Proverbs 26
1 As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
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 flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
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 is for the donkey and a rod is for the back 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 will become like him.
5 Answere thou a fool bi his fooli, lest he seme to him silf to be wijs.
Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
6 An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks 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 a paralytic which hang down 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.
Like tying a stone in a sling is giving 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 goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.
Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
11 As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli.
As a dog returns to his own 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 someone 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
14 As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.
As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person 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 person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
16 A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis.
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
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 takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18 As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;
Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19 so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge.
is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20 Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.
For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21 As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis.
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person 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 delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte.
Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24 An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
25 Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte.
He will speak graciously, but do not 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.
Though his hatred is covered with 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.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
28 A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
