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[1]Euery friende sayth, I wyll be friendly vnto him also: but there is some friend, which is onely a frende in name.
[2]Remaineth not there heauines vnto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemie?
[3]O most wicked presumption: from whence art thou sprong vp to couer the earth with falshood and disceite?
[4]There is some companion which in prosperitie reioyceth with his friend: but in the time of trouble, he taketh part against him.
[5]There is some companion that mourneth with his friend for the bellies sake: but when trouble commeth, he taketh holde of the shielde.
[6]Forget not thy friend in thy minde, & thinke vpon him in thy riches.
[7]Seeke no counsell at thy kinsmen, and hide thy counsel from such as beare thee no good wyll.
[8]Euery counseller prayseth his counsell: neuerthelesse, there is some that counselleth but for his owne profite.
[9]Beware of the counseller, and be aduised afore whereto thou wylt vse him (for he wyll counsaile for him selfe) lest he cast the lot vpon thee,
[10]And say vnto thee, Thy way and purpose is good: and afterwarde he stande against thee, and loke what shal become of thee.
[11]Aske no counsaile at him that suspecteth thee for an enemie, & hide thy counsaile from such as hate thee: aske no counsell for religion of him that is without religion, nor for iustice of him that hath no iustice: aske no counsel at a woman, touching her of who she is ielous, nor at a fearefull and faint harted body in matters of warre: or at a marchaunt how deare he wyl cheape thy wares toward his: or at a byer, of selling: or at an enuious man, of thankesgeuing: or at the vnmerciful, of louing kindnesse: or at an vnhonest man, of honestie: or at the slothfull, of working: or at an hyreling which hath no house, of profit or wealth: or at an idle body of much labour: take no such folkes to counsell.
[12]But be diligent to seeke counsaile at a vertuous man that feareth God, such a one as thou knowest to be a keper of the commaundementes, which hath a minde after thyne owne minde, and is sory for thee when thou stumblest.
[13]And holde thy counsell fast in thyne heart: for there is no man more faithfull to kepe it, then thou thy selfe.
[14]For a mans minde is sometime disposed to tell out more, then seuen watchmen that sit aboue in an hie place loking about them.
[15]And aboue all this, pray the highest that he wyll leade thy way in faithfulnes and trueth.
[16]Before all thy workes aske counsell first: and or euer thou doest any thing, be well aduised.
[17]There be foure thinges that declare a chaunged heart, whereout there springeth euill and good, death and lyfe, and a maisterfull tongue that bableth much.
[18]Some man is apt and well instructed in many thinges, and yet very vnprofitable vnto him selfe.
[19]Some man there is that can geue wyse and prudent counsel, and yet is he hated and continueth a begger,
[20]For that grace is not geuen him of God to be accepted.
[21]Another is robbed of al wysdome: yet is he wyse vnto himselfe, and the fruite of vnderstanding is commedable in his mouth.
[22]A wyse man maketh his people wyse, & the fruites of his wysdome fayle not.
[23]A wyse man shalbe plenteously blessed of God: and all they that see him, shall speake good of him.
[24]The lyfe of man standeth in the number of the dayes: but the dayes of Israel are innumerable.
[25]A wyse man shall obtayne faithfulnes and credence among his people, and his name shalbe perpetuall.
[26]My sonne, prooue thy soule in thy selfe, and if thou see any euill thing, geue it not vnto her:
[27]For all thinges are not profitable for all men, neither hath euery soule pleasure in euery thing.
[28]Be not greedy in euery eating, and be not to hastie vpon all meates.
[29]For excesse of meates bringeth sickenesse, and gluttonie commeth at the last to an vnmeasurable heate.
[30]Through surfet haue many one perished: but he that dieteth him selfe temperatelie, prolongeth his lyfe.
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