Proverbs 18
1 For the desire thereof hee will separate himselfe to seeke it, and occupie himselfe in all wisdome.
He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
2 A foole hath no delite in vnderstanding: but that his heart may be discouered.
A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
3 When the wicked commeth, then commeth contempt, and with the vile man reproch.
A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
4 The words of a mans mouth are like deepe waters, and the welspring of wisdome is like a flowing riuer.
Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to cause ye righteous to fall in iudgement.
It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom.
6 A fooles lips come with strife, and his mouth calleth for stripes.
The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
7 A fooles mouth is his owne destruction, and his lips are a snare for his soule.
The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
8 The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.
The wordis of a double tungid man ben as symple; and tho comen `til to the ynnere thingis of the wombe. Drede castith doun a slowe man; forsothe the soulis of men turned in to wymmens condicioun schulen haue hungur.
9 He also that is slouthfull in his worke, is euen the brother of him that is a great waster.
He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
10 The Name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth vnto it, and is exalted.
A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
11 The rich mans riches are his strong citie: and as an hie wall in his imagination.
The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
12 Before destruction the heart of a man is hautie, and before glory goeth lowlines.
The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
13 He that answereth a matter before hee heare it, it is folly and shame vnto him.
He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
14 The spirit of a man will susteine his infirmitie: but a wounded spirit who can beare it?
The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?
15 A wise heart getteth knowledge, and the eare of the wise seeketh learning.
The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
16 A mans gift enlargeth him, and leadeth him before great men.
The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
17 He that is first in his owne cause, is iust: then commeth his neighbour, and maketh inquirie of him.
A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and maketh a partition among the mightie.
Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
19 A brother offended is harder to winne then a strong citie, and their contentions are like the barre of a palace.
A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees.
20 With the fruite of a mans mouth shall his belly be satisfied, and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
A mannus wombe schal be fillid of the fruit of his mouth; and the seedis of hise lippis schulen fille hym.
21 Death and life are in the power of ye tongue, and they that loue it, shall eate the fruite thereof.
Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.
22 He that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and receiueth fauour of the Lord.
He that fyndith a good womman, fyndith a good thing; and of the Lord he schal drawe vp myrthe. He that puttith a wey a good womman, puttith awei a good thing; but he that holdith auowtresse, is a fool and vnwijs.
23 The poore speaketh with prayers: but the rich answereth roughly.
A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
24 A man that hath friends, ought to shew him selfe friendly: for a friend is neerer then a brother.
A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
