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❧The wysdome of Solomon.
The first Chapter.
1 Howe we ought to searche and inquire after God. 2 Who be those that finde hym. 5 The holy ghost. 8.11 We ought to flee from backbiting and murmu∣ring. 12 Whereof death commeth. 15 Righteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse.
[unspec A] 1 LOue righteous∣nesse ye that be iudges of ye earth, consider deepely of the Lorde in goodnesse, and seeke hym in sin∣glenesse of heart:
2 For he wyll be founde of them that tempt hym not, and appeareth vn∣to such as put no distrust in him.
3 For wicked thoughtes seperate from God, and [his] power when it is “ 1.1 tryed, reproueth the vnwise.
4 For why? wysdome shall not enter in∣to a wicked soule, nor dwell in the body that is subiect vnto sinne.
5 For the holy spirite of discipline fleeth from deceipt, and withdraweth hym selfe from thoughtes that are without vnderstanding, and is declared when wickednesse commeth.
6 For the spirite of wysdome is louing, and will not absolue hym that blasphe∣meth with his lippes, for God is wit∣nesse of his raynes, and a true beholder of his heart, & an hearer of his tongue.
[unspec B] 7 For the spirite of the Lorde filleth the rounde compasse of the worlde, and the same that vpholdeth all thinges hath knowledge also of the voyce.
8 Therfore he that speaketh vnrighte∣ous thinges can not be hid, neither shall the iudgement of reprofe let him escape.
9 And why? inquisition shalbe made for the thoughtes of the vngodly, and the sounde of his wordes shall come vnto God, so that his wickednesse shalbe pu∣nished.
10 For the eare of ielousie heareth all thinges, & the noyse of the grudginges shall not be hid.
11 Therefore beware of murmuring whiche is nothing worth, and refraine your tongue from sclaunder: For there is no worde so secrete that it shall go for naught, and the mouth that speaketh lyes, slayeth the soule.
12 O seeke not your owne death in the errour of your lyfe, destroy not your selues thorowe the workes of your owne handes:
13 For God hath not made death, nei∣ther [unspec C] hath he pleasure in the destruction of the liuing:
14 For he created all thinges that they might haue their being, and the “ 1.2 gene∣rations of the worlde were healthfull, and there is no poyson of destruction in them, nor the kyngdome of hell vpon the earth.
15 For righteousnesse is [euerlasting and] immortall: but vnrighteousnesse brin∣geth death.
16 Neuerthelesse, the vngodly call “ 1.3 it vnto them both with workes and wordes, and whyle they thinke to haue it their friende, they come to naught, & they haue made an agreement with it, for they are worthy to be of her part.