Proverbs 25
1 Also these ben the Parablis of Salomon, whiche the men of Ezechie, kyng of Juda, translatiden.
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 The glorie of God is to hele a word; and the glorie of kyngis is to seke out a word.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 Heuene aboue, and the erthe bynethe, and the herte of kyngis is vnserchable.
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 Do thou a wei rust fro siluer, and a ful cleene vessel schal go out.
Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 Do thou awei vnpite fro the cheer of the kyng, and his trone schal be maad stidfast bi riytfulnesse.
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Appere thou not gloriouse bifore the kyng, and stonde thou not in the place of grete men.
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 For it is betere, that it be seid to thee, Stie thou hidur, than that thou be maad low bifore the prince.
for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 Brynge thou not forth soone tho thingis in strijf, whiche thin iyen sien; lest aftirward thou maist not amende, whanne thou hast maad thi frend vnhonest.
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Trete thi cause with thi frend, and schewe thou not priuyte to a straunge man;
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 lest perauenture he haue ioye of thi fal, whanne he hath herde, and ceesse not to do schenschipe to thee. Grace and frenschip delyueren, whiche kepe thou to thee, that thou be not maad repreuable.
lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
11 A goldun pomel in beddis of siluer is he, that spekith a word in his time.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 A goldun eere ryng, and a schinynge peerle is he, that repreueth a wijs man, and an eere obeiynge.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 As the coold of snow in the dai of heruest, so a feithful messanger to hym that sente `thilke messanger, makith his soule to haue reste.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 A cloude and wind, and reyn not suynge, is a gloriouse man, and not fillynge biheestis.
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 A prince schal be maad soft bi pacience; and a soft tunge schal breke hardnesse.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Thou hast founde hony, ete thou that that suffisith to thee; lest perauenture thou be fillid, and brake it out.
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 Withdrawe thi foot fro the hous of thi neiybore; lest sum tyme he be fillid, and hate thee.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 A dart, and a swerd, and a scharp arowe, a man that spekith fals witnessing ayens his neiybore.
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 A rotun tooth, and a feynt foot is he, that hopith on an vnfeithful man in the dai of angwisch,
Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 and leesith his mentil in the dai of coold. Vynegre in a vessel of salt is he, that singith songis to the worste herte. As a mouyte noieth a cloth, and a worm noieth a tree, so the sorewe of a man noieth the herte.
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If thin enemy hungrith, feede thou him; if he thirstith, yyue thou watir to hym to drinke;
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 for thou schalt gadere togidere coolis on his heed; and the Lord schal yelde to thee.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 The north wind scatereth reynes; and a sorewful face distrieth a tunge bacbitinge.
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 It is betere to sitte in the corner of an hous without roof, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and in a comyn hous.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Coold watir to a thirsti man; and a good messanger fro a fer lond.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 A welle disturblid with foot, and a veyne brokun, a iust man fallinge bifore a wickid man.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 As it is not good to hym that etith myche hony; so he that is a serchere of maieste, schal be put doun fro glorie.
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 As a citee opyn, and with out cumpas of wallis; so is a man that mai not refreyne his spirit in speking.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
