Proverbs 18
1 He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
He who separateth himself seeketh his own desire; Against all sound discretion he rusheth on.
2 A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
The fool hath no delight in understanding, But rather in revealing his own mind.
3 A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt; And with baseness, shame.
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, And the wellspring of wisdom is an overflowing 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.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked, So as to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calleth for blows.
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 destruction, And his lips are a snare for his life.
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 talebearer are like sweet morsels; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
9 He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
Moreover, he that is slothful in his work Is brother to him that is a great waster.
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 runneth to it, and is safe.
11 The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall, in his own conceit.
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 haughty, And before honor is humility.
13 He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
He who answereth a matter before he hath heard it, It is folly and shame 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 will sustain his infirmity; But a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
The heart of the intelligent will acquire knowledge, And the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
16 The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
A gift maketh room for a man, And bringeth him into the presence of the great.
17 A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
He that first pleadeth his cause appeareth just; But his opponent cometh, and searcheth him through.
18 Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth asunder 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 offended is harder to be won than a strong city; Yea, their contentions 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.
With the fruit of a man's mouth shall his stomach be filled; He shall be filled with the produce of his lips.
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 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 that findeth a wife findeth a blessing, And obtaineth favor from the LORD.
23 A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
A man of many friends will show himself false; Yet there is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother.
