The .x. Chapter.
1 Of kinges and iudges. 7 Pride and couetousnesse are to be abhorred. 28 Labour is praysed.
[unspec A] 1 TWyse iudge will order his people with discre∣tion: and where a man of vnderstanding bea∣reth rule, there goeth it well.
2 * 1.1As the iudge of the people is him selfe, euen so are his offi∣cers: and loke what maner of man the ruler of the citie is, such are they that dwell therin also.
3 * 1.2An vnwyse king destroyeth his people: * 1.3but where they that be in auctoritie are men of vnderstanding, there the citie prospereth.
4 The power of the earth is in the hande of God, and all iniquitie of the people is to be abhorred: and when his time is, he shall set a profitable ruler vpon it.
5 In the hande of God is the prosperitie of man, and vpon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
6 * 1.4Be not angry for any wrong of thy neyghbour, and meddle thou with no [unspec B] vnrighteous workes.
7 Pryde is hatefull before God and man, (a) 1.5and all wickednesse of the heathen is to be abhorred.
8 Because of vnrighteous dealing, wrong, blasphemies, and diuers disceytes, a realme shalbe translated from one peo∣ple to another.
9 There is nothing worse then a couetous man: Why art thou proude O thou earth and asshes? There is not a more wicked thing then to loue money: and why? such one hath his soule to sel, yet is he but filthy doung while he lyueth.
10 All tyrannie is of smal enduraunce, and the disease that is harde to heale gree∣ueth the phisition.
11 And though the phisition shew his helpe neuer so long, yet in conclusion it goeth after this maner, To day a king, to mo∣rowe dead.
12 For when a man dieth, he is the heyre of serpentes, beastes and wormes.
13 The beginning of mans pryde, is to fall away from God: and why? his heart is gone from his maker.
14 For pryde is the originall of all sinne: [unspec C] Who so taketh hold therof, shalbe filled with cursinges, and at the last it shall ouerthrowe hym: Therefore hath the Lorde brought the congregations of the wicked to dishonour, and destroyed them to the end.
15 * 1.6God hath destroyed the seates of proude princes, and set vp the meeke in their steade.
16 God hath wythered the rootes of the proude heathen, and planted the lowely for them.
17 * 1.7God hath ouerthrowen the landes of the heathen, & destroyed them vnto the grounde: He hath caused them to wither away, he hath brought them to naught, & made the memoriall of them to ceasse from out of the earth.
18 God hath destroyed the name of the proude, and left the name of the humble of mynde.
19 Pryde was not made for man, neither wrothfulnesse for mens children.
20 The seede of men that feareth God shalbe brought to honour: but the seede whiche transgresseth the commaunde∣mentes of the Lorde shalbe shamed.
21 He that is the ruler among brethren, [unspec D] is holden in honour among them: and he that regardeth such as feare the Lorde, is acceptable in his sight.
22 The feare of the Lord causeth that the kingdome faileth not: but the kingdome is lost by crueltie and pryde.
23 The glorie of the riche, of the honora∣ble, and of the poore, is the feare of God.
24 Despyse not thou the iust poore man that hath vnderstanding, and magnifie not the riche vngodly.
25 Great is the iudge and mightie in ho∣nour, yet is there none greater then he that feareth God.