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, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby 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 fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
3 It is onour to a man that departith hym silf fro stryuyngis; but fonned men ben medlid with dispisyngis.
[It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
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 cold; [therefore] shall he 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?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Forsothe a iust man that goith in his simplenesse, schal leeue blessid sones aftir hym.
The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
8 A king that sittith in the seete of doom, distrieth al yuel bi his lokyng.
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth 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 clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 A weiyte and a weiyte, a mesure and a mesure, euer eithir is abhomynable at God.
Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.
11 A child is vndurstondun bi hise studies, yf his werkis ben riytful and cleene.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right.
12 An eere heringe, and an iye seynge, God made euere eithir.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Nyle thou loue sleep, lest nedynesse oppresse thee; opene thin iyen, and be thou fillid with looues.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt 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 is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and a preciouse vessel, ben the lippis of kunnyng.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious 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 his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 The breed of a leesing is sweet to a man; and aftirward his mouth schal be fillid with rikenyng.
Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Thouytis ben maad strong bi counselis; and bateils schulen be tretid bi gouernals.
[Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 Be thou not medlid with him that schewith pryuetees, and goith gylefulli, and alargith hise lippis.
He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 The liyt of hym that cursith his fadir and modir, schal be quenchid in the myddis of derknessis.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 Eritage to which me haastith in the bigynnyng, schal wante blessing in the laste tyme.
An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Seie thou not, Y schal yelde yuel for yuel; abide thou the Lord, and he schal delyuere thee.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 Abhomynacioun at God is weiyte and weiyte; a gileful balaunce is not good.
Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance [is] not good.
24 The steppis of man ben dressid of the Lord; who forsothe of men mai vndurstonde his weie?
Man’s goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 Falling of man is to make auow to seyntis, and aftirward to withdrawe the vowis.
[It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wijs kyng scaterith wickid men; and bowith a bouwe of victorie ouer hem.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the 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 candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Merci and treuthe kepen a kyng; and his trone is maad strong bi mekenesse.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
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: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.
30 The wannesse of wounde schal wipe aweie yuels, and woundis in the priuyere thingis of the wombe.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
