Proverbs 26
1 As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not 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.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
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 ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 A slow man seith, A lioun is in the weie, a liounnesse is in the foot pathis.
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that 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.
He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge.
so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame 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 talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte.
when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel.
Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 He that delueth a diche, schal falle in to it; and if a man walewith a stoon, it schal turne ayen to hym.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
