| Wisdom is better then strength, and a man of understanding is more worth than one that is strong. Hear therefore ( O' ye Kings ) and understand: O' learn ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the multitudes, and delight much people. For power is given you of the Lord, and the strength from the Highest: which shall try your works and search out your imaginations: How that ye being officers of his Kingdom, have not kept the law of righteousness, nor walked after his will. Horribly and that right soon shall he appear unto you: for an hard judgment shall they have that bear rule. Mercy is granted unto the simple, but they that be in authority shall be sore punished. For God which is Lord over all, shall except no mans person, neither shall he stand in awe of any mans greatness: for he hath made the small and great, and careth for all alike. But the mighty shall have the sorer punishment.
Unto you therefore ( O' Kings ) do I speak, that ye may learn wisdom and not go amiss: For they that keep righteousness shall be righteously judged: and they that are learned in righteous things, shall find to make answer. Wherefore set your lust upon my words, and love them, so shall ye come by nurture. Wisdom is a noble thing, and never fadeth away: yee she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her. She preventeth them that desire her, that she may first show herself unto them. Whoso awaketh unto her by times, shall have no great travail, for he shall find her sitting ready at his doors. To think upon her, is perfect understanding: and whoso watcheth for her, shall be safe, and that soon. For she goeth about, seeking such as are *mete for her, showeth herself cheerfully unto them in their goings, and meeteth them with all diligence. For the unfeigned desire for reformation is her beginning: to care for nurture is love, and love is the keeping of her laws. Now the keeping of the laws is perfection and an uncorrupt life, an uncorrupt life maketh a man familiar with God. And so the desire of wisdom leadeth to the Kingdom everlasting. If your delight be then in royal seats and scepters ( O' ye kings of the people ) set your lust upon wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore. O' love the light of wisdom, all ye that be rulers of the people. As for wisdom what she is, and how she came up I will tell you, and will not hide the mysteries of God from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of the nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not keep back the truth: Neither will I do with consuming envy, for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom. But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world, and a wise king is the upholding of the people. O' receive nurture then through my words, and it shall do you good. |
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