Proverbs 26
1 As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 For whi as a brid fliynge ouer to hiy thingis, and a sparowe goynge in to vncerteyn; so cursing brouyt forth with out resonable cause schal come aboue in to sum man.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Beting to an hors, and a bernacle to an asse; and a yerde in the bak of vnprudent men.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Answere thou a fool bi his fooli, lest he seme to him silf to be wijs.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 A slow man seith, A lioun is in the weie, a liounnesse is in the foot pathis.
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 As he that takith a dogge bi the eeris; so he that passith, and is vnpacient, and is meddlid with the chiding of anothir man.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge.
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 The wordis of a pryuei bacbitere ben as symple; and tho comen til to the ynneste thingis of the herte.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He that delueth a diche, schal falle in to it; and if a man walewith a stoon, it schal turne ayen to hym.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
