The .xiii. Chapter.
1 The companies of the proude and of the riche are to be eschewed. 15 The loue of God. 17 Like do companie with their like.
[unspec A] 1 WHo so toucheth pytch, shalbe defiled withall: and he that is familier with the proude, shall cloth him selfe with pryde.
2 He taketh a burthen vpon him that accompanieth a more honorable man then him selfe, therfore kepe no familiaritie with one that is richer then thy selfe: Howe agree the kettel and the pot together? for if the one be smitten against the other, it shalbe broken.
3 The riche dealeth vnrighteously, and threatneth withal: but the poore beyng oppressed and wrongfully dealt with∣all, suffereth scarcenesse, and geueth fayre wordes. If the riche haue done wrong, yet must he be entreated: but if the poore haue done it, he shall straight wayes be threatned.
4 If thou be for his profite, he vseth thee: but if thou haue nothing, he shal forsake thee.
5 As long as thou hast any thing of thyne owne, he shalbe a good felow with thee: yea he shall make thee a bare man, and not be sory for thee.
6 If he haue neede of thee, he shall de∣fraude thee, and with a priuie mocke shall he put thee in an hope, & geue thee all good wordes, and say: What wantest thou?
[unspec B] 7 Thus shal he shame thee in his meate, vntill he haue supt thee cleane vp twyse or thryse, & at the last shall he laugh thee to scorne: Afterwarde, when he seeth that thou hast nothing, he shall forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
8 Submit thy selfe vnto God, and wayte vpon his hande.
9 Beware that thou be not disceaued and brought downe in thy simplenesse: Be not to humble in thy wysedome, lest when thou art brought lowe thou be disceaued through foolishnesse.
10 If thou be called of a mightie man, ab∣sent thy selfe, so shall he call thee to him the more oft.
11 Preasse not thou vnto him, that thou be not shut out: but go not thou farre of, lest he forget thee.
12 Withdraw not thy selfe from his speach, but beleue not his many wordes: For with much communication shall he tempt thee, and with a priuie mocke shal he question with thee of thy secretes.
13 The vnmercifull mynde of his shall marke thy wordes, he shall not spare to do thee hurt, and to put thee in prison.
14 Beware and take good heede to thy [unspec C] selfe, for thou walkest in peryll of thy ouerthrowing: Now when thou hearest his wordes, make thee as though thou wast in a dreame, and wake vp.
15 Loue God all thy lyfe long, and call vpon him in thy neede.
16 Euery beast loueth his like: euen so let euery man loue his neyghbour.
17 All fleshe will resort to their like, and euery man wil kepe companie with such as he is him selfe.
18 But as the woolfe agreeth with the lambe: so doth the vngodly with the righteous.
19 (a) 1.1What peace is there betweene Hyena and a dogge? Howe can the riche and the poore agree together?
20 The wilde asse is the lions pray in the wildernesse: euen so are poore men the meate of the riche.
21 Like as the proude may not away with lowlinesse: euen so doth the riche ab∣horre the poore.
22 If a riche man fal, his friendes set him vp againe: but when the poore falleth, his acquayntaunce forsake him.
23 If a riche man fall into an errour, he hath many helpers, he speaketh proude wordes, and yet men iustifie him: but if a poore man go wrong, he is punished, yea though he speake wysely, yet can it haue no place.