Proverbs 18
1 He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, and rageth against all sound wisdom.
He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy cometh reproach.
A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.
Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom.
5 To accept the person of the wicked is not good, [nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes.
The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty, morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The wordis of a double tungid man ben as symple; and tho comen `til to the ynnere thingis of the wombe. Drede castith doun a slowe man; forsothe the soulis of men turned in to wymmens condicioun schulen haue hungur.
9 He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own imagination.
The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [goeth] humility.
The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.
He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
17 He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.
A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees.
20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
A mannus wombe schal be fillid of the fruit of his mouth; and the seedis of hise lippis schulen fille hym.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
He that fyndith a good womman, fyndith a good thing; and of the Lord he schal drawe vp myrthe. He that puttith a wey a good womman, puttith awei a good thing; but he that holdith auowtresse, is a fool and vnwijs.
23 The poor useth entreaties: but the rich answereth roughly.
A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
24 He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction: but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
