Proverbs 26

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not proper for a fool.

As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool.

2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

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.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back.

Beting to an hors, and a bernacle to an asse; and a yerde in the bak of vnprudent men.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him.

Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Answere thou a fool bi his fooli, lest he seme to him silf to be wijs.

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh violence.

An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.

7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis.

8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man.

9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis.

10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli.

12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

A slow man seith, A lioun is in the weie, a liounnesse is in the foot pathis.

14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed.

15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis.

17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

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.

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth;

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge.

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis.

22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

The wordis of a pryuei bacbitere ben as symple; and tho comen til to the ynneste thingis of the herte.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte.

24 He that hateth disguiseth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte.

25 When he speaketh kindly, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte.

26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the whole congregation.

The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel.

27 Whoever diggeth a pit shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

He that delueth a diche, schal falle in to it; and if a man walewith a stoon, it schal turne ayen to hym.

28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.