Proverbs 15
1 A soft answere brekith ire; an hard word reisith woodnesse.
A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.
2 The tunge of wise men ourneth kunnyng; the mouth of foolis buylith out foli.
What wise people say makes knowledge attractive, but stupid people talk a lot of nonsense.
3 In ech place the iyen of the Lord biholden good men, and yuel men.
The Lord sees everywhere, watching the evil and the good.
4 A plesaunt tunge is the tre of lijf; but the tunge which is vnmesurable, schal defoule the spirit.
Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.
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.
Only a foolish son despises his father's instruction, but one who accepts correction is sensible.
6 The hous of a iust man is moost strengthe; and disturbling is in the fruitis of a wickid man.
There's plenty of treasure where good people live, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7 The lippis of wise men schulen sowe abrood kunnyng; the herte of foolis schal be vnlijc.
Wise people share their knowledge, but stupid people don't think like that.
8 The sacrifices of wickyd men ben abhomynable to the Lord; avowis of iust men ben plesaunt.
The Lord hates the sacrifices of the wicked, but he loves the prayers of the good.
9 The lijf of the vnpitouse man is abhomynacioun to the Lord; he that sueth riytfulnesse, schal be loued of the Lord.
The Lord hates the ways of the wicked, but he loves those who do what is right.
10 Yuel teching is of men forsakinge the weie of lijf; he that hatith blamyngis, schal die.
If you leave the right path you will be severely disciplined; anyone who hates correction will die.
11 Helle and perdicioun ben open bifor the Lord; hou myche more the hertis of sones of men. (Sheol h7585)
Those already dead have no secrets from the Lord—how much more does he know our thoughts! (Sheol h7585)
12 A man ful of pestilence loueth not hym that repreueth him; and he goith not to wyse men.
Scoffers don't like to be corrected, so they don't go to the wise for advice.
13 A ioiful herte makith glad the face; the spirit is cast doun in the morenyng of soule.
If you're happy inside, you'll have a cheerful face, but if you're sad, you look crushed.
14 The herte of a wijs man sekith techyng; and the mouth of foolis is fed with vnkunnyng.
An insightful mind looks for knowledge, but stupid people feed on foolishness.
15 Alle the daies of a pore man ben yuele; a sikir soule is a contynuel feeste.
The life of poor people is hard, but if you stay cheerful, it's a continual feast.
16 Betere is a litil with the drede of the Lord, than many tresouris and vnfillable.
It's better to respect the Lord and only have a little than to have plenty of money and the trouble that comes with it.
17 It is betere to be clepid to wortis with charite, than with hatrede to a calf maad fat.
Better a dinner of vegetables where there's love than eating meat with hatred.
18 A wrathful man reisith chidyngis; he that is pacient, swagith chidyngis reisid.
Short-tempered people stir up trouble, but those slow to anger calm things down.
19 The weie of slow men is an hegge of thornes; the weie of iust men is with out hirtyng.
The way of lazy people is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the good is an open highway.
20 A wise sone makith glad the fadir; and a fonned man dispisith his modir.
A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid man despises his mother.
21 Foli is ioye to a fool; and a prudent man schal dresse hise steppis.
Stupidity makes people with no sense happy, but sensible people do what is right.
22 Thouytis ben distried, where no counsel is; but where many counseleris ben, tho ben confermyd.
Plans fall apart without good advice, but with plenty of advisors they're successful.
23 A man is glad in the sentence of his mouth; and a couenable word is best.
A good answer makes people happy—it's great to say the right thing at the right moment!
Life's path for the wise leads upwards, so that they can avoid the grave below. (Sheol h7585)
25 The Lord schal distrie the hows of proude men; and he schal make stidefast the coostis of a widewe.
The Lord pulls down the house of the proud, but he protects the boundaries of the widow's property.
26 Iuele thouytis is abhomynacioun of the Lord; and a cleene word moost fair schal be maad stidfast of hym.
The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked, but he honors the words of the pure.
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.
People greedy for ill-gotten gains make trouble for their families, but those who hate bribes will live.
28 The soule of a iust man bithenkith obedience; the mouth of wickid men is ful of yuelis.
Good people think how best to answer questions, but stupid people say all kinds of evil things.
29 The Lord is fer fro wickid men; and he schal here the preyers of iust men.
The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the good.
30 The liyt of iyen makith glad the soule; good fame makith fat the boonys.
Bright eyes make you happy, and good news makes you feel good.
31 The eere that herith the blamyngis of lijf, schal dwelle in the myddis of wise men.
If you pay attention to positive advice you'll be one of the wise.
32 He that castith awei chastisyng, dispisith his soule; but he that assentith to blamyngis, is pesible holdere of the herte.
If you ignore instruction you have no self-esteem, but if you listen to correction you gain understanding.
33 The drede of the Lord is teching of wisdom; and mekenesse goith bifore glorie.
Respect for the Lord teaches wisdom; humility goes before honor.
