Proverbs 18
1 He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom.
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5 It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6 The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of 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 the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
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 just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?
The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17 A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
19 A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees.
A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 A mannus wombe schal be fillid of the fruit of his mouth; and the seedis of hise lippis schulen fille hym.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
21 Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
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 that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
