CAPI. XVI. [unspec A]
A Man maye well ☞ purpose a thynge in his hert / but the answere of the tōge commeth of the Lorde. A man thynketh al his wayes to be cleane, but it is the Lorde that iudgeth the myndes. ‡ Commytte thy workes vnto the Lorde: and loke what thou deuysest, it shall prospere. The Lorde dothe all thynges for his owne sake, yee and when he kepeth the vngodly for the daye of wrath. The Lorde abhorreth all suche as be of a proude herte, there may ney¦ther strength nor power escape. {fleur-de-lys} (The be∣gynnynge of a good lyfe is to do ryghtwysnes: for that is more accepted vnto God, then to offre vp sacryfyces.) Wyth louynge mer∣cy [unspec B] and faithfulnes, synnes be forgeuen, and who so feareth the Lorde eschueth euyll. When a mans wayes please the Lorde / he maketh hys very enemyes to be his frēdes.
Better it is to haue a lytle thynge with ryghteousnes / then greate rentes wronge fully gotten. A man deuyseth a waye in his herte / but it is the Lorde that ordreth hys goynges. ☞ When the prophecy is in the lyppes of the kynge / his mouth shal nat go wronge in iudgement. A trewe mea∣sure and a trewe balaūce are the Lordes / he maketh all weyghtes. It is a great abho∣minacyon when kynges are wycked / for a kynges seate shuld be holdē vp with righte¦ousnesse. Ryghteous lyppes are pleasaūt vnto kynges: & he that speaketh the trueth shalbe beloued. The kynges displeasure is a messaunger of death, but awyse man wyll pacifie hym. The cherefull counte∣naunce of the kynge is lyfe, and his louyng fauoure is as the euenynge dewe. To haue wysdome in possessyon is better then to haue golde: and to get vnderstandynge, is more worth then to haue syluer. The path of the ryghteous is to eschue euel: and who so loketh well to his wayes, kepeth his owne soule. Presumpteousnes goeth be∣fore destruccyō, and after a proude stomake there foloweth a fall. Better it is to be of humble mynde with the lowly / then co¦deuyde the spoiles with the proude. He that hādeleth a matter wysely, opteyneth good: and blessed is he, that putteth hys trust in the Lorde. Who so hathe a wyse vnder∣standynge, shalbe called to councel: a•••• ••e [unspec C] that can speake fayre, shall vaue the mo••e lernynge. Understandynge is a wel•• ••f lyfe vnto hym that hathe it: as forthe cha∣stenynge of fooles, it is but foolyshnesse. A wyse harte ordreth his mouth wysly, and amendeth the doctryne in hys lyppes.
Fayre wordes are an hony combe, a re∣freshynge of the mynde, and health of the bones. There is a waye that mē thynke to be ryght, but the ende therof leadeth vnto death. A troublous soule disquyeteth her selfe / for her oune mouth hath brought her therto. An vngodly personne stereth vp euell / and in hys lyppes he is as an hote burnynge fyre. A frowarde body causeth stryfe / and he that is a blabbe of hys tonge / maketh deuysyon amonge prynces. A wyc∣ked man begyleth his neyghbour, and lea∣deth hym in to the waye that is not good.
He that wynketh with his eyes, ymagy∣neth [unspec D] myschefe, and he that byteth his lyp∣pes, wyll▪ do some harme. Age is a crowne of worshype / yf it be founde in the waye of ryghteousnes. A pacient man is better then one stronge, & he that can rule him sel∣fe, is more worth then he that wynneth a cy¦tye. The lottes are cast in to the lappe, but the ordryng therof standeth all in the Lorde.