Proverbs 26
1 As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
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 bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
3 Beting to an hors, and a bernacle to an asse; and a yerde in the bak of vnprudent men.
A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym.
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Answere thou a fool bi his fooli, lest he seme to him silf to be wijs.
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.
In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
8 As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man.
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis.
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
10 Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he.
Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 A slow man seith, A lioun is in the weie, a liounnesse is in the foot pathis.
The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth.
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis.
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
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.
Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
18 As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge.
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis.
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
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 whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte.
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte.
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel.
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed 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.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
