Proverbs 27
1 Haue thou not glorie on the morewe, `not knowynge what thing the dai to comynge schal bringe forth.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Another man, and not thi mouth preise thee; a straunger, and not thi lippis `preise thee.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stoon is heuy, and grauel is chariouse; but the ire of a fool is heuyere than euer eithir.
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 Ire hath no merci, and woodnesse brekynge out `hath no merci; and who mai suffre the fersnesse of a spirit stirid?
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Betere is opyn repreuyng, than loue hid.
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 Betere ben the woundis of hym that loueth, than the gileful cossis of hym that hatith.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 A man fillid schal dispise an hony coomb; but an hungri man schal take, yhe, bittir thing for swete.
The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a brid passinge ouer fro his nest, so is a man that forsakith his place.
Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 The herte delitith in oynement, and dyuerse odours; and a soule is maad swete bi the good counsels of a frend.
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
10 Forsake thou not thi frend, and the frend of thi fadir; and entre thou not in to the hous of thi brothir, in the dai of thi turment. Betere is a neiybore nyy, than a brothir afer.
Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11 Mi sone, studie thou a boute wisdom, and make thou glad myn herte; that thou maist answere a word to a dispisere.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 A fel man seynge yuel was hid; litle men of wit passinge forth suffriden harmes.
The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take thou awei his clooth, that bihiyte for a straunger; and take thou awei a wed fro hym for an alien man.
Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 He that blessith his neiybore with greet vois; and risith bi niyt, schal be lijk hym that cursith.
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
15 Roouys droppynge in the dai of coold, and a womman ful of chidyng ben comparisond.
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 He that withholdith hir, as if he holdith wynd; and auoidith the oile of his riyt hond.
restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 Yrun is whettid bi irun; and a man whettith the face of his frend.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 He that kepith a fige tre, schal ete the fruytis therof; and he that is a kepere of his lord, schal be glorified.
Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 As the cheris of men biholdinge schynen in watris; so the hertis of men ben opyn to prudent men.
As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 Helle and perdicioun schulen not be fillid; so and the iyen of men moun not be fillid. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 As siluer is preuyd in a wellyng place, and gold `is preued in a furneys; so a man is preued bi the mouth of preyseris. The herte of a wickid man sekith out yuels; but a riytful herte sekith out kunnyng.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 Thouy thou beetist a fool in a morter, as with a pestel smytynge aboue dried barli; his foli schal not be don awei fro him.
Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 Knowe thou diligentli the cheere of thi beeste; and biholde thou thi flockis.
Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 For thou schalt not haue power contynueli; but a coroun schal be youun to thee in generacioun and in to generacioun.
for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 Medewis ben openyd, and greene eerbis apperiden; and hey is gaderid fro hillis.
When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
26 Lambren be to thi clothing; and kidis be to the prijs of feeld.
the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 The mylke of geete suffice to thee for thi meetis; in to the necessarie thingis of thin hous, and to lijflode to thin handmaidis.
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
