Proverbs 18
1 He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 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.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17 A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 A mannus wombe schal be fillid of the fruit of his mouth; and the seedis of hise lippis schulen fille hym.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 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.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
