[Laud MS. 622, leaf 69, back.]
SO mychel wisdom neuer y-herd was; as kyng salamon couþe:
Vche word wyt & wisdom was; þat com out of his mouþe.
Þe kynde he couþe of vche beest; & of vche quik þing,
And þe vertu of vche herbe; þat doþ on erþe spr[i]nge;
Line 4
And þorouȝ queintise in book ywrite; þe fende to ouer-come,
Þat þise clerkes ȝutt to þis day; in priuete habbeþ some.
A Book he made of wisdom; þorouȝ his owen þouȝth;
Sum ich wil þerof telle; for al ne may I nouȝth.
Line 8
Þe book bigan in þis manere; euerich wyt & wisdom,
Euer with oure lord it is; & fro hym first it com.
Who schulde þe rein-dropes telle; oiþer þe grauel in þe Cee,
Oiþer þe dayes þat euere were; bot ȝif it were he?
Line 12
To douten god almiȝtty; of vche wisdom it is rote.
On erþe & at þine endyngday; of alle bales he is bote.
Ȝif þou louest wisdom; look þou riȝth loue;
Vnbuxum ne be þou nouȝth; to þem þat ben þe aboue.
Line 16
Helpe þe man þat nedeful is; be aȝeins hym þat is vnmylde.
Be þou merciable to widewe; & to faderles childe.
Ne hide nouȝth þi wisdom; ne wiþseie nouȝth þe riȝth.
Aȝein stronge men & ireful; look þat þou ne fiȝth.
Line 20
Answere þe pouere myldelich; to longe abid þou nouȝth
Forto turne aȝein to god; ȝif þou be in synne brouȝth.
// Ne bileue þou nouȝth to trauaile; oiþer to deþ[e] fiȝth,
For Iesu cristes swete loue; to susteyne þe riȝth.
Line 24
Wiþ þe fole ne wone þou nouȝth; ȝif þou wilt good lerne.
Þou wisse hym þat litel good can; þe vnwise teche ȝerne.
Ne wilne nouȝth Iustise to be; bot ȝif þou cunne & mowe.
Þe vnbuxum, chastise wiþ riȝth lawȝe; & make þe proude abouȝe.
