Proverbs 26
1 As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.
As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.
2 As the sparowe by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeles, 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 Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a bridle, and a rod to the fooles backe.
Beting to an hors, and a bernacle to an asse; and a yerde in the bak of vnprudent men.
4 Answer not a foole according to his foolishnes, least thou also be like him.
Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym.
5 Answere a foole according to his foolishnes, least he be wise in his owne conceite.
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 foole, is as he that cutteth off the feete, and drinketh iniquitie.
An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.
7 As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.
8 As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he that giueth glory to a foole.
As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man.
9 As a thorne standing vp in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis.
10 The excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the foole and rewardeth the transgressers.
Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.
11 As a dog turneth againe to his owne vomit, so a foole turneth to his foolishnes.
As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceite? more hope is of a foole then of him.
Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he.
13 The slouthfull man sayth, A lyon is in the way: a lyon is in the streetes.
A slow man seith, A lioun is in the weie, a liounnesse is in the foot pathis.
14 As the doore turneth vpon his hinges, so doeth the slouthfull man vpon his bed.
As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.
15 The slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and it grieueth him to put it againe to his mouth.
A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his owne conceite, then seuen men that can render a reason.
A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis.
17 He that passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not vnto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the eares.
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 he that faineth himselfe mad, casteth fire brands, arrowes, and mortall things,
As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;
19 So dealeth the deceitfull man with his friend and sayth, Am not I in sport?
so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge.
20 Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.
Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.
21 As ye cole maketh burning coles, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.
As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis.
22 The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.
The wordis of a pryuei bacbitere ben as symple; and tho comen til to the ynneste thingis of the herte.
23 As siluer drosse ouerlayde vpon a potsheard, so are burning lips, and an euill heart.
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, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.
An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.
25 Though he speake fauourably, beleeue him not: for there are seuen abominations in his heart.
Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte.
26 Hatred may be couered by deceite: but the malice thereof shall be discouered in the congregation.
The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel.
27 He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall returne vnto 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 false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.
A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
