Proverbs 18
1 He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
2 A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
3 A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom.
People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
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's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
7 The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
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.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
9 He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
Laziness and destruction are brothers.
10 A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
11 The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
12 The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
13 He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
14 The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?
With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
15 The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
16 The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
17 A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
18 Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
19 A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees.
A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
20 A mannus wombe schal be fillid of the fruit of his mouth; and the seedis of hise lippis schulen fille hym.
Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
21 Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.
What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
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.
If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
23 A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
24 A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
