The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,

CAP. XVI.

[verse 1] Off a man is to make redy the inwit; and of the Lord to gouerne the tunge. [verse 2] Alle the weies of man ben opene to the eȝen of hym; of spiritis the peisere is the Lord. [verse 3] Shewe to the Lord thi werkis; and riȝt reulid shul ben thi thoȝtis. [verse 4] Alle thingus for hymself wroȝte the Lord; also the vnpitouse to the euele dai. [verse 5] Abo|minacioun is of the Lord eche proud man; also if hond at hond were, he `shal not be [is not E pr. m.] innocent. The begynnyng of the good wey to do riȝtwyssnesse; is [Om. C pr. m.] alouwid anent [anentis E passim.] God, more than to offre ostis. [verse 6] Bi merci and treuthe wickidnesse is forboȝt; and in drede of the Lord is bowid awei fro euel. [verse 7] Whan shul plese to the Lord the weies of man, the enemys forsothe of hym he shal turne to pes. [verse 8] Betere is a litil with riȝtwisnesse, than manye frutis with wickidnesse. [verse 9] The herte of man shal disposen his weie; but of the Lord is to riȝt reulen his goingis. [verse 10] De|uynyng in the lippis of the king; in dom his mouth shal not erre. [verse 11] Weiȝte and balaunce ben the domes of the Lord;

and his werkis alle the stones of the world. [verse 12] Abominable to the king, that don vnpitously; for bi riȝtwisnesse is fastned the kingis dignete. [verse 13] The wil of the king riȝtwis lippis; that riȝt thingus speketh, shal be riȝt reulid. [verse 14] The indignacioun of the king messageres of deth; and a wis man shal don aseeth to hym. [verse 15] In gladnesse of the chere of the king lif; and the noble mercy of hym as euetid [an euetid C.] weder. [verse 16] Weld wisdam, for betere it is than gold; and purchase prudence, for it is mor precious than siluer. [verse 17] The path of riȝtwis men bowith awei euelis; the kepere of his soule holdeth faste his weye. [verse 18] Pride goth befor contricioun; and befor falling the spirit shal ben en|hauncid. [verse 19] Betere is to be meke [meked AEGH.] with mylde men, than to deuyde spoilis with proude men. [verse 20] The lerned in woord shal finde goodis; and that hopeth in the Lord is blisful. [verse 21] Who is wis in herte, shal be clepid prudent; and who is sweete in fair speche, more thingis shal finde. [verse 22] The welle of lif the lernyng of the weldere; the doctrine of foolis folie. [verse 23] The herte of the wise man shal lerne the mouth of hym; and to the lippis of hym it shal adde grace. [verse 24] The comb of hony wel set woordis; swetnesse of soule is helthe of bones. [verse 25] Ther is a weie that semeth to a man riȝt; and the last thingis of it leden [ledith A.] to deth. [verse 26] The soule of the trauailere trauaileth to hymself; for hys mouth compellide hym. [verse 27] An un|wis man delueth euel; and in [Om. A.] the lippis of hym fyr brenneth. [verse 28] A man peruertid rereth striues; and the man ful of woordis seuereth princis. [verse 29] The wicke [wickyd A.] man flatereth his frend; and ledeth hym bi a weie not good. [verse 30] That with stoneȝid eȝen thenketh shreude thingis, bitende his [with A.] lippis parformeth euel. [verse 31] The croune of dignete elde, that in the weie [weies AEGH.] of riȝt|wisnesse shal be founde. [verse 32] Betere is the pacient, than a strong man; and that

lordshipeth to his wil, than an ouer|comere of cites. [verse 33] Lotis ben put in to the bosum; but of the Lord thei ben temprid.