Proverbs 18
1 He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but in laying open what is in his heart.
A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with dishonorable acts, disgrace.
A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
4 Like deep waters are the words of a [wise] man's mouth, and a bubbling brook is the well-spring of wisdom.
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 favor the person of the wicked, to wrest [the cause of the] righteous in judgment.
It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom.
6 The lips of the fool come with contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.
The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
7 The mouth of the fool is a destruction to himself, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
8 The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down indeed into the innermost parts of the body.
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 showeth himself slothful in his work is a brother to the destroyer.
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, whereunto the righteous runneth, and is placed in safety.
A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and as a towering wall in his own conceit.
The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
12 Before downfall the heart of man becometh haughty, and before honor goeth humility.
The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
13 When one returneth an answer before he understandeth [the question], it is folly unto him and shame.
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 readily bear his disease; but a depressed spirit who can bear:
The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?
15 The heart of the man of understanding will obtain knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and before great men will it lead him.
The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
17 He that is first in his cause seemeth just; but when his neighbor cometh, then will it be investigated.
A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
18 The lot causeth disputes to cease, and it decideth between the mighty.
Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
19 A brother offended is harder [to be won] than a strong town; and quarrels [among brothers] are like the bars of a castle.
A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees.
20 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his body satisfied; with the product of his lips doth he satisfy himself.
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 the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit.
Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.
22 Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness, and hath obtained favor from 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 poor speaketh entreatingly; but the rich answereth roughly.
A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
24 A man's many companions are hurtful to him; but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer than a brother.
A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
