Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless 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 fool’s back.
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 conceit.
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 the 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 are not equal: so [is] a parable 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 he that bindeth a stone in a sling, 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 parable 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 The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
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 own conceit? [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 slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in 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 his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth 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 The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven 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] meddleth 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 mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;
19 So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, 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 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.
21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle 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 wounds, 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 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered 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, and layeth up deceit within him;
An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.
25 When he speaketh fair, 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 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] 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 will 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] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
