12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thy self, and if thou be a scorner, thou alone shalt suffer.
Forasmuch as it is so, that by wisedome the dayes of such as eate at her table shalbe multiplied, which turneth to the great profite of those which are there refreshed, she cōcludeth most fitly, If thou be wise, &c. Wisedome is not like vnto Inholders, which cal in their guestes and euil intreat them, and make them pay wel. That which she doeth, commeth from her pure liberalitie, and her high magnifi∣cence: she intreateth her guestes verie honestly, and with great gen∣tlenes. O God, how excellent is thy mercy? O God, &c. It is not * 1.1 without cause that refreshing is attributed vnto the goodnesse of God: For how much soeuer he giueth, he asketh no payment ther∣fore. Hoe, euery one that thirsteth, come yee to the waters, and yee that haue no siluer, come, bye and eate, &c. Then when wisedome * 1.2 doeth cal vs vnto her table, shee regardeth our profit: but it ought not so to be counted ours, that we should be sorie, if others be par∣takers thereof: for albeit that it is saide, Thou shalt be wise for thy selfe: yet it is not to say, that it is not lawful for vs to vse wisdome, as the couetous doe vse their riches they haue, keeping the same to themselues, and haue no minde to impart them vnto their neigh∣bors, for feare to diminishe them. For this that wisdom doth giue vs at her table, is aswel for the pore which haue need, as for ourselues. But to be wise for a man his self, is to vse the gifts & benefits of wis∣dome as it behooueth, & not to teceiue them in vaine. And also we are taught that we loose not our time, when we giue ourselues vnto wisdom: for we are neuer destitute of good vnderstanding, whereby we take heede of the miseries, & chiefly from the spiritual. This is to bee wise for himselfe. Contrarily, when a man is bare of all