Matthew(i)
1 O my sonne, geue hede vnto my wysdome, and bow thyne eare vnto my prudence:
2 that thou mayest regarde good councel, and that thy lyppes may kepe nourtoure.
3 For the lyppes of an harlot are a droppynge combe, and her throte is softer then oyle.
4 But at the laste she is as bytter as worme wode, and as sharpe as a two edged sweard.
5 Her fete go downe vnto death, and her steps pearse thorow vnto hel.
6 She regardeth not the path of life, so vnstedfast are her waies, that thou canst not know them.
7 Heare me therefore (O my sonne) and departe not from the wordes of my mouth.
8 Kepe thy way far from her, and come not nye the dores of her house.
9 That thou geue not thyne honoure vnto another, and thy yeares to the cruell.
10 That other men be not filled wt thy goods & that thy labours come not in a strang house.
11 Yea that thou mourne not at the last (when thou hast spent thy body & goods)
12 and then say: Alas why hated I nourtoure? why dyd my herte despys correction.
13 Wherfore was not I obedyente vnto the voyce of my teachers, & herkened not vnto them that infourmed me?
14 I am come almoste into all mysfortune, in the middest of the multytude and congregacion.
15 Drinke of the water of thine owne wel, and of the riuers that runne out of thine owne springes.
16 Let thy welles flowe out abroad, that ther may be ryuers of water in the stretes:
17 but let them be only thyne owne, and not strangers wyth the.
18 Let thy well be blessed, and be glad wyth the wyfe of thy youth.
19 Louyng is the hind, & frendly is the Roo: let her brestes alway satisfye the, and holde the euer content wyth her loue.
20 My sonne, why wilt thou haue pleasure in an harlotte, and embrace the bosome of another woman?
21 For euery mannes waies are open in the sight of the Lorde, and he pondreth all their goynges.
22 The wyckednesses of the vngodly shal catch him selfe, and with the snares of of his owne synnes shall he be trapped.
23 Because he wold not be refourmed he shall dye: and for his greate folyshnesse he shalbe destroyed.