21. “He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” But let such men know that it is a greater sin than they imagine, and shall be severely punished to overlook their poor neighbor, and deny him their charitable relief: which whosoever compassionately affords him, not onely doth a good deed, but shall be amply rewarded for it.
23. “In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” If a man take pains in any honest employment, though never so mean, it will bring him in some profit: but to spend one’s time in talking onely, and perhaps boasting what he can doe, tends to nothing but to make a man a beggar.
29. “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” He declares himself to be a great man, and to abound with prudence, who is not soon provoked to anger by reproaches or ill usage: by which if a man be hastily inflamed, he exposes his folly, and makes it apparent to every body.
30. “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” There is nothing conduces more to health and happiness than a quiet, gentle and contented mind: but envy, and such like fretfull passions, is as miserable a torment and consuming disease as rottenness in the bones.
31. “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth Him hath mercy on the poor.” He that defrauds or oppresses the poor, forgets God, who can reduce him to the same condition; nay, affronts His Majesty, who hath promised to be the Defender of such helpless people: therefore whosoever hath any respect to God, will be so far from injuring, that he will show mercy and doe good to him that is needy.
32. “The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.” When a wicked man falls into calamity, his heart fails him, and he is driven away from all his confidences, like the chaff before the wind, by the conscience of his own wickedness: but a righteous man is not dismayed in the greatest dangers; but remains steady and confident, even in death itself.
33. “Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.” A prudent person makes no unseasonable demonstration of his wisdom; but lets it lie quiet in his own mind, till there be a fitting opportunity to doe good with it: whereas fools cannot contain themselves, but presently vent whatsoever they know, though never so small, in every company whereinto they come.