1 A wise iudge will instruct his people, & the gouernement of a prudent man is well ordered.

2 As the iudge of the people is himselfe, so are his officers, and what maner of man the ruler of the citie is, such are all they that dwell therein.

3 An vnwise king destroyeth his people, but through the prudence of them which are in authoritie, the citie shalbe inhabited.

4 The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time hee will set ouer it one that is profitable.

5 In the hand of God is the prosperitie of man: and vpon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.

6 Beare not hatred to thy neighbour for euery wrong, and do nothing at all by iniurious practises.

7 Pride is hatefull before God, and man: and by both doeth one commit iniquitie.

8 Because of vnrighteous dealings, iniuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdome is translated from one people to another.

9 Why is earth and ashes proude? There is not a more wicked thing, then a couetous man: for such an one setteth his owne soule to sale, because while he liueth, he casteth away his bowels.

10 The Phisition cutteth off a long disease, and he that is to day a King, to morrow shall die.

11 For when a man is dead, hee shall inherite creeping things, beastes and wormes.

12 The beginning of pride is, when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his maker.

13 For pride is the beginning of sinne, and hee that hath it, shall powre out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought vpon them strange calamities, and ouerthrew them vtterly.

14 The Lord hath cast downe the thrones of proud Princes, and set vp the meeke in their stead.

15 The Lord hath plucked vp the rootes of the proud nations: and planted the lowly in their place.

16 The Lord ouerthrew countreys of the heathen: and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

17 He tooke some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memoriall to cease from the earth.

18 Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are borne of a woman.

19 They that feare the Lord are a sure seed, and they that loue him, an honourable plant: they that regard not the Law, are a dishonourable seed, they that transgresse the commandements, are a deceiuable seed.

20 Among brethren he that is chiefe is honourable, so are they that feare the Lord in his eyes.

21 The feare of the Lord goeth before the obtayning of authoritie: but roughnesse and pride, is the loosing thereof.

22 Whether hee bee rich, noble, or poore, their glorie is the feare of the Lord.

23 It is not meet to despise the poore man that hath vnderstanding, neither is it conuenient to magnifie a sinnefull man.

24 Great men, and Iudges, and Potentates shall bee honoured, yet is there none of them greater then he that feareth the Lord.

25 Unto the seruant that is wise, shall they that are free doe seruice: and hee that hath knowledge, will not grudge when he is reformed.

26 Be not ouerwise in doing thy busines, and boast not thy selfe in the time of thy distresse.

27 Better is he that laboureth and aboundeth in all things, then hee that boasteth himselfe, and wanteth bread.

28 My sonne, glorifie thy soule in meekenesse, and giue it honour according to the dignitie thereof.

29 Who wil iustifie him that sinneth against his owne soule? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his owne life?

30 The poore man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.

31 Hee that is honoured in pouertie, how much more in riches? And he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in pouertie?