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 strong drink is a brawler; whoever is led astray by drink 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 like the fear of a young lion that is roaring; the one who makes him angry forfeits his 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 anyone to avoid conflict, but every fool jumps into an argument.
4 A slow man nolde ere for coold; therfor he schal begge in somer, and me schal not yyue to hym.
The lazy person does not plow in autumn; he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.
5 As deep watir, so counsel is in the herte of a man; but a wijs man schal drawe it out.
The purpose in a human heart is like deep water, but someone with understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men ben clepid merciful; but who schal fynde a feithful man?
Many a person proclaims he is loyal, but who can find one who is faithful?
7 Forsothe a iust man that goith in his simplenesse, schal leeue blessid sones aftir hym.
The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.
8 A king that sittith in the seete of doom, distrieth al yuel bi his lokyng.
A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.
9 Who may seie, Myn herte is clene; Y am clene of synne?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
10 A weiyte and a weiyte, a mesure and a mesure, euer eithir is abhomynable at God.
Differing weights and unequal measures— Yahweh hates them both.
11 A child is vndurstondun bi hise studies, yf his werkis ben riytful and cleene.
Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 An eere heringe, and an iye seynge, God made euere eithir.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— Yahweh made them both.
13 Nyle thou loue sleep, lest nedynesse oppresse thee; opene thin iyen, and be thou fillid with looues.
Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.
14 Ech biere seith, It is yuel, it is yuel; and whanne he hath go awey, thanne he schal haue glorie.
“Bad! Bad!” says the buyer, but when he goes away he boasts.
15 Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and a preciouse vessel, ben the lippis of kunnyng.
There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but 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 a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.
17 The breed of a leesing is sweet to a man; and aftirward his mouth schal be fillid with rikenyng.
Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Thouytis ben maad strong bi counselis; and bateils schulen be tretid bi gouernals.
Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.
19 Be thou not medlid with him that schewith pryuetees, and goith gylefulli, and alargith hise lippis.
A gossip reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.
20 The liyt of hym that cursith his fadir and modir, schal be quenchid in the myddis of derknessis.
If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.
21 Eritage to which me haastith in the bigynnyng, schal wante blessing in the laste tyme.
An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good 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 you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.
23 Abhomynacioun at God is weiyte and weiyte; a gileful balaunce is not good.
Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.
24 The steppis of man ben dressid of the Lord; who forsothe of men mai vndurstonde his weie?
A person's steps are directed by Yahweh; how then can he understand his way?
25 Falling of man is to make auow to seyntis, and aftirward to withdrawe the vowis.
It is a snare for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,” and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.
26 A wijs kyng scaterith wickid men; and bowith a bouwe of victorie ouer hem.
A wise king winnows the wicked and he turns a 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 a person is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all his inmost parts.
28 Merci and treuthe kepen a kyng; and his trone is maad strong bi mekenesse.
Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king; his throne is made secure 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 and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.
30 The wannesse of wounde schal wipe aweie yuels, and woundis in the priuyere thingis of the wombe.
Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil and beatings make the innermost parts clean.
