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 noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be 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.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: 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 honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 A slow man nolde ere for coold; therfor he schal begge in somer, and me schal not yyue to hym.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 As deep watir, so counsel is in the herte of a man; but a wijs man schal drawe it out.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the 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 kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 Forsothe a iust man that goith in his simplenesse, schal leeue blessid sones aftir hym.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 A king that sittith in the seete of doom, distrieth al yuel bi his lokyng.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Who may seie, Myn herte is clene; Y am clene of synne?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed 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, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 A child is vndurstondun bi hise studies, yf his werkis ben riytful and cleene.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 An eere heringe, and an iye seynge, God made euere eithir.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
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 thy eyes, so wilt thou 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 bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and a preciouse vessel, ben the lippis of kunnyng.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
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 away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 The breed of a leesing is sweet to a man; and aftirward his mouth schal be fillid with rikenyng.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Thouytis ben maad strong bi counselis; and bateils schulen be tretid bi gouernals.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct 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 enticeth 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 quenched in obscure darkness.
21 Eritage to which me haastith in the bigynnyng, schal wante blessing in the laste tyme.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Seie thou not, Y schal yelde yuel for yuel; abide thou the Lord, and he schal delyuere thee.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Abhomynacioun at God is weiyte and weiyte; a gileful balaunce is not good.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 The steppis of man ben dressid of the Lord; who forsothe of men mai vndurstonde his weie?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he 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 a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 A wijs kyng scaterith wickid men; and bowith a bouwe of victorie ouer hem.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 The lanterne of the Lord is the spirit of man, that sekith out alle the priuetees of the wombe.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Merci and treuthe kepen a kyng; and his trone is maad strong bi mekenesse.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 The ful out ioiyng of yonge men is the strengthe of hem; and the dignyte of elde men is hoornesse.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 The wannesse of wounde schal wipe aweie yuels, and woundis in the priuyere thingis of the wombe.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
