Proverbs 20
1 Wiyn is a letcherouse thing and drunkenesse is ful of noise; who euere delitith in these, schal not be wijs.
[Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur non erit sapiens.
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.
Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum peccat in animam suam.
3 It is onour to a man that departith hym silf fro stryuyngis; but fonned men ben medlid with dispisyngis.
Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
4 A slow man nolde ere for coold; therfor he schal begge in somer, and me schal not yyue to hym.
Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
5 As deep watir, so counsel is in the herte of a man; but a wijs man schal drawe it out.
Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
6 Many men ben clepid merciful; but who schal fynde a feithful man?
Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?]
7 Forsothe a iust man that goith in his simplenesse, schal leeue blessid sones aftir hym.
[Justus qui ambulat in simplicitate sua beatos post se filios derelinquet.
8 A king that sittith in the seete of doom, distrieth al yuel bi his lokyng.
Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
9 Who may seie, Myn herte is clene; Y am clene of synne?
Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum; purus sum a peccato?
10 A weiyte and a weiyte, a mesure and a mesure, euer eithir is abhomynable at God.
Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
11 A child is vndurstondun bi hise studies, yf his werkis ben riytful and cleene.
Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.
12 An eere heringe, and an iye seynge, God made euere eithir.
Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem: Dominus fecit utrumque.
13 Nyle thou loue sleep, lest nedynesse oppresse thee; opene thin iyen, and be thou fillid with looues.
Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
14 Ech biere seith, It is yuel, it is yuel; and whanne he hath go awey, thanne he schal haue glorie.
Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
15 Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and a preciouse vessel, ben the lippis of kunnyng.
Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.]
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.
[Tolle vestimentum ejus qui fidejussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
17 The breed of a leesing is sweet to a man; and aftirward his mouth schal be fillid with rikenyng.
Suavis est homini panis mendacii, et postea implebitur os ejus calculo.
18 Thouytis ben maad strong bi counselis; and bateils schulen be tretid bi gouernals.
Cogitationes consiliis roborantur, et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
19 Be thou not medlid with him that schewith pryuetees, and goith gylefulli, and alargith hise lippis.
Ei qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
20 The liyt of hym that cursith his fadir and modir, schal be quenchid in the myddis of derknessis.
Qui maledicit patri suo et matri, extinguetur lucerna ejus in mediis tenebris:
21 Eritage to which me haastith in the bigynnyng, schal wante blessing in the laste tyme.
hæreditas ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
22 Seie thou not, Y schal yelde yuel for yuel; abide thou the Lord, and he schal delyuere thee.
Ne dicas: Reddam malum: exspecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
23 Abhomynacioun at God is weiyte and weiyte; a gileful balaunce is not good.
Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.
24 The steppis of man ben dressid of the Lord; who forsothe of men mai vndurstonde his weie?
A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
25 Falling of man is to make auow to seyntis, and aftirward to withdrawe the vowis.
Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.]
26 A wijs kyng scaterith wickid men; and bowith a bouwe of victorie ouer hem.
[Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
27 The lanterne of the Lord is the spirit of man, that sekith out alle the priuetees of the wombe.
Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
28 Merci and treuthe kepen a kyng; and his trone is maad strong bi mekenesse.
Misericordia et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus ejus.
29 The ful out ioiyng of yonge men is the strengthe of hem; and the dignyte of elde men is hoornesse.
Exsultatio juvenum fortitudo eorum, et dignitas senum canities.
30 The wannesse of wounde schal wipe aweie yuels, and woundis in the priuyere thingis of the wombe.
Livor vulneris absterget mala, et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.]
