Proverbs 18
1 He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom.
2 A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with dishonour 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, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
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 accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow 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 calls 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 destruction, 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 talebearer are as wounds, 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.
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great 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 runs into it, and is safe.
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 an 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 man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13 He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame 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 wounded 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 gets knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
He that is first in his own cause seems just; but his neighbour comes and searches him.
18 Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
The lot causes contentions to cease, and parts between the mighty.
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 satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
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 love 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 finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
The poor uses entreaties; but the rich answers roughly.
24 A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
