Proverbs 18
1 He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement.
2 A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes 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 like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing 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.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
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 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 dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are 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, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
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 man is proud, but before honour is humility.
13 He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
He who answers before he hears, that 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?
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed 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 discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
A man’s gift makes room 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.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
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 more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars 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.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
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; 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.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
