1 A slouthful man is compared to a filthy stone, and euery one will hisse him out to his disgrace.

2 A slouthfull man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: euery man that takes it vp, will shake his hand.

3 An euill nurtured sonne is the dishonour of his father that begate him: and a foolish daughter is borne to his losse.

4 A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but shee that liueth dishonestly, is her fathers heauinesse.

5 Shee that is bold, dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.

6 A tale out of season is as musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisedome are neuer out of time.

7 Who so teacheth a foole, is as one that gleweth a potsheard together, and as hee that waketh one from a sound sleepe.

8 Hee that telleth a tale to a foole, speaketh to one in a slumber: when hee hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?

9 If children liue honestly, and haue wherwithall, they shall couer the basenesse of their parents.

10 But children being haughtie through disdaine, and want of nurture, doe staine the nobilitie of their kinred.

11 Weepe for the dead, for hee hath lost the light: and weepe for the foole, for he wanteth vnderstanding: make litle weeping for the dead, for hee is at rest: but the life of the foole is worse then death.

12 Seuen dayes doe men mourne for him that is dead; but for a foole, and an vngodly man, all the dayes of his life.

13 Talke not much with a foole, and goe not to him that hath no vnderstanding, beware of him lest thou haue trouble, and thou shalt neuer be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, and neuer bee disquieted with madnesse.

14 What is heauier then lead? and what is the name thereof, but a foole?

15 Sand, and salt, and a masse of yron is easier to beare then a man without vnderstanding.

16 As timber girt and bound together in a building, cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by aduised counsel, shal feare at no time.

17 A heart setled vpon a thought of vnderstanding, is as a faire plaistering on the wall of a gallerie.

18 Pales set on an high place will neuer stand against the wind: so a feareful heart in the imagination of a foole, can not stand against any feare.

19 He that pricketh the eye, wil make teares to fall: and he that pricketh the heart, maketh it to shewe her knowledge.

20 Who so casteth a stone at the birds, frayeth them away, and he that vpbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship.

21 Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despaire not, for there way be a returning (to fauour.)

22 If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, feare not, for there may be a reconciliation: except for vpbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound, for, for these things euery friend will depart.

23 Be faithfull to thy neighbour in his pouertie, that thou mayest reioyce in his prosperitie: abide stedfast vnto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest bee heire with him in his heritage: for a meane estate is not alwayes to be contemned, nor the rich that is foolish, to be had in admiration.

24 As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire: so reuiling before blood.

25 I will not be ashamed to defend a friend: neither will I hide my selfe from him.

26 And if any euill happen vnto me by him, euery one that heareth it will beware of him.

27 Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seale of wisedome vpon my lippes, that I fall not suddenly by them, & that my tongue destroy me not?