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[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]Unto 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 of her bandes.
[27]Come vnto her with thy whole heart, and kepe her wayes with al thy power.
[28]Seke after her, and she shalbe shewed thee: and when thou hast her, forsake her not.
[29]For at the last thou shalt fynde rest in her, and that shalbe turned to thy great ioy.
[30]Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her yoke a glorious rayment.
[31]For there is a golden ornament in her, & her bandes are laces of purple colour.
[32]Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crowne of ioy.
[33]My sonne, yf thou wylt take heede, thou shalt haue vnderstandyng, and yf thou wylt apply thy mynde, thou shalt be wyse.
[34]If thou wylt bowe downe thine eare, thou shalt receaue doctrine: and yf thou delyte in hearyng, thou shalt be wyse.
[35]Stande with the multitude of such elders as haue vnderstandyng, and consent vnto their wisdome with thyne heart.
[36]That thou mayest heare all godly sermons, and that the worthy sentences escape thee not.
[37]And yf thou seest a man of discrete vnderstandyng, get thee soone vnto hym, & let thy foote treade vpon the steppes of his doores.
[38]Let thy mynde be vpon the commaundementes of God, and be earnestlye occupied in his lawes: so shall he stablishe thy heart, and geue thee wisdome at thyne owne desire.
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