Proverbs 20
1 Wiyn is a letcherouse thing and drunkenesse is ful of noise; who euere delitith in these, schal not be wijs.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 As the roryng of a lioun, so and the drede of the kyng; he that territh hym to ire, synneth ayens his owne lijf.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is onour to a man that departith hym silf fro stryuyngis; but fonned men ben medlid with dispisyngis.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 A slow man nolde ere for coold; therfor he schal begge in somer, and me schal not yyue to hym.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 As deep watir, so counsel is in the herte of a man; but a wijs man schal drawe it out.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men ben clepid merciful; but who schal fynde a feithful man?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 Forsothe a iust man that goith in his simplenesse, schal leeue blessid sones aftir hym.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king that sittith in the seete of doom, distrieth al yuel bi his lokyng.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who may seie, Myn herte is clene; Y am clene of synne?
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 A weiyte and a weiyte, a mesure and a mesure, euer eithir is abhomynable at God.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 A child is vndurstondun bi hise studies, yf his werkis ben riytful and cleene.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 An eere heringe, and an iye seynge, God made euere eithir.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Nyle thou loue sleep, lest nedynesse oppresse thee; opene thin iyen, and be thou fillid with looues.
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Ech biere seith, It is yuel, it is yuel; and whanne he hath go awey, thanne he schal haue glorie.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and a preciouse vessel, ben the lippis of kunnyng.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take thou awei the cloth of hym, that was borewe of an othere man; and for straungeris take thou awei a wed fro hym.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 The breed of a leesing is sweet to a man; and aftirward his mouth schal be fillid with rikenyng.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Thouytis ben maad strong bi counselis; and bateils schulen be tretid bi gouernals.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 Be thou not medlid with him that schewith pryuetees, and goith gylefulli, and alargith hise lippis.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 The liyt of hym that cursith his fadir and modir, schal be quenchid in the myddis of derknessis.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Eritage to which me haastith in the bigynnyng, schal wante blessing in the laste tyme.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Seie thou not, Y schal yelde yuel for yuel; abide thou the Lord, and he schal delyuere thee.
Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 Abhomynacioun at God is weiyte and weiyte; a gileful balaunce is not good.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 The steppis of man ben dressid of the Lord; who forsothe of men mai vndurstonde his weie?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 Falling of man is to make auow to seyntis, and aftirward to withdrawe the vowis.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wijs kyng scaterith wickid men; and bowith a bouwe of victorie ouer hem.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The lanterne of the Lord is the spirit of man, that sekith out alle the priuetees of the wombe.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Merci and treuthe kepen a kyng; and his trone is maad strong bi mekenesse.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 The ful out ioiyng of yonge men is the strengthe of hem; and the dignyte of elde men is hoornesse.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 The wannesse of wounde schal wipe aweie yuels, and woundis in the priuyere thingis of the wombe.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
