Proverbs 26
1 As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so kavod ·weighty glory· is not fitting for 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, like a darting swallow, so the 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 is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable 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 one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives kavod ·weighty glory· 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 bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli.
As a dog that makes teshuvah ·completely returns· to his vomit, so is a fool who 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 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
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’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge.
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to 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 whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
25 Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte.
When his speech is pleasant, don’t believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but 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.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
