Proverbs 15
1 A soft answere brekith ire; an hard word reisith woodnesse.
By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.
2 The tunge of wise men ourneth kunnyng; the mouth of foolis buylith out foli.
Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.
3 In ech place the iyen of the Lord biholden good men, and yuel men.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A plesaunt tunge is the tre of lijf; but the tunge which is vnmesurable, schal defoule the spirit.
A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
5 A fool scorneth the techyng of his fadir; but he that kepith blamyngis, schal be maad wisere. Moost vertu schal be in plenteuouse riytfulnesse; but the thouytis of wickid men schulen be drawun vp bi the roote.
A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.
6 The hous of a iust man is moost strengthe; and disturbling is in the fruitis of a wickid man.
In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble.
7 The lippis of wise men schulen sowe abrood kunnyng; the herte of foolis schal be vnlijc.
The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.
8 The sacrifices of wickyd men ben abhomynable to the Lord; avowis of iust men ben plesaunt.
The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
9 The lijf of the vnpitouse man is abhomynacioun to the Lord; he that sueth riytfulnesse, schal be loued of the Lord.
The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.
10 Yuel teching is of men forsakinge the weie of lijf; he that hatith blamyngis, schal die.
There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.
11 Helle and perdicioun ben open bifor the Lord; hou myche more the hertis of sones of men. (Sheol h7585)
Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men! (Sheol h7585)
12 A man ful of pestilence loueth not hym that repreueth him; and he goith not to wyse men.
The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise.
13 A ioiful herte makith glad the face; the spirit is cast doun in the morenyng of soule.
A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The herte of a wijs man sekith techyng; and the mouth of foolis is fed with vnkunnyng.
The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise.
15 Alle the daies of a pore man ben yuele; a sikir soule is a contynuel feeste.
All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast.
16 Betere is a litil with the drede of the Lord, than many tresouris and vnfillable.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.
17 It is betere to be clepid to wortis with charite, than with hatrede to a calf maad fat.
Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.
18 A wrathful man reisith chidyngis; he that is pacient, swagith chidyngis reisid.
An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.
19 The weie of slow men is an hegge of thornes; the weie of iust men is with out hirtyng.
Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.
20 A wise sone makith glad the fadir; and a fonned man dispisith his modir.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
21 Foli is ioye to a fool; and a prudent man schal dresse hise steppis.
Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.
22 Thouytis ben distried, where no counsel is; but where many counseleris ben, tho ben confermyd.
Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain.
23 A man is glad in the sentence of his mouth; and a couenable word is best.
A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!
Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
25 The Lord schal distrie the hows of proude men; and he schal make stidefast the coostis of a widewe.
The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow.
26 Iuele thouytis is abhomynacioun of the Lord; and a cleene word moost fair schal be maad stidfast of hym.
Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.
27 He that sueth aueryce, disturblith his hous; but he that hatith yiftis schal lyue. Synnes ben purgid bi merci and feith; ech man bowith awei fro yuel bi the drede of the Lord.
He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life.
28 The soule of a iust man bithenkith obedience; the mouth of wickid men is ful of yuelis.
The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.
29 The Lord is fer fro wickid men; and he schal here the preyers of iust men.
The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright.
30 The liyt of iyen makith glad the soule; good fame makith fat the boonys.
The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.
31 The eere that herith the blamyngis of lijf, schal dwelle in the myddis of wise men.
The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.
32 He that castith awei chastisyng, dispisith his soule; but he that assentith to blamyngis, is pesible holdere of the herte.
He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.
33 The drede of the Lord is teching of wisdom; and mekenesse goith bifore glorie.
The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.
