Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
For whi as a brid fliynge ouer to hiy thingis, and a sparowe goynge in to vncerteyn; so cursing brouyt forth with out resonable cause schal come aboue in to sum man.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
Beting to an hors, and a bernacle to an asse; and a yerde in the bak of vnprudent men.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Answere thou a fool bi his fooli, lest he seme to him silf to be wijs.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
A slow man seith, A lioun is in the weie, a liounnesse is in the foot pathis.
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
As he that takith a dogge bi the eeris; so he that passith, and is vnpacient, and is meddlid with the chiding of anothir man.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge.
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis.
22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The wordis of a pryuei bacbitere ben as symple; and tho comen til to the ynneste thingis of the herte.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
He that delueth a diche, schal falle in to it; and if a man walewith a stoon, it schal turne ayen to hym.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
