Proverbs 25
1 Also these ben the Parablis of Salomon, whiche the men of Ezechie, kyng of Juda, translatiden.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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 thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Heuene aboue, and the erthe bynethe, and the herte of kyngis is vnserchable.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Do thou a wei rust fro siluer, and a ful cleene vessel schal go out.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner;
5 Do thou awei vnpite fro the cheer of the kyng, and his trone schal be maad stidfast bi riytfulnesse.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Appere thou not gloriouse bifore the kyng, and stonde thou not in the place of grete men.
Glorify not thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not 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 better is it that it be said unto thee: 'Come up hither', than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.
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.
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Trete thi cause with thi frend, and schewe thou not priuyte to a straunge man;
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
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 he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not 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.
As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 A cloude and wind, and reyn not suynge, is a gloriouse man, and not fillynge biheestis.
As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift.
15 A prince schal be maad soft bi pacience; and a soft tunge schal breke hardnesse.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Thou hast founde hony, ete thou that that suffisith to thee; lest perauenture thou be fillid, and brake it out.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Withdrawe thi foot fro the hous of thi neiybore; lest sum tyme he be fillid, and hate thee.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be sated with thee, and hate thee.
18 A dart, and a swerd, and a scharp arowe, a man that spekith fals witnessing ayens his neiybore.
As a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, so is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
19 A rotun tooth, and a feynt foot is he, that hopith on an vnfeithful man in the dai of angwisch,
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
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.
As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 If thin enemy hungrith, feede thou him; if he thirstith, yyue thou watir to hym to drinke;
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 for thou schalt gadere togidere coolis on his heed; and the Lord schal yelde to thee.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
23 The north wind scatereth reynes; and a sorewful face distrieth a tunge bacbitinge.
The north wind bringeth forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
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.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
25 Coold watir to a thirsti man; and a good messanger fro a fer lond.
As cold waters to a faint soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A welle disturblid with foot, and a veyne brokun, a iust man fallinge bifore a wickid man.
As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth way before 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 much honey; so for men to search out their own glory is not 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 broken down and without a wall, so is he whose spirit is without restraint.
