Proverbs 18
1 He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, and snarlest against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may lay itself bare.
3 A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom.
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; a flowing brook, a fountain of wisdom.
5 It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom.
It is not good to respect the person of the wicked, so as to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7 The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 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.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
Even one that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is set up on high.
11 The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.
12 The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honour goeth humility.
13 He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and confusion unto him.
14 The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.
18 Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
The lot causeth strife to cease, and parteth asunder the contentious.
19 A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A mannus wombe schal be fillid of the fruit of his mouth; and the seedis of hise lippis schulen fille hym.
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
21 Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that indulge it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 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.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a great good, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23 A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth impudently.
24 A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
There are friends that one hath to his own hurt; but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
