Superstition, idolatry, and hypocrisy have ample wages, but truth goes a-begging.

The line contrasts the social and material rewards often attached to popular religious error with the relative neglect suffered by those who speak plainly. “Superstition, idolatry, and hypocrisy” suggests outward religion that is emotionally satisfying, institutionally profitable, or politically useful; such practices can attract patronage and “wages.” By contrast, “truth goes a-begging” frames truth-telling as economically and socially costly—truth lacks sponsors, may offend vested interests, and can leave its advocates marginalized. In a Reformation-era key, it also implies that reformers who challenge entrenched devotional practices should not expect worldly reward, because the marketplace of piety tends to fund what flatters rather than what corrects.