Wine Is a Mocker

1Wine maketh a man to be scornefull, & strong drinke causeth a man to be vnquiet: who so delighteth therin shall not be wyse.

2The feare of the king is as the roaring of a Lion, who so prouoketh hym vnto anger, offendeth against his owne soule.

3It is a mans honour to kepe him selfe from strife: but euery foole wyll be medling.

4A slouthfull body wyll not go to plow for colde of the winter: therefore shall he begge in sommer, and haue nothing.

5Counsayle in the heart of man is like deepe water: but a man of vnderstanding wyll drawe it out.

6Many there be that woulde be called good doers: but where shall one finde a faythfull man?

7The chyldren of the iust man which walketh vprightly, shalbe blessed after hym.

8A kyng that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euyll with his looke.

9Who can say, I haue made my heart cleane, I am pure from my sinne?

10Two maner of wayghtes or two maner of measures, both these are abhomination vnto the Lorde.

11A chylde is knowen by his conuersation, whether his workes be pure and right.

12The eare to heare, the eye to see: the Lorde hath made them both.

13Loue not sleepe, lest thou come vnto pouertie: but open thyne eyes, that thou mayest haue bread inough.

14It is naught, it is naught (saith he that byeth): but when he commeth to his owne house, then he boasteth of his peny worth.

15There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lippes of knowledge are a precious iewell.

16Take his garment that is suretie for a straunger: and take a pledge of hym for the vnknowen sake.

17A man liketh the bread that is gotten with deceipt: but at the last his mouth shalbe filled with grauell.

18Thorowe counsayle, the thinges that men deuise are made strong: and with good aduise take warre in hande.

19The craftie deceiptfull bewrayeth secrete counsayle: therefore meddle not with hym that flattereth with his lips.

20Who so curseth his father and mother, his light shalbe put out in the depth of darknesse.

21The heritage that commeth hastylye at the first, shall not be blessed at the ende.

22Say not thou, I wyll recompence euyll: but put thy trust in the Lorde, and he shall deliuer thee.

23Diuers wayghtes are an abhomination vnto the Lord, and a false balaunce is not good.

24The Lord ordereth euery mans goinges: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?

25It is a snare for a man to deuour that whiche is holy, and after the vowe to make inquirie.

26A wyse kyng disperseth the vngodly, and bringeth the wheele ouer them.

27The lanterne of the Lorde is the breath of man, searching all the inwarde partes of the body.

28Mercy and trueth preserueth the king, and with louing kindnes his seate is holden vp.

29The strength of young men is their worship, and a gray head is an honour vnto the aged.

30Blewe woundes driue away euyll, and stripes in the inwarde partes of the body.