Imitation 1 713 verses
1Vain is the life of that man who putteth his trust in men or in any created thing.
2Be not ashamed to be the servant of others for the love of , and to be reckoned poor in this life.
3Rest not upon thyself, but build thy hope in God.
4Do what lieth in thy power, and God will help thy good intent.
5Trust not in thy learning, nor in the cleverness of any that lives, but rather trust in the favour of God, who resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.
6Boast not thyself in thy riches if thou hast them, nor in thy friends if they be powerful, but in God, who giveth all things, and in addition to all things desireth to give even Himself.
7Be not lifted up because of thy strength or beauty of body, for with only a slight sickness it will fail and wither away.
8Be not vain of thy skilfulness or ability, lest thou displease God, from whom cometh every good gift which we have.
9Count not thyself better than others, lest perchance thou appear worse in the sight of God, who knoweth what is in man.
10Be not proud of thy good works, for God’s judgments are of another sort than the judgments of man, and what pleaseth man is ofttimes displeasing to Him.
11If thou hast any good, believe that others have more, and so thou mayest preserve thy humility.
12It is no harm to thee if thou place thyself below all others; but it is great harm if thou place thyself above even one.
13Peace is ever with the humble man, but in the heart of the proud there is envy and continual wrath.
