnesse 5 And the princes of Iuda shall say in their heartes The inhabiters of Hierusalem shall geue me consolation in the Lorde of hoastes their God 6 In that time wyll I make the princes of Iuda lyke an hot burning ouen with wood and like a fire brand among the strawe so that they shall consume al the people rounde about them both vpon the right hande and the left Hierusalem also shal be inhabited againe namely in the same place where Hierusalem standeth 7 The Lorde shall preserue the tentes of Iuda as afore time so that the glorye of the house of Dauid and the glory of the citezins of Hierusalem shal not be exalted against Iuda 8 In that day shall the Lorde defende the citezins of Hierusalem so that the weakest then among them shal be as Dauid and the house of Dauid shal be as gods house and as the angel of the Lorde before them 9 At the same tyme wyll I go about to destroy all such people as come against Hierusalem 10 Moreouer vpon the house of Dauid vpon the citezins of Hierusalem wyll I poure out the spirite of grace compassion so that they shall loke vpon me whom they haue pearsed and they shal lamēt for him as men mourne for their onely begotten sonne yea and be sory for him as men are sory for their first childe 11 Then shal there be a great mourning at Hierusalem like as the lamentation at Adadremmon in the fielde of Mageddon 12 And the lande shal bewaile euery kindred by them selues alone the kindred of the house of Dauid by them selues and their wyues by them selues the kindred of the house of Nathan them selues and their wyues by them selues 13 The kindred of the house of Leui them selues alone and their wyues by them selues the kindred of the house of Semei them selues alone and their wyues by them selues 14 In lyke maner all the other generations euery one by them selues alone and their wyues by them selues The .xiii. Chapter 1 Of the well of grace and trueth 2 Of the cleane riddaunce of Idolatrie and of false prophetes 1 IN that time shall the house of Dauid and the citezins of Hierusalem haue an open wel to washe of sinne and vncleannesse 2 And then saith the Lorde of hoastes I wyll destroy the names of the idols out of the lande so that they shal no more be put in remembraunce As for the false prophetes also and the vncleane spirites I wyl take them out of the lande 3 So that if any of them prophecie any more his owne father and mother that begat him shal say vnto him Thou shalt dye for thou speakest lyes vnder the name of the Lord yea his owne father and mother that begat him shall wounde him when he prophecieth 4 And then shal those prophetes be confounded euery one of his vision when he prophecieth neither shal they weare heere cloth any more to deceaue men withall 5 But he shal be fayne to say I am no prophete I am an husbandman for so am I taught by man from my youth vp 6 And if it be saide vnto him How came these woundes then in thyne handes He shal aunswere Thus was I wounded in the house of myne owne friendes 7 Aryse O thou sworde vpon my shephearde and vpon the man that is my felow saith the lord of hoastes smite the shepheard the sheepe shal be scattred abroade and so wyll I turne my hande to the litle ones 8 And it shall come to passe saith the Lorde that in all the lande two partes shal be rooted out but the third part shall remayne therein 9 And the same third part wyl I bring through the fire wyl cleanse them as the siluer is cleansed yea and trye them lyke as golde is tryed then shal they call vpon my name and I wyll heare them I wyll say it is my people and they shall say Lorde my God ⧠The .xiiij. Chapter 1 The wasting of the Churche vnder the figure of Hierusalem 9 Of the kingdome of the Lorde 1 BEholde the day of the Lorde commeth and thy spoyle shal be deuided in the middest of thee 2 For I wyll gather together all the heathen to fight against Hierusalem so that the citie shal be wonne the houses spoyled and the women defiled the halfe of the citie shall go away into captiuitie and the residue of the people shal not be caryed out of the citie 3 After that shall the Lorde go foorth to fight against those heathen as men vse to fight in the day of battaile 4 Then shall his feete stand vpon the mount Oliuet that lyeth vpon the east side of Hierusalem and the mount Oliuet shall cleaue in two eastwarde and westwarde so that there shal be a great valley and the halfe mount shal remoue toward the north the other towarde the south 5 And ye shall flee vnto the valley of my hylles for the valley of the hylles shall reache vnto Asal yea flee shall ye lyke as ye fled for the earthquake in the dayes of Oziah king of Iuda and the Lorde my God shall come and all the sainctes with him 6 In that day shall there be no cleare light but darke 7 This shal be that speciall day which is knowen vnto the Lorde neither day nor night but about the euening time it shal be light 8 In that time shall there waters of lyfe runne out from Hierusalem the halfe part of them towarde the east sea and the other halfe towarde the vttermost sea and shall continue both sommer and winter 9 And the Lorde him selfe shal be king ouer all the earth At that time shall there be one Lorde onely and his name shall be but one 10 All the lande shal be turned as a plaine from Gibea to Remmon towardes the south of Hierusalem She shal be set vp and inhabited in her place from Beniamins port vnto the place of the first port and vnto the corner port and from the towre of Hananeel vnto the kinges wine presses 11 There shal men dwell and there shal
wicked woman her will 28 If she walke not after thy hande she shall confounde thee in the sight of thâ—e enemies Cut her of then from thy fleshe that she do not alway abuse thee â–ª The .xxvi. Chapter 1 The prayse of a good woman 5 Of the feare of three thinges and of the fourth â— Of the ielousie and drunkennesse of a woman 28 Of two thinges that cause sorowe of the thyrde whiche moueth wrath 1 HAppy is the man that hath a vertuous wyfe for the nuÌ„ber of his yeres shal be double 2 An honest woman maketh her husbande a ioyfull man and she shall fill the yeres of his lyfe in peace 3 A vertuous woman is a noble gift whiche shal be geuen for a good portion vnto such as feare God 4 Whether a man be riche or poore he may haue euer a mery heart a cheareful countenaunce 5 There be three thinges that my heart feareth and my face is afrayde of the fourth treason in a citie a seditious people and noysome tongues all these are heauyer then the death 6 When one woman is ielous ouer an other it bringeth payne and sorowe vnto the heart and a woman that telleth out all thinges is a scourge of the tongue 7 When one hath an euyll wyfe it is euen as when an vnlyke payre of oxen must drawe together he that getteth her getteth a scorpion 8 A drunken woman is a great plague for she can not couer her owne shame 9 The whordome of a woman may be knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye liddes 10 If thy daughter be not shamefast hold her straytly lest she abuse her selfe thorowe ouer much libertie 11 Beware of all the dishonestie of her eyes maruel not if she do against thee 12 As a way faring man that is thirstie when he hath founde a well drinketh of euery water so will she sit downe by euery hedge and make her selfe common to euery man that passeth by 13 A louing wyfe reioyceth her husbande feedeth his bones with her wysdome 14 A woman of fewe wordes is a gift of God to all nurtured myndes may nothing be compared 15 An honest and manerly woman is a gift aboue other giftes and there is no wayght to be compared vnto a minde that can rule it selfe 16 Like as the sunne when it ariseth is an ornament in the hie heauen of the Lord so is a vertuous wyfe the beautie of all her house 17 Like as the cleare light is vpon the holy candelsticke so is the beautie of the face vpon an honest body 18 Like as the golden pillers are vpon the sockettes of siluer so are the fayre feete vpon a woman that hath a constant mynde 19 Perpetual are the foundations that be layed vpon a whole stony rocke so are the commaundementes of God vpon the heart of an holy woman 20 There be two thinges that greeue my heart in the thirde is displeasure come vpoÌ„ me When an experte man of warre suffreth scarsenesse and pouertie when men of vnderstanding and wisdome are not set by and when one departeth from righteousnesse vnto sinne Who so doth such the Lorde hath prepared him vnto the sworde 21 There be two maner of thinges which me thinke to be harde and perilous A marchaunt can not lightly kepe hym from wrong neither a tauerner hym selfe from sinne The .xxvii. Chapter â— Of the poore that woulde be riche 5 The probation of the man that feareth God 13 The vnconstantenesse of a foole 16 The secretes of a friend are not to be vttered 20 The wicked imagineth euyll whiche returneth vpon him selfe 1 BEcause of pouertie haue many one offended and he that seketh to be riche turneth his eyes asyde 2 Lyke as a nayle in the wal sticketh fast betwixt two stones euen so doth sinne sticke betwixt the bier and the seller 3 If he holde him not diligently in the feare of the Lorde his house shall soone be ouerthrowen 4 Lyke as when one sifteth the filthynesse remayneth in the syue So remayneth there some vncleane thing in the thought of man 5 The ouen proueth the potters vessel so doth temptation of trouble trye righteous men 6 The tree of the fielde is knowen by his fruite so is the thought of mans heart knowen by his wordes 7 Prayse no man except thou haue heard him for a man is knowen by his wordes 8 If thou folowest righteousnes thou shalt get her and put her vpon thee as a fayre garment and thou shalt dwell with her and she shall defende thee for euer and in the day of knowledge thou shalt finde stedfastnesse 9 The byrdes resorte vnto their lyke so doth the trueth turne vnto them that be occupied withall 10 The lion wayteth the pray so doth sinne vpon them that worke vnrighteousnesse 11 The talking of him that feareth God is nothing but wysdome as for a foole he chaungeth as the moone 12 If thou be among the vndiscrete kepe thy wordes to a conuenient time but among such as be wise speake on hardyly 13 The talking of fooles is abhomination and their sport is volupteousnesse and misnurture 14 Much swearing maketh the heere to stande vp and to stryue with such stoppeth the â—ares 15 The stryfe of the proude is bloodshedding and their blaspheming is heauy to heare 16 Who so discouereth secretes leeseth his credence and fyndeth no friende after his will 17 Loue thy friende and binde thy selfe in faythfulnesse with him but if thou bewrayest his secretes thou shalt not get him againe 18 For like as the man is that destroyeth his enemie so is he also that dealeth falsly in the friendship of his neyghbour 19 Like as one that letteth a byrde go out of his hande can not take her againe Euen so thou if thou geue ouer thy friende thou canst not get him againe 20 Yea thou canst not come by him for he is to farre of He is vnto thee as a Roe escaped out of the snare for his soule is wounded 21 As for woundes they may be bounde vp againe and an euyll worde may be reconciled but who so bewrayeth the secretes of a friende there is no more hope to be had vnto him 22 He that winketh with the eyes imagineth some euyll and he that knoweth him will let him alone 23 When thou art present he shall hyghlie commende and prayse thy wordes but at the last he shall turne his tayle and sclaunder thy saying 24 Many thinges haue I hated but nothing so euyll for the Lorde him selfe also abhorreth such a one 25 Who so casteth a stone an hye it shal fal vpon his owne head and he that smyteth with guyle woundeth him selfe 26 Who so diggeth a pit shall fall therein and he that layeth a stone in his neyghbours way shall stumble theron and he that layeth a snare for another shall be taken in it him selfe 27 Who so geueth a wicked noisome counsell it shall come vpon hymselfe
a glad man shewe hym her secretes and heape vpon him the treasures of knowledge vnderstandyng of righteousnes 19 But yf he go wrong she shall forsake hym geue hym ouer into the handes of destruction and ruine 20 My sonne make much of the tyme eschewe the thyng that is euyll 21 And for thy lyfe shame not to say the trueth For there is a shame that bryngeth sinne and there is a shame that bryngeth worshyp and fauour 22 Accept no person after thyne owne wyll that thou be not confounded to thyne owne decay Be not ashamed of thy neyghbour in his aduersitie 23 And kepe not backe thy counsayle when it may do good neither hyde thy wisdome in her beautie 24 For in the tongue is wisdome knowē so is vnderstandyng knowledge and learnyng in the talkyng of the wise and stedfastnesse in the workes of ryghteousnesse 25 In no wise speake agaynst the worde of trueth but be ashamed of the lyes of thyne owne ignoraunce 26 Shame not to confesse thyne errour and resist not the course of the riuer 27 And submit not thy selfe vnto a foolishe man neither accept the person of the mightie 28 And striue thou not agaynst the streame But for ryghteousnesse take paynes with all thy soule and for the trueth striue thou vnto death and God shall fyght for thee agaynst thyne enemies 29 Be not hasty in thy tongue neither slacke and negligent in thy workes 30 Be not as a lion in thyne owne house destroying thy housholde folkes and oppressyng them that are vnder thee 31 Let not thyne hande be stretched out to receaue and shut when thou shouldest geue The .v. Chapter 1 In riches may we not put any confidence 7 The vengeaunce of God ought to be feared and repentaunce may not be deferred 1 TRust not vnto thy riches say not tushe I haue inough for my lyfe for it shall not helpe in the tyme of vengeaunce and temptation 2 Folowe not the lust of thyne owne heart in thy strength 3 And say not tushe howe haue I had strength or who wyll bryng me vnder because of my workes For doubtlesse God shall auenge it 4 And say not I haue sinned and what euyll hath happened me For the almightie is a patient rewarder 5 Because thy sinne is forgeuen thee be not therfore without feare neither heape one sinne vpon another 6 And say not tushe the mercie of the Lorde is great he shall forgeue me my sinnes be they neuer so many For lyke as he is mercifull so goeth wrath from hym also and his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners 7 Make no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde and put not of from day to day for sodenly shall his wrath come and in the tyme of vengeaunce he shall destroy thee 8 Trust not in wicked riches for they shall not helpe thee in the day of punishment and wrath 9 Be not caried about with euery winde and go not into euery way for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue 10 Stande fast in the way of the Lorde be stedfast in thy vnderstandyng abyde by the worde and folowe the worde of peace and righteousnesse 11 Be gentle to heare the worde of God that thou mayest vnderstande it and make a true aunswere with wisdome 12 Be swyft to heare but slowe and pacient in geuing aunswere 13 If thou hast vnderstanding shape thy neighbour an aunswere yf no laye thy hande vpon thy mouth lest thou be trapped in an vndiscreete word and so confounded 14 Honour and shame is in the talke but the tongue of the vndiscrete is his owne destruction 15 Be not a priuy accuser as long as thou lyuest and vse no slaunder with thy tongue For shame sorowe goeth ouer the thiefe and an euyll name ouer him that is double tongued but he that is a priuy accuser of other men shal be hated enuied and confounded 16 Do not rashly neither in great nor small The .vj. Chapter 1 It is the propertie of a sinner to be euyll tongued 6 Of friendship 33 Desire to be taught 1 BE not of a friende an enemie for such a man getteth an euyll name shame and rebuke and whosoeuer beareth enuie a double tongue offendeth 2 Be not proude in the deuice of thine owne vnderstanding lest thy soule rent thee as a bull 3 And lest thy leaues wyther and thy fruite be destroyed and so thou be left as a drye tree in the wildernesse 4 For a wicked soule destroyeth hym that hath it maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemies and bryngeth him to the portion of the vngodly 5 A sweete worde multiplieth friendes pacifieth them that be at variaunce and a thankfull tongue wyll be plenteous in a good man 6 Holde friendship with many neuerthelesse haue but one counsellour of a thousande 7 If thou gettest a friende proue him first and be not hastye to geue him credence 8 For some man is a friende but for his owne turne and wyll not abyde in the day of trouble 9 And there is some friend that turneth to enimitie and taketh part agaynst thee and if he knowe any hurt by thee he telleth it out 10 Agayne some friende is but a companion at the table and in the day of neede he continueth not 11 But in thy prosperitie he wyll be as thou thy selfe and deale playnly with thy housholde folke 12 If thou be brought lowe he wyll be agaynst thee and wyll be hidden from thy face 13 Depart from thyne enemies yea and beware of thy friendes 14 A faythfull friende is a strong defence who so findeth such one fyndeth a treasure 15 A faythfull friende hath no peare the wayght of golde and siluer is not to be compared to the goodnesse of his fayth 16 A faythfull friende is a medicine of lyfe and immortalitie and they that feare the Lorde shall fynde hym 17 Who so feareth the Lorde shall prosper with friendes and as he is hym selfe so shall his friende be also 18 My sonne receaue doctrine from thy youth vp so shalt thou fynde wisdome tyll thou be olde 19 Go to her as one that ploweth and soweth and wayte patiently for her good fruites For thou shalt haue but litle labour in her worke but thou shalt eate of her fruites ryght soone 20 O howe exceeding sharpe is wisdome to vnlearned men an vnstedfast body wyll not remayne in her 21 Vnto such she is as it were a touchestone and he casteth her from him in all the haste 22 For wisdome is with him but in name there be but fewe that haue knowledge of her 23 But with them that knowe her she abideth euen vnto the appearyng of God 24 Geue eare my sonne receaue my doctrine and refuse not my counsayle 25 Put thy foote into her lynckes and take her yoke vpon thy necke 26 Bowe downe thy shoulder vnder her beare her patiently and be not weery
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 sâ—ase 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 shal be 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 shal be 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 ¶ The .xxii. Chapter 1 Of the sluggard 12 Not to speake much to a foole 16 A good conscience feareth not 1 A Slouthfull bodye is moulded of a stone of claye and euery man wyll speake to his disprayse 2 A slouthfull body is made of the doung of oxen and euery one that toucheth him must wasshe his handes againe 3 A misnurtured sonne is the dishonour of the father a foolishe daughter shal be litle regarded 4 A wyse daughter is an heritage vnto her husband but she that coÌ„meth to dishonestie bringeth her father in heauinesse 5 A daughter that is past shame dishonoureth both her father and her husband the vngodly shall regarde her but they both shall despise her 6 A tale out of time is as musicke in mourning but wysdome knoweth the seasons of correction and doctrine 7 If children lyue honestly and haue wherewithall they shall put away the shame of their parentes 8 But if children be proude with hautines and foolishnes they blot out the nobilitie of their kinred 9 Who so teacheth a foole is euen as one that gleweth a potsharde together as one that telleth a tale to him that heareth him not and as one that rayseth a man out of an heauy sleepe 10 Who so telleth a foole of wysdome is euen as a man which speaketh to one that is a sleepe when he hath tolde his tale he saith What is the matter 11 When one dyeth lamentation is made for him because the light fayleth him euen so let men mourne ouer a foole for he wanteth vnderstanding Make but litle weeping because of the dead for he is come to rest but the lyfe of the foole is worse then the death 12 Seuen dayes do men mourne for him that is dead but the lamentation ouer the vnwyse and vngodly should endure all the dayes of their lyfe 13 Talke not much with a foole and go not with him that hath no vnderstanding beware of him lest it turne thee to trauaile and thou shalt not be defiled with his sinne Depart from him and thou shalt finde rest and shalt not be drawen backe into his foolishnes 14 What is heauier then leade and what shoulde a foole be called els but leade 15 * Sande salte and a lumpe of iron is easier to beare then an vnwyse foolishe and vngodly man 16 Lyke as the bande of wood bounde together in the foundation of the house can not be loosed euen so is it with the heart that is stablished in the thought of counsell The thought of the wyse shall neuer feare nor be offended at any time 17 Lyke as a faire plastered wall in a winter house and a hye building may not abide the winde and storme euen so is a fooles heart afraide in his imagination he feareth at euery thing and can not endure 8 A wâ—uering heart in the imagination of a foole wyll not euer stande in awe but he that abideth in the commaundementes of God wyll alway feare 19 He that nippeth a mans eye bringeth foorth teares and he that pricketh the heart bringeth foorth the meaning and thought 20 Who so casteth a stone at the birdes frayeth them away and he that blasphemeth his freend breaketh frendship 21 Though thou drewest a sworde at thy freend yet dispaire not for thou mayst come againe to thy freend 22 If he speake sourely feare not for ye may be agreed together againe except it be that thou blaspheme him disdayne him open his secretes and wounde him trayterouslie for all such thinges shall dryue away a freend 23 Be faithfull vnto thy neighbour in his pouertie that thou mayst reioyce with him also in his prosperitie abyde stedfast vnto him in the time of his trouble that thou maist be heyre with him in his heritage for pouertie is not alwayes to be contempned nor the riche that is foolish to be had in estimation 24 Lyke as the vapour and smoke goeth out at the ouen before the fire euen so euill wordes rebukes and threatninges go before bloodshedding 25 Be not ashamed to defende thy freend as for me I wyll not hide my face from him though he should do me harme whosoeuer heareth it shall beware of him 26 Who shal set a watch before my mouth and a sure seale vpon my lippes that I fall not with them and that my tongue destroy me not The .xxiii. Chapter 1 Prayer against pride lechery and gluttony 13 Of othes blasphemy and vnwyse communication 16 Of the three kindes of sinnes 23 Many sinnes proceede of adultrie 27 Of the feare of God 1 O Lorde father and gouernour of my lyfe leaue me not in their imagination and counsell Oh let me not fall in such reproofe 2 Who wyll keepe my thought with the scourge and the doctrine of wysdome in myne heart that he spare not myne ignoraunce that I fall not with them 3 Lest myne ignoraunces increase that myne offences be not many in number and that my sinnes exceede not lest I fall before myne enemies and so my aduersarie reioyce whose hope is farre froÌ„ thy mercie 4 O Lorde thou father and God of my lyfe leaue me not in their imagination