thy vanitie for that is thy porcion in this lyfe of al thy laboure and trauayle that thou takest vnder the sun What so euer thou takest in hand to do that do with al thy power for in the graue thou goest to ther is nether worke councel knowledge nor wisdō So I turned me vnto other thynges vnder the sun I sawe in running it helpeth not to be swyft in batayle it helpeth not to be strōge to feding it helpeth not to be wyse to riches it helpeth not to be suttel to be had in fauour it helpeth not to be cunnyng but that al lyueth in tyme and fortune For Luke 21. d a man knoweth not his tyme but lyke as the fish are taken with the angle and as the byrdes are catched with the snare Euen so are men taken in the parlous time whē it cōmeth sodenly vpon them This wysdome haue I sene also vnder the Sunne and me thought it a great thing There was a litle cytie and a fewe men within it so there came a great kynge and beseged it and made greate bulwarkes against it And in the cytie ther was foūde a pore man but he was wise whiche with his wysdō delyuered the Cytie yet was there no bodye that had any respect vnto suche a symple man Then sayde I wysdome is better then strength Neuerthelesse a symple mānes wysdome is despysed and hys wordes are not hearde A wyse mannes counsell that is folowed in scylence is farre aboue the cryenge of a captayne amonge fooles Sapi. 6. a 3. Re. 22. c 1. Re. 17. c For wisdome is better thē harnesse but one vnthryft alone destroieth much good ¶ The dyfference betwyxte a foole and a wyse man Fortunate happye is that Realme which hath a wyse Prynce Capi. x. A Deed fly doth corrupt swete ointment and maketh it to stynke Euen so oftymes he that is made of for wysdome honoure is abhorred because of a lytle foolyshenes A wise mans herte is vpon the ryght hand but a fooles herte is vpō the lefte A dotinge foole thynketh that euery man doth as foolyshely as hym selfe Yf a pryncipall spirite be geuen the to beare rule Rom. 1 2. b be not neglygent then in thine office for he that can take cure of himselfe auoideth great offences An other plage is there which I haue sene vnder the sun nameli the ignoraunce that is cōmenly amonge Princes in that a foole sytteth in great dignite and the riche are sette down beneth I haue sene seruauntes ryde vpon horses and Princes goinge vpon they re fete as it were a seruante Pro. 26. a Eccl. 27. d But he that dyggeth vp a pytte shal fal there in him selfe who so breaketh down the hedge a serpent shall byte hym Who so remoueth stones shall haue trauayle withal and he that heweth woode shal be hurte ther with When an yron is blonte and the poynte not sharpened it must be whet agayne and that with mighte Euen so doth wisdome folowe dilegēce A babler of his tonge is no better thē a Serpente that slingeth without hissing The wordes out of a wise mans mouth are gracious but the lyppes of a foole wil destroye hym selfe The beginning of hys talking is foolyshnes and the laste worde of his mouth is starke madnes A foole is full of wordes and a man cannot tell what shal come to passe who will then warne hym of it that shall folowe after hym ▪ The laboure of the foolyshe is greuouse vnto thē whyle they knowe not howe to go into the cytie Woo be vnto the o thou lande whose Kynge is but a childe and whose Prynces are early at they re bankettes But well is the O thou lande whose king is come of nobles and whose Prynces eate in due season for necessite not for luste Thorowe slouthfulnesse the balkes fall downe and thorowe ydle handes it rayneth in at the house Meate maketh men to laughe and psa 104. ◠wyne maketh them mery but vnto money are all thynges obedyent Wyshe the kynge no euel in thy thought and speake no hurte of the ryche in thy preuy chaumber for a byrde of the ayre shall betraye thy voyce and with her fethers shall she bewraye thy wordes ¶ Rychesse ought to be destrybute vnto the nedy Capi. xi SEnde thy vitayles ouer the waters and so shalte thou fynde them after manye dayes Geue it awaye amōge seuen or eyghte for thou knowest not what myserye shall come vpon earthe When the cloudes are full they poure out rayne vpon the earth And when the tree falleth whether it be towarde the Southe or Northe in what place so euer it fall there it liethe He that regardeth the wynde shall not sowe and he that hathe respecte vnto the cloudes shall not reape Nowe lyke as thou knowest not the waye of the wind nor how the bones are fylled in a mothers wombe Euē so thou knowest not the workes of God which is the worke maister of all Cease not thou therfore with thy handes to sow thy seed whether it be in the mornyng or in the eueninge for thou knowest not whether thys or that shall prospere yf they both take it is better The light is swete and a pleasaūt thing it is for the eyes to loke vpon the Sunne If a man liue many yeres and be glad in them all let him remember the dayes of darknes which shal be mani and that foloweth all thynges shal be but vanytie Be gladde then O thou yonge man in thy youth ▪ and let thine herte be mery in thy yong dayes folow the wayes of thine owne hert and the lust of thine eyes but be thou sure that God shall brynge the into iudgement for all these thinges ¶ From youth oughte we to consyder and regarde the goodnes of God Capi. xii PVt awaye dyspleasure out of thyne herte and remoue euell from thy body for chyldehode and youth is but vanyte Remember thy maker in thy youthe or euer the dayes of aduersitye come and or the yeares drawe nye whē thou shalte saye I haue not pleasure in theym before the Sunne the lighte the moone and starres be darkenned and or the cloudes turne agayne after the raine when the kepers of the house shal tremble and whē the stronge men shall bew them selues when the millers stande still because they be so fewe and whē the syght of the windowes shal waxe dymme when the doers in the stretes shal be shurte and when the voice of the myster shal be laide downe when men shal ryse vp at the voice of the byrde and when al the daugters of musike shal be brought low whē men shal feare in hye places and be afrayde in the stretes whē the Almonde tree shal florishe and be laden with the greshoper and whē al lust shal passe because when man goethe to hys longe home and the mourners go about the stretes Or euer the syluer lace be takē awaye and or the golden band be
THE BOKES of Salomon namely Prouerbia Ecclesiastes Cantica canticorum Sapientia Ecclesiasticus or Iesus the sonne of Syrach ¶ The Prouerbes of Salomon ¶ The prayse of wysdome We maye not herken vnto the voluptuous prouocacyon and intisynges of synners wysdom complayneth to be despysed of all men and Prophecieth destruction vnto her despysers Capi. Primo THe Prouerbes of Salomon the sonne of Dauid kyng of Israel to learne wisdō and instructiō and to perceaue the wordes of vnderstandynge therby to receaue prudence ryghteousnes iudgement and equyte That the very simple myght haue wit and that yonge men myght haue knowledge and vnderstandynge By hearyng the wyse man shal come by more wysdom and he that is endued wyth vnderstandyng shal optayne wyt to parceaue a parable and the interpretacion thereof the wordes of the wyse and the darke speaches of the same Iob. 28. d Eccle. 1. c Psa 26. b Prou. ix c The feare of the Lord is the beginnynge of wysdome but fooles despyse wysdome and instruction My sonne heare thy fathers doctrine and forsake not the lawe of thy mother for that shal brynge grace vnto thy heed and shall be as a cheyne aboute thy necke My sonne consent not vnto synners if they entyse the and saye come with vs we wyl laye wayte for blode and lurke priuely for the innocent without a cause we shal Psa 124 a swalowe them vp lyke the hel and deuoure them quicke and whole as those that go downe into the pyt So shall we fynde all maner of costely ryches and fyll oure houses wyth spoyles Cast in thy lot amonge vs and let vs haue all one purse My sonne walke not thou with them refrayne thy fote from theyr waye For Psa 14. a their fete runne to euell and are hastye to shed bloude But in vayne is the net layde forth before the byrdes eyes Yea they them selues laye wayte one for an others blode and one of thē wolde slaye an other These are the wayes of al suche as be couetouse that one wolde rauyshe anothers lyfe Pro. 13. ◠Wysdom cryeth without and putteth forth her voyce in the stretes She calleth before the congregacion in the open gates and sheweth her wordes thorowe the Cytye sayenge O ye chyldren how longe wyl you loue chyldishnes how long wyl the scorners delyte in scornynge and the vnwyse be enemyes vnto knowledge O turne you vnto my correccyon lo I wyl expresse my mynde vnto you and make you vnderstande my wordes Esa 55. b Iere. 8. a I haue called and ye refused it I haue stretched out my hand and no man regarded it but al my counsels haue ye despysed set my correction at nought Therfore shal I also laughe in your destruction mocke you when that thing that ye feare commeth vpon you euen when the thynge that ye be afrayed of falleth in sodēly like a storme and your mysery lyke a tempest yea whē trouble and heuynes commeth vpon you Then shal they cal vpon me but I wil not heare they shall seke me earlye but they shal not fynde me And that because they hated knoweledge and receaued not the feare of the Lord but abhorred my councel and despysed all my correction Therfore shall they eate the fruites of theyr own waie and be filled with theyr owne inuencyons For the turninge awaye of the vnwise shall slaye them and the prosperite of foles shal be theyr owne destruccyon Pro. 3. d But who so harkeneth vnto me shall dwell safely and be suer from any feare of euell ¶ Wysdome is to be embraced and set by whiche teacheth feare and knowlege wysdome directeth vs in the waye of God And an aduouterous woman is to be eschued Capi. ii MY sonne if thou wylte receaue my wordes and kepe my commaundemētes by the that thou wilte encline thyn eares vnto wisdome apply thyne hert then to vnderstanding For yf thou cryest after wisdome and callest for knowledge if thou sekest after her as after moneye and dyggest for her as for treasure then shalte thou vnderstande the feare of the Lorde and fynde the knowledge of God Iaco. 1. a Eccle. 1. a and .7 c For it is the Lorde that giueth wisdome out of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstandynge He preserueth the welfare of the rightuous 3. Re. 3. b and .4 d and defendeth them that walke syncerely he kepeth them in the ryghte pathe and preserueth the waye of suche is serue him with godlynes Then shalt thou vnderstande ryghtuousnesse iudgemente and equytie yea and euery good waye When wysdome entreth in to thyne hert and thy soule deliteth in knowlege then shall councell preserue the and vnderstandynge shall kepe the. That thou mayeste be delyuered from the euell waye and from the man that speaketh frowarde thinges From suche as leaue the right pathes and walke in the wayes of darckenesse whiche reioyse in doynge euell and delite in wicked thinges whose wayes are croked and they frowarde in they re pathes That thou mayest be delyuered also Pro. 5. a and .7 a from the straunge woman and from her that is not thyne owne whiche gyueth swete wordes and which forsaketh the husbande of her youthe and forgetteth the couenaunte of her God For her house is enclined vnto death and her pathes vnto hel Al they that go in vnto her come not agayne neyther take they holde of the waye of lyfe Therfore walke thou in the way of suche as be vertuouse and kepe the pathes of the ryghtuous For the Iust shal dwel in the land and they that be perfecte shal remayne in it but the vngodly shal be roted out of the lande and the wycked doers shal be roted out of it ¶ The Commaundementes of God must be dilygently regarded and obserued Capi. iii. MY sonne Deut. 11. a forget not thou my lawe but se that thyn hart kepe my commaundementes For they shal prolonge the dayes and yeares of thy lyfe and bryng the peace Let mercy and faythfulnes neuer go from the bynde them about thy necke and wryte them in the tables of thyne harte So shalt thou fynde fauoure and good vnderstandynge in the sight of god and men Put thy trust in god wyth all thyn hart and leane not vnto thyn own wyt In all thy wayes haue respecte vnto him and he shall ordre thy goynges Esa 10.2 Be not wyse in thyne own conceyte but feare the Lorde and departe from euell so shal thy nauel be whole Rom. 12. c and thy bones stronge Tob. 4. b Honoure the Lorde wyth thy substaunce and wyth the fyrstelynges of al thyne encrease Deut. 21. a Mal. 3. b Exo. 23. c and .34 c Heb. 12. b Apoc. 3. d geue vnto the pore so shal thy barnes be fylled with plentuosnes and thy presses shal flow ouer with swete wyne My sonne despyse no the chastenynge of the Lorde neyther faynte when thou arte rebuked of him For whom the Lorde loueth hym he chasteneth and
the thinges that are vpon earthe He made all flesh to stande in awe of him so that he hadde the domynyon of all beastes and foules ¶ He made oute of hym an helper lyke vnto hym selfe and gaue them dyscrecion and tonge Gene. ii d. eyes and eares and a herte to vnderstande and fylled them with instruccion and vnderstandynge He created for them also the knowledge of his spirite fylled theyr hertes with vnderstandynge shewed them good and euell He set his eye vpon their hertes declarynge vnto them his great noble workes that they shulde prayse his holy name together reioyse of his wonders Exo â—â— a. Deu. 4. v. and .ix. and be tellynge of his noble actes Besyde this he gaue them instruccion and the lawe of lyfe for an herytage He made an euerlastynge couenaunt wyth them and shewed them his rightuousnes and iudgemâ—ntes They sawe his glorye wyth theyr eyes and theyr eares harde the maiestie of his voyce And he sayde vnto them beware of al vnryghtuous thinges he gaue euery man also a commaundement concerning his neyghbour Their waies are euer before him and are not hyd from his eyes Ro. xiii a. Deu. iii. c and .x. c. He hath set a ruler vpon euery people * but Israell is the Lordes porcyon Al theyr workes ar as the sunne in the syght of God and his eyes are alwaye lokynge vpon theyr wayes All their vnrightuousnes are manifest vnto hym Eccl. xxixb and all their wyckednesses are open in his sight ¶ The mercye that a man sheweth is as it were apurse with hym mat 33. c. and the grace that is gyuen to man preserueth hym as the apple of an eye At the last shal he awake and rewarde euery man vpon his hed and shall turne them to gether into the nethermoste partes of the earth Acre iii c. ¶ But vnto them that wil repent he hath geueÌ„ the waye of rightuousnes As for such as be weake he comforted them suffered them and sendeth them the porcyon of the verytie O turne then vnto the Lorde forsake thy sinnes make thy prayer before the Lorde do the lesse offence thine ageyne vnto the Lorde forsake thine vnryghtuousnesse be an vtter enemye to abhominacion learne to knewe ryghtuousnes and iudgementes of God stande in the porcion that is set forth for the and in the prayer of the most hie God Go in the porcyon of the hole worlde Psal viâ—â— Es 38. d with suche as be liuing and geue thankes vnto god Who wyll prayse the Lorde in the hel Abyde not then in the errour of the vngodli but geue hym thankes before death As for the deed thanckfulnes peryshed from him as nothynge Geue thou thankes in thy lyfe yee whyle thou art liuyng and whole shalt thou geue thankes and prayse God and reioise in his mercye O howe great is the louynge kyndnesse of the Lorde and his mercyful goodnes vnto such as turne vnto hym Foâ— all thinges maye not be in man and why the sonne of man is not immortall and he hath pleasure in the vanyte of wickednes What is moore clere then the Sunne yet shal it fayle Or what is more wycked then the thynge that fleshe and bloode hath ymagyne and that same shall be reproued The Lorde seeth the power of the hie heuen and al are but earth and ashes ¶ The meruelous workes of God the misery and wretchednes of man Agaynst God ought we not to complayne Praye must we continually Capi. xviii HE that lyueth for euermore made all thinges together Gene. i. a. Psal c.v. a Eccle. 45. d God onelye is ryghtuouse and remayneth a victorious kyng for euer ¶ Who shall be able to expresse the workes of hym Who wyll seke out the grounde of his noble actes Who shall declare the power of his greatenes Or who wyl take vpon hym to tel out his mercy As for the wonderous workes of the Lorde there maye nothynge be taken from them nothynge maye be put vnto them neyther maye the ground of them be found out But when a man hath done his best he must begyn agayne and when he thynketh to be come to an ende he muste go agayne to his labour What is man Wherto is he worth Psal cx a. What good or euyll can he do ¶ yf the nomber of a mannes dayes be almoste an hundreth yeare ii Pe. 3. b it is moche Lyke as the droppes of rayne are vnto the see and as a grauell stone is in comparison of the sande soo are these few yeares to the dayes of euerlastynge Therefore is the lorde paciente with them and poureth out his mercy vpon them He sawe and perceyued the thoughtes and ymaginacyons of their hert that they were euell therfore heaped he vp his mercyfull goodnes vpon them and shewed them the waye of ryghtuousnes The mercy that a man hath reacheth to his neyghbour but the mercy of god is vpon all fleshe He chasteneth he teacheth and nourtoureth yee euen as a shepehearde turneth agayne hys flocke so doth he all them that receiue chastenynge nourtour and doctryne Esa xlvi a ¶ Mercyfullis he vnto them that stande in awe of his iugementes My sonne when thou dost good make no grudgynge at it and what soeuer thou geuest speake no discomfortable workes Pro. 1â— a. â— 25. c. Eccle. xli b. Shal not the dewe coole the heat euen so is a worde better then a gift ¶ Is not a frendlye worde a good honeste gyfte but a gracyous man geueth theym both ¶ A fole shal caste a man in the teeth and that roughlye a gyft of the nygarde putteth out the eyes Get the out rightousnes before thou come to iudgement Learne before thou speake and go to physycke or euer thou be sycke i. Corin. xi exameÌ„ iudge thy selfe before the iudgement came so shalt thou fynde grace in the syghte of God Humble thy selfe afore thou be sycke and in tyme of thy disease shewe thy conuersacion Let not to praye alwaye stande not in feare to be refourmed vnto deth Luke 18. a Tes vx e. for the rewarde of god endureth for euer Before thou prayest prepare thy soule be not as one that tempted god Thinke vpon the wrathfull indignation that shal be at the ende and the houre of vengeauÌ„ce Ecle xi d when he shall turn awaye his face when thou haste ynoughe remember the tyme of hunger and when thou arte ryche thynke vpon the tyme of pouerte and scarsnes From the mornynge vntyll the euenige the tyme is chaunged and all suche thinges are sone done in the syght of god A wyse man fearethe god in al thinges and in the dayes of transgression he kepeth hym selfe from synne A discrete man hath pleasure in wysdome the that fyndeth her maketh much of her They that haue had vnderstandynge haue delte wysely in wordes haue vnderstande the truth and ryghtuousnes Ro. vi b. and .xiii. c. and haue sought out wise
O how greate is he that findeth wysdom and knowledge Yet is he not aboue hym that feareth the lord The feare of god hath set it selfe aboue al thynges Blessed is the man vnto whoÌ„ it is grauÌ„ted to haue the feare of god Vnto whoÌ„e shall he be lykened that kepeth it fast The feare of god is the beginning of his loue the begynnyng of fayth is to cleue fast vnto it The heuines of the hert is al the punyshment and the wickednes of a woman goeth aboue al. Al punyshemeÌ„t and plage is nothyng in comparyson of the plage of the hart euen so all wickednes is nothyng to the wickednes of a woman What soeuer happeneth vnto a man is nothyng in comparison of it that his euel wyllers do vnto him and all vengeaunce is nothynge to the vengeauÌ„ce of the enemy Ther is not a more wycked heed then the head of the serpent thereis no wrath aboue the wrath of a womaÌ„ I wyl rather dwel with a Lyon dragon then to kepe house with a wycked wyfe Eâ—o â—1 a The wyckednesse of a woman chaungeth her face she shal moffel her countenaunce as it were a Beare and as a sacke shall she shewe it a moÌ„ge thy neyghbours her husbande is brought to shame amonge hys neighbours when he heareth it it maketh him to syghe All wickednes is but litle to the wickednesse of a woman the porcyons of the vngodly shal fal vpoÌ„ her Lyke as to clym vp a sandy waye is to the fete of the aged euen so is a wyfe ful of wordes to a styll quyet man Eccl. 42. b 2. Re. 11. a. â—nd .13 a Loke not to narowly vpon the bewtye of a woman leest thou be prouoked in desyre towarde her The wrath of a woman is dishonour and great confusion Yf a womaÌ„ get the mastrie then is she contrary to her husbande A wicked wife maketh a sory hert an heuy countenaunce and a deade wounde Gene. 3. a â— Ti. 2. b Weake handes and feble knees is a woman that her husbande is not the better for Of the woman came the begynnynge of synne thorowe her we all are deed Geue thy water no passage no not a lytle neyther geue a wicked woman her wyll Ye she walke not after thy haÌ„de she shal coÌ„founde that in the sight of thy enemyes Cut her of theÌ„ froÌ„ thy flesh that she do not all waye abuse the ¶ The prayse of a good woman Of the feare of thre thinges and of the fourth Of the Ielouze and dronken woman Of two thynges that cause sorowe and of the thyrde which moueth wrath Capi. xxvi HAppye is the man that hath a vertuous wyfe for the nomber of his yeres shall be double An honest woman maketh her husbande a ioyfull man and she shal fyl the yeres of his life in peace A vertuous woman is a noble gyft which shal be geuen for a good porcyon vnto such as feare God Whether a man be riche or poore he maye haue euer a mery herte and a cherefull countenaunce There be thre thinges that my hert feareth and my face is afrayed of the fourth Treason in a cytie a sedicious people noysome tonges all these are heuyer theÌ„ the death But wheÌ„ one is gelous ouer hys wyfe it bringeth payne sorowe vnto the herte and a womaÌ„ that telleth out all thinges is a scourge of the tunge WheÌ„ one hath an euell wife it is euen as when an vnlyke payre of Oxen must drawe together Iudi. â—6 a He that getteth her getteth a scorpyoÌ„ A dronkeÌ„ woman is a great plage for she caÌ„ not couer her owne shame The whordom of a woman maye be knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye lyddes Eccl. 42. b Yf thy daughter be not shame fast hold her straitly leest she abuse her selfe thorowe ouer much libertie Beware of all the dishonestie of her eies and maruell not yf she do against the. Lyke as one that goeth by the waye and is thyrstie so shall she open her mouth drynke of euery next water that she may get By euery hedg shal she set her down and opeÌ„ her quyuer against euery arow A louynge wife reioyseth her husband fedeth dis bones with her wisedom A woman of fewe wordes is a gift of god and to all wel nurtured mindes may nothing be compared An honest and manerly woman is a gyft aboue other giftes ther is no weight to be coÌ„pared vnto a mynd that can rule his selfe Like as the sunne wheÌ„ it ariseth is an ornameÌ„t in the hye heueÌ„ of the lord so is a vertuous wyfe the bewtie of al her house Like as the clere light is vpoÌ„ the holy caÌ„delsticke so is the bewtie of the face vpoÌ„ an honest bodye Cant. 5. d Like as the goldeÌ„ pillers are vpoÌ„ the sockettes of siluer so are the faire legges vpon a woman that hath a constant minde Perpetuall are the foundacyons that be layde vpoÌ„ a whole stony rocke so are the commaundementes of god vpon the hert of an holy woman Ther be two thinges that greue my hert in the thyrde is a displeasure come vpoÌ„ me When an experte maÌ„ of warre suffereth scarsnes and pouerte WheÌ„ meÌ„ of vnderstaÌ„ding wisdome are not set by And wheÌ„ one departeth from rightuousnes vnto sinne Who so dothe such the Lorde hath prepared him vnto the swearde Ther be two maner of thinges which me thiÌ„ke to be hard perilous a marchaÌ„t cannot lightly kepe hym from wroÌ„g neither a tauerner him self froÌ„ sin ¶ Of the pore that wolde be rich The probacioÌ„ of the man that feareth God The vnconstantnes of a fole The secretes of a frende are not to be vttered The wicked ymagyneth euell whyche returneth vpon hym selfe Capi. xxvii BEcause of pouerte haue manye one offended he that seketh to be riche turneth his eyes asyde Like as a nayle in the wal sticketh taste betwixt two stones eueÌ„ so doth sin sticke betwyxt the bier the seller Yf he hold him not diligently in the feare of the lorde his house shal soone be ouer throwen Lyke as wheÌ„ one sifteth the filthines remaineth in the siue So remayneth there some vncleane thing in the thought of man The ouen proueth the potters vessell Sapi. 3 a 1. Pet. 1. a so doth temptacioÌ„ of trouble trye rightuous meÌ„ Mat. 7. b The tree of the felde is knowen by his frute so is the thought of maÌ„s hert knowen by his wordes Prayse no maÌ„ excepte thou haue herde him for a man is knowen by his wordes Yf thou folowest ryghtuousnes thou shalt get her put her vpon the as a fayer garment And thou shalte dwel with her she shall defende the for euer in the day of knowlege thou shalt fynde stedfastnes The byrdes resorte vnto theyr like so doth the truthe turne vnto theÌ„ that be occupied withal The LyoÌ„ wayteth the praye so do the synnes lurke vppon the
hande Agge ii c. and .ii. a. So was Iesus also the Sunne of Iosedec these men in their tymes buylded the house and set vp the Sanctuary of the Lorde agayne 2. Esd i a. 2. Es 7. a. whiche was prepared for an euerlastynge worshyppe ¶ And Nehemyas is alwaye to be commended which set vp for vs the walles that were broken downe made the portes and barres againe and buylded our houses of the newe ‡ But vpon earthe is there no maÌ„ created lyke Enoche for he was taken vp from the earthe gene v. c. Eccl. 44. c. Heb. xii a gene xli f 42. a. 45. e. And Ioseph whiche was Lorde of his brethrenne and the vpholder of his people his bones were couered and kepte Seth and Sem were in greate honoure amoÌ„ge the people and so was Adam aboue all the beastes when he was created ¶ Of Symon the Sonne of Oniah Capi. l. SIMON â— Mac. 3.4 the Sonne of Onyas the hie Preest whiche in his lyfe sette vp the house againe and in his dayes made faste the Temple The heighte of the Temple also was fouÌ„ded of him the double buyldynge and the hye walles of the Temple In his daies the welles of water flowed out were exceadinge full as the see He toke care for his people and deliuered them from destruccion He kepte his Citie and made it stronge that it shulde not be beseged He dwelt in honour and worship amonge his people and enlarged the entraunce of the house and the courte He gaue lyght as the mornynge Starre in the myddest of the Cloudes and as the Mone when it is full He shyned as the Sunne in the Temple of God He is as bryghte as the raine bowe in the fayer cloudes and florisheth as floures and Roses in the spring of the yeare and as lylyes by the riuers of water Lyke as the braunches vpon the mount Libanus in the time of Sommer as a fyre and in sence that is kyndled Lyke as an whole ornament of puer golde set with all maner of precyous stones and as an Olyue tree that is frutefull as a Cypres tre which groweth vp an hie When he putte on the garment of honoure and was clothed with all bewtie WheÌ„ he went to the holy Aulter to garnyshe the coueringe of the Sanctuarye when he toke the porcions out of the prestes hand he him self stode by the herth of the aulter and his brethrenne rounde aboute in order As the braunches of Cedre tree vpon the mount Libanus so stode they rounde aboute him And as the braunches of the Olyue tre so stode all the sonnes of Aaron in the glorye and the Oblations of the Lorde in their handes before all the Congregation of Israell And that he myght sufficiently perfourme his seruyce vpon the aulter and garnyshe the offrynge of the Hyest GOD he stretched oute his hande and toke of the drynk offrynge and poured in of the wyne so he poured vpoÌ„ the bottome of the Aulter a good smell vnto the hyest Prynce Then beganne the sonnes of Aaron to singe and to blow with trompettes and to make a greate noyse for a remembraunce and prayse vnto the Lorde Then were al the people afraide and fel downe to the earthe vpon their faces to worshyppe the Lorde their God and to geue thankes to the Almyghtye GOD They songe goodly also with their voices so that there was a pleasaunt noise in the greate house of the lorde And the people in their praier be sought the Lorde the hyest that he wolde be mercyfull tyll the honoure of the Lorde were perfourmed Thus ended they theyr ministracyon and seruyce Then wente he downe and stretched out his handes ouer the whole multitude of the people of Israell that they shuld geue prayse and thankes out of their lyppes vnto the Lord and to reioyse in his name He beganne yet once also to pray that he myght openly shew the thankes geuynge before the Hieste namely thus O geue prayse and thanckes ye al vnto the lord our god which hath euer done noble and great thinges whiche hath increased our dayes from our mothers wombe and dealt with vs accordynge to his mercye that he wyll geue vs the ioyfulnes of hert and peace for oure tyme in Israell Whiche fayth fully kepeth hys mercy for vs euermore and alwaye delyuereth vs in due season There be two maner or people that I abhorre from my herte as for the third whom I hate it is no people They that syt vpon the mountayne of Samaria the Philystynes and the folysh people that dwell in Sichimis I Iesus the sonne of Syrach Eleazarus of Ierusalem haue tokenned vp these informacions and documentes of wysdomme and vnderstandynge in this boke and poured out the wisedome of my herte Blessed is he that exercyseth hym selfe therein who so taketh suche to herte shal be wyse for euer yf he do these thinges he shal be stronge in all For the lyght of the lord leadeth hym ¶ The prayse of Iesus the sonne of Syrach Capi li. I WILL thanke the O Lorde and Kynge and prayse the O God my Sauiour I wyll yelde prayse vnto thy name for thou arte my Defender and helper and haste preserued my bodye from destruccion from the snare of trayterous tongues and from the lyppes that are occupied with lyes Thou hast bene my helper from soch as stode vppe agaynste me and haste delyuered me after the multytude of thy mercye and for thy holye names sake Thou haste delyuered me frome the roarynge of them that prepared theÌ„ selues to deuoure me out of the handes of suche as soughte after my life from the multitude of them that troubled me went about to sette fire vpon me on euery syde so that I am not brente in the myddest of the fyre From the depe of hell from an vncleane tonge from lieng wordes from the wycked Kyng from an vnryghtuous tonge My soule shall prayse the Lorde vnto deathe for my lyfe drewe nye vnto hell dounwarde They compased me rounde aboute on euery syde and there was no man to helpe I loked aboute me yf there were any man that wolde socoure me but there was none Then thought I vpon thy mercye O LORDE and vpon thy Actes that thou haste done euer of olde namely that thou delyuerest suche as putte their truste in the and ryddest theym oute of the handes of the Heathen Thus lyfte I vp my prayer from the earth and prayde for deliueraunce from death I called vpon the LORDE the Father of my Lorde that he wolde not leaue me without helpe in the daye of my trouble and in the tyme of the proude I wyll prayse thy name continually yelding honour and thanckes vnto it and so my prayer was hearde Thou sauedst me from destruccion and delyueredest me frome the vnrightuous tyme. Therfore wyll I acknowledge prayse the and magnifie thy name O LORDE When I was yet but yong or euer I went astraye I desired wysdom openly in my prayer I came therefore before the Temple and sought her vnto the laste Then florished she vnto me as a grape that is soone rype My hert reâ—oysed in her then wente my foote the ryght way ye from youth vp sought I after her I bowed downe myne eare receiued her I founde me moch wysdome and prospered greatly in her Therfore wyl I ascribe the glory vnto hym that geueth me wisdom for I am aduised to do therafter I wyll be gelouse to cleane vnto the thynge that is good so shall I not be coÌ„founded My soule dath wrestled with her and I haue bene diligent to be occupyed in her I lyfte vp myne handes on hye then was my soule lyghtened thorowe wysdom that I knoledged my folyshnes I ordered my soule after her she and I were one hert from the begynnyng and I founde her in clennesse And therfore shall I not be forsaken My hert longed after her and I gat a good treasure Thorowe her the lorde hath geuen me a newe tonge wherwith I wyll prayse him Eccl. lv a. O come vnto me ye vnlearned and dwell in the house of wysdomme withdrawe not your selues from her but talke and commen of these thinges for youre Soules are very thirstye I opened my mouth and spake O come and by wysedome without monye bowe downe your necke vnder her yocke and youre soule shall receyue wysedome She is harde at hande and is contente to be founde Beholde with youre eyes Eccl. vi â— how that I haue had but lytle labour and yet haue found moche reste O receyue wysedome and ye shall haue plentuousnesse of syluer and golde in possession Lette your mynde reioyse in his mercye and be not ashamed of his prayse Worke hys worke by tymes and he shall geue you youre rewarde in due tyme. ¶ Here endeth the boke of Iesus the sonne of Syrache which is called in Latyn ECCLESIASTIcus FINIS huius libri ⧠Imprynted at London in Paules churcheyarde at the sygne of the Kinges armes by Wylliam Bonham