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 a brawler, And he that reeleth with it 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 provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 It is onour to a man that departith hym silf fro stryuyngis; but fonned men ben medlid with dispisyngis.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
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 plough 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.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Many men ben clepid merciful; but who schal fynde a feithful man?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Forsothe a iust man that goith in his simplenesse, schal leeue blessid sones aftir hym.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 A king that sittith in the seete of doom, distrieth al yuel bi his lokyng.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who may seie, Myn herte is clene; Y am clene of synne?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free 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 an abomination to the LORD.
11 A child is vndurstondun bi hise studies, yf his werkis ben riytful and cleene.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 An eere heringe, and an iye seynge, God made euere eithir.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
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.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath 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 abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
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 who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 The breed of a leesing is sweet to a man; and aftirward his mouth schal be fillid with rikenyng.
The bread of falsehood 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.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Be thou not medlid with him that schewith pryuetees, and goith gylefulli, and alargith hise lippis.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 midnight darkness.
21 Eritage to which me haastith in the bigynnyng, schal wante blessing in the laste tyme.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will 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 repay evil;” 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 to 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?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a 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 utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wijs kyng scaterith wickid men; and bowith a bouwe of victorie ouer hem.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The lanterne of the Lord is the spirit of man, that sekith out alle the priuetees of the wombe.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Merci and treuthe kepen a kyng; and his trone is maad strong bi mekenesse.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, 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.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
