Proverbs 25
1 Also these ben the Parablis of Salomon, whiche the men of Ezechie, kyng of Juda, translatiden.
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 The glorie of God is to hele a word; and the glorie of kyngis is to seke out a word.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 Heuene aboue, and the erthe bynethe, and the herte of kyngis is vnserchable.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Do thou a wei rust fro siluer, and a ful cleene vessel schal go out.
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Do thou awei vnpite fro the cheer of the kyng, and his trone schal be maad stidfast bi riytfulnesse.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Appere thou not gloriouse bifore the kyng, and stonde thou not in the place of grete men.
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
7 For it is betere, that it be seid to thee, Stie thou hidur, than that thou be maad low bifore the prince.
For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
8 Brynge thou not forth soone tho thingis in strijf, whiche thin iyen sien; lest aftirward thou maist not amende, whanne thou hast maad thi frend vnhonest.
The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
9 Trete thi cause with thi frend, and schewe thou not priuyte to a straunge man;
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 lest perauenture he haue ioye of thi fal, whanne he hath herde, and ceesse not to do schenschipe to thee. Grace and frenschip delyueren, whiche kepe thou to thee, that thou be not maad repreuable.
lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
11 A goldun pomel in beddis of siluer is he, that spekith a word in his time.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 A goldun eere ryng, and a schinynge peerle is he, that repreueth a wijs man, and an eere obeiynge.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
13 As the coold of snow in the dai of heruest, so a feithful messanger to hym that sente `thilke messanger, makith his soule to haue reste.
Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
14 A cloude and wind, and reyn not suynge, is a gloriouse man, and not fillynge biheestis.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 A prince schal be maad soft bi pacience; and a soft tunge schal breke hardnesse.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Thou hast founde hony, ete thou that that suffisith to thee; lest perauenture thou be fillid, and brake it out.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Withdrawe thi foot fro the hous of thi neiybore; lest sum tyme he be fillid, and hate thee.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 A dart, and a swerd, and a scharp arowe, a man that spekith fals witnessing ayens his neiybore.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 A rotun tooth, and a feynt foot is he, that hopith on an vnfeithful man in the dai of angwisch,
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
20 and leesith his mentil in the dai of coold. Vynegre in a vessel of salt is he, that singith songis to the worste herte. As a mouyte noieth a cloth, and a worm noieth a tree, so the sorewe of a man noieth the herte.
and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.
21 If thin enemy hungrith, feede thou him; if he thirstith, yyue thou watir to hym to drinke;
If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 for thou schalt gadere togidere coolis on his heed; and the Lord schal yelde to thee.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 The north wind scatereth reynes; and a sorewful face distrieth a tunge bacbitinge.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 It is betere to sitte in the corner of an hous without roof, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and in a comyn hous.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 Coold watir to a thirsti man; and a good messanger fro a fer lond.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 A welle disturblid with foot, and a veyne brokun, a iust man fallinge bifore a wickid man.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 As it is not good to hym that etith myche hony; so he that is a serchere of maieste, schal be put doun fro glorie.
Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
28 As a citee opyn, and with out cumpas of wallis; so is a man that mai not refreyne his spirit in speking.
Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.
