Bible (Early Wycliffe)/Prouerbys

þe Prologe in þe Booc off Prouerbys

Heere bygyneþ þe prologe in þe booc off Prouerbys.

To Cromacie and Eliodere, biſhopis, Jerome ſendeþ greeting. Joyne þe epiſtil whom ioyneþ preſþod; ȝhe, þe chartre twynne not, whom þe looue of Criſt knytteþ. Expoſiciouns in Oſee, Amos, Zacharie, and Malachie, þe whiche ȝee aſken, I ſhulde han write, if it hadde ben leeful for ſikneſſe. Ȝee ſenden ſolacys of coſtis, ȝoure notories, and bokis writeres ſuſtenende, þat to ȝou moſt oure wit trauaile. And lo! aſide þe hauntende puple of men diuerſe þingis aſkende, as or euene it be me to trauailen, ȝou hungrende, alſo to oþere, or, in reſoun of ȝyuen þing and taken, to any, ſaue ȝou, I be bounde. And ſo þurȝ long ſikneſſe broſid, leſt fulli þis ȝeer I ſhulde be ſtille, and anent ȝou I were doumb, þe werc of þre daȝis to ȝoure name I ſacride; þe remenyng, þat is, of þe þre volumes of Salomon, Maſloch, þat Ebrues Parablis, þe comun making Prouerbis clepeþ; Coelech, þat Grecli Ecleſiaſten, Latinli a Spekere wee moun ſeyn; Ciraſirym, þat in to oure tunge is turned Song of Songis. It is told and Panareþos, þe boc of Jheſu, ſone of Cirach; and an oþer falſly writen, þat is inwriten þe Wiſdam of Salamon. Of whiche þe raþere I fond Ebru, not Eccleſiaſticum, as anent þe Latynes, but Parablis beforn notid; to whom weren ioyned Ecleſiaſtes and þe Song of Songis; þat he ſhulde euene to þe licneſſe of Salamon, not onli in noumbre of bokis, but alſo in maner of mateeris. Þe ſecounde anent þe Ebrues is neuer no wher, for and þat maner of ſpeche ſauoureþ þe Grekis faire ſpeche; and ſumme of olde writeres afermen þis boc to ben of Jew Filon. As þanne Judiþ, and Tobie, and þe bokis of Macabeis, redeþ hem forſoþe þe chirche, but among þe reuleer ſcripturis reſceyueþ not; ſo and þeſe two volumes rede he to þe edificacioun of þe puple, not to þe autorite of chirche teching to ben confermed. If to any man forſoþe more pleſe þe tranſlacioun of þe ſeuenty remenoures, he haþ it ſum time amended of vs. Ne forſoþe ſo newe þingis wee maken, þat olde þingis wee deſtroȝe. And neuer þe latere, whan moſt diligentli redeþ he, wite he oure writen þingis to ben vnderſtonde, þat ben not coruptid held into þe þridde veſſel, but, anoon from þe preſſe moſt pureli þe veſſel ȝeuen, han kept þeir ſauour.

Here bigynneþ þe Parablis of Salomon.

Capitulum I.

The parablis of Salamon, ſone of Dauid, king of Irael; to ben koud wiſdam, and diſcipline; to ben vnderſtonden þe woordis of prudence; and to ben vndirtake enformyng of doctrine, riȝtwyſneſſe, and dom, and equite; þat felneſſe be ȝeue to litle childer, and to þe ȝunge ful waxen, kunnyng and vnderſtonding. Herende þe wiſe wiſere ſhal ben; and vnderſtondende gouernaile he ſhal welde. Take he heede þe parable, and þe remenyng; þe woordis of wiſe men, and þe derke ſpechis of hem. Þe drede of þe Lord þe begynnyng of wiſdam; wiſdam and lore foolis diſpiſen. Here, my ſone, þe diſcipline of þi fader, and ne leue þou þe lawe of þi modir; þat þer be added grace to þin hed, and a beȝe to þi necke. My ſone, if þee ſynneres fulfille wiþ mylc, ne aſſente þou to þem. If þei ſey, Cum þou wiþ vs, waite wee to þe blod, hide wee grenes aȝen þe innocent in veyn; ſwolewe wee hym, as helle þe liuende; and hol as þe deſcendende in to þe lake; alle precious ſubſtaunce we ſhul finde, wee ſhul fulfillen oure houſis wiþ ſpoilis; lot ley wiþ vs, o bagge of monee be of vs alle; mi ſone, ne go þou wiþ hem; forfende þi foot fro þe ſties of hem. Forſoþe þe feet of hem to euel rennen; and heeȝen þat þei ſheden out blod. In vein forſoþe is þrowen a net befor þe eȝen of þe feþered. Þei alſo aȝen þer blod awaiten; and caſten gilys aȝen þer ſoulis. So þe paþis of þe auerous man raueſhen þe liues of þe welderes. Wiſdam wiþouteforþ precheþ; in ſtretis it ȝyueþ his vois. In þe hed of cumpanyes it ofte crieþ; in þe doris of þe ȝatis of þe cite he bringeþ forþ his woordis, ſeiende, Hou longe, ȝee litle childer, loouen childhed, and foolis þo þingus þat ben noȝeſum to þem ſhul coueiten, and vnprudent men ſhuln haten kunnyng? Be ȝee conuertid at my correccioun; lo! I ſhal bringe forþ to ȝou my ſpirit, and ſhewen my woordis. For I clepede, and ȝee forſoken; I ſtraȝte out myn hond, and þer was not þat wolde beholden. Ȝee deſpiſeden al my counſeil; and my blamyngis ȝee roȝten not of. I forſoþe in ȝoure deþ ſhal lawȝhe; and vndermouwe ȝou, whan to ȝou þat, þat ȝee dredden, ſhal come. Whan ſhal falle feerli wrecchidneſſe, and deþ as tempeſt ſhal aȝen come; whan ſhal come vp on ȝou tribulacioun and anguyſh. Þanne þei ſhul inwardli clepe me, and I ſhal not ful out heren; erly þey ſhuln riſe togidere, and not finde me. For þi þat hateſum þei hadden diſciplyne, and þe drede of þe Lord þei vndertoken not, ne aſſentiden to my counſeil, and bacbitiden to al my correccioun. Þei ſhuln ete þerfore þe frutis of þer weie; and wiþ þer counſeilis þei ſhul be fulfild. Þe turning awei of litle childer ſhal ſlen hem; and þe proſperite of foolis ſhal leeſen hem. Who forſoþe me ſhal heren, wiþoute ferd ſhal reſten; and abundaunce he ſhal parfitli vſen, þe ferd of euelis taken awey.

Capitulum II.

My ſone, if þou vndertakeſt my woordis, and my maundementes hidiſt anent þee; þat þin ere here wiſdam, inwardliche bowe þin herte to ben knowen wiſdam. If forſoþe wiſdam þou ſhalt inwardli clepen, and inwardli bowe þin herte to prudence; if þou ſhalt ſechen it as money, and as treſoris deluen it out; þanne þou ſhalt vnderſtonden þe drede of þe Lord, and þe kunnyng of God finde. For þe Lord ȝyueþ wiſdam; and of þe mouþ of hym prudence and kunnyng. He ſhal kepen þe helþe of riȝt men, and defende þe goende ſymplely; wiþholdende þe paþis of riȝtwiſneſſe, and þe weies of halewis kepende. Þanne þou ſhalt vnderſtonde riȝtwiſneſſe, and dom, and equite, and eche good paþ. If wiſdam ſhul go in to þin herte, and þe kunnyng to þi ſoule pleſe, counſeil ſhal kepe þee, and prudence ſhal wiþholde þee; þat þou be pullid out fro an euel wey, and fro a man þat ſpekeþ ſhreude þingus. Þei þat forſaken þe riȝt going, and wenten bi derke weies; þat forſoþe gladen, whan þei don euele, and ful out ioȝen in werſt þingus; of whom þe weies ſhreude, and yuel loſid þe goingys of hem. Þat þou be take awey fro an alien womman, and fro a ſtraunge, þat ſofteþ hir woordis; and forſakeþ þe ledere of hir childhed, and þe couenaunt of hir God haþ forȝete. Forſoþe inwardly bowid is to deþ þe hous of hir, and to helle þe paþis of hir. Alle þat gon in to hir, ſhul not turne aȝeen, ne take þe ſties of lif. Þat þou go in a good weye, and þe paþis of riȝtwis men þou kepe. Who forſoþe ben riȝte, ſhul dwelle in þe erþe; and þe ſymple ſhul parfitli wone in it. Þe vnpitouſe forſoþe fro þe erþe ſhul be loſt; and þat wickidli don, ſhul be take fro it awei.

Capitulum III.

My ſone, ne forȝete þou my lawe; and þin herte kepe myn heſtis. Forſoþe lengþe of daȝis, and ȝeeris of lif, and pes, þei ſhul ley to to þee. Mercy and treuþe forſake þei not þee; cumpaſe þem to þi þrote, and deſcryue in þe tablis of þin herte. And þou ſhalt finde grace, and good diſcipline befor God and men. Haue troſt in þe Lord, of al þin herte; and ne lene þou to þi prudence. In alle þi weies þenc hym, and he ſhal riȝt reulen þi goingis. Ne be þou wis anent þiſelf; dred God, and go awey fro euel. Helþe forſoþe ſhal ben in þi nauele, and watring of þi bones. Honoure þe Lord of þi ſubſtaunce, and of þe cheef of alle þi frutis ȝif to pore men; and þi bernes ſhul ben fulfild wiþ fulneſſe, and wiþ win þi preſſes ſhul rebounden. Þe diſcipline of þe Lord, my ſone, ne caſte þou awey; ne faile þou, whan of hym þou art chaſtiſid. Whom forſoþe þe Lord looueþ, he chaſtiſeþ; and as fader in þe ſone it wiþ pleſeþ to hym. Blisful þe man þat findeþ wiſdam, and þat flowiþ prudence. Betere is þe purchaſing of it, þan þe chaffering of gold and of ſiluer; firſt and moſt pure þe frutis of it. More precious þan alle richeſſes it is; and alle þingus þat be deſirid, to it moun not be compariſound. Lengþe of daȝis in his riȝt half, and in þe left half of it richeſſis and glorie. Þe weies of it faire, and alle þe paþis of it peſible. Þe tre of lif it is to þem þat cacchen it; and þat holden it, ben blisful. Þe Lord bi wiſdam foundede þe erþe; bi prudence ſtablide heuenes. Bi þe wiſdam of hym breeken out depe watris; and þe cloudis bi dew togidere waxen. My ſone, ne flowe þeſe þingis awei fro þin eȝe; kep þou my lawe, and counſeil; and þere ſhal ben lif to þi ſoule, and grace to þi chekis. Þanne þou ſhalt go troſtli in þi wey; and þi foot ſhal not offende. If þou ſhul ſlepe, þou ſhalt not drede; þou ſhalt reſten, and ſweete ſhal be þi ſlep. Ne drede þou wiþ ſodeyn gaſtneſſe, and þe poweris of þe vnpitous men fallende on to þee. Þe Lord forſoþe ſhal ben in þi ſide; and kepe þi foot, þat þou be not take. Wile þou not forfenden hym þat mai wel don; if þou maiſt, and þiſelf wel do. Ne ſey þou to þi frend, Go, and turne aȝeen, to moru I ſhal ȝyue to þee; whan anoon þou maiſt ȝiue. Ne caſte þou to þi frend euel, whan he in þee haþ troſt. Ne ſtriue þou aȝen a man in veyn, whan he no þing of euel haþ don to þee. Ne enuye þou þe vnriȝtwis man, ne folewe þou þe weies of hym. For abhomynacioun of þe Lord is eche gilour; and wiþ þe ſimple þe ſermounyng of hym. Nede of þe Lord in þe hous of þe vnpitouſe; þe dwelling placis forſoþe of riȝtwiſe men ſhul be bleſſid. He ſhal deſceyue þe deſceyueres; and to þe debonere he ſhal ȝyue grace. Glorie wiſe men ſhul welde; of foolis þe out ioȝing ſhenſhipe.

Capitulum IIII.

Here ȝee, ſones, þe diſcipline of þe fader; and takeþ heede, þat ȝee knowen prudence. A good ȝifte I ſhal ȝyuen to ȝou; my lawe ne forſake ȝee. For and I was þe ſone of my fader, ſum what tender, and þe onli goten beforn my moder. And he taȝte me, and ſeide, Take my woordys þin herte; kep þou myn heſtis, and þou ſhalt liue. Weld wiſdam, weld prudence; ne forȝete þou, ne bowe þou doun fro þe woordis of my mouþ. Ne leue þou it, and it ſhal kepe þee; looue it, and it ſhal wiþholde þee. Begynnyng of wiſdam, welde þou wiſdam; and in al þi poſſeſſioun purchace prudence. Tac it, and it ſhal enhaunce þee; þou ſhalt be glorified of it, whan þou haſt clippid it. It ſhal ȝiue to þin hed encrecis of gracis; and a noble crowne ſhal defende þee. Here þou, my ſone, and vndertac my woordis; and be þer multeplied to þee ȝeris of lif. Þe weie of wiſdam I ſhal ſhewe to þee; and lede þee bi þe paþys of equyte. Þe whiche whan þou ſhalt gon in, þi goingis ſhul not be ſtreitid; and rennende þou ſhalt not han letting. Hold diſcipline, and ne leue þou it; kep it, for it is þi lyf. Ne delite þou in þe paþis of vnpitous men; and to þee pleſe not þe weie of euele men. Flee fro it, and paſſe þou not bi it; bowe doun, and forſac it. Forſoþe þey ſlepen not, but if þei don euele; and ſlep is not caȝt of hem, but if þei ſupplaunte. Þei eten þe bred of vnpitouſneſſe, and þe win of wickidneſſe drinken. Forſoþe þe paþ of riȝtwiſmen as ſhynende liȝt goþ forþ, and growiþ in to a parfit day. Þe weie of vnpitous men derk; þei witen not wher þei falle. My ſone, hercne my woordis; and to my ſpechis bowe in þin ere. Ne go þei awey fro þin eȝen; kep þou hem in þe myddel of þin herte. Forſoþe lif þei ben to þe findende hem, and of alle fleſh þe helþe. Wiþ alle warde kep þou þin herte, for of it lif goþ forþ. Remoue from þee a ſhreude mouþ; and bacbitende lippis be þei ferr fro þee. Þin eȝen ſee þei riȝte þingis; and þin eȝelidis beforgo þei þi goingis. Riȝt reule þe paþis to þi feet, and alle þi weies be þey ſtablid. Ne bowe þou doun to þe riȝt, ne to þe lift; turne awei þi foot fro euel. Forſoþe þe weies þat ben on þe riȝþalf þe Lord knewȝ; ſhreude forſoþe ben, þat of þe lift ben. He forſoþe riȝt ſhal make þi goingus; þi weies forſoþe in pes ſhul be broȝt forþ.

Capitulum V.

My ſone, tac heed to my wiſdam, and to my prudence bowe þou þin ere; þat þou kepe þoȝtis, and diſcipline þi lippis wiþholden. Ne wile þou not entende to þe deſceyuyng of womman; forſoþe an hony comb droppende þe lippis of a ſtrumpet, and clerere þan oile þe þrote of hir; forſoþe þe laſte of hir bitter as wormod, and þe tunge of hir ſharp as a twei bitende ſwerd. Þe feet of hir gon doun in to deþ; and to helle þe goingis of hir perſen. Bi þe paþ of lif þei gon not; vagaunt ben þe goingus of hir, and vnſerchable. Now þanne, my ſone, here þou me, and ne go þou awei fro þe woordis of my mouþ. Aferr mac fro hir þi weie, and ne neȝhe þou to þe doris of hir hous. Ne ȝyue þou to alienes þi wrſhipe, and þi ȝeris to þe cruel; leſt perauenture be fulfild ſtraungeres wiþ þi ſtrengþis, and þi trauailis ben in an aliene hous; and þou weile in þi laſte, whan þou haſt waſtid þi fleſh, and þi bodi; and ſey, Whi wariede I diſcipline, and to ſnybbingis aſſentede not myn herte; ne I herde þe vois of men techende me, and to maiſtris I bowide not myn ere? Neȝh I was in alle euel, in þe myddel of þe chirche, and of þe ſynagoge. Drink watir of þi ciſterne, and þe flowingus of þi pyt. Ben lad out þi wellis wiþoute forþ; and in ſtretis þi watir deuyde þou. Haue þou hem alone; and be not alienes þi parceneres. Be þi veyne bliſſid; and glade þou wiþ þe womman of þi ful waxende ȝouþe. A moſt cheere hynde; and a moſt kindeli hert calf. Þe tetis of hir inwardli make þee drunke alle time; and in þe looue of hire delite þou biſili. Whi art þou broȝt doun, ſone myn, of an alien womman; and art fed in þe boſum of an oþere? Þe Lord lokeþ þe weie of a man; and alle þe goingis of hym beholdiþ. His wickeneſſes taken þe vnpitouſe; and wiþ þe cordis of his ſynnes he is togidere ſtreyned. He ſhal dien, for he hadde not diſcipline; and in þe multitude of his folie he ſhal ben begylyd.

Capitulum VI.

My ſone, if þou become borȝ for þi frend; þou haſt piȝt doun anent a ſtraunger þin hond. Þou art gnarid wiþ þe woordis of þi mouþ; and taken wiþ þi proper woordis. Do þanne, my ſone, þat I ſeie, and deliuere þi ſelf; for þou haſt fallen in to þe hond of þi neȝhebore. Ren hider and þider, heeȝe, rere vp þi frend; ne ȝiue þou ſlep to þin eȝen, and nappe not þin eȝelidis. Be þou pullid out as a foun fro þe hond; and as a brid fro þe ſpies of þe foulere. Go to þe anpte, O! þou ſlowe; and behold þe weies of it, and lerne wiſdam. Þe whiche, whan it haþ no ledere, ne comaundere, ne prince; it greiþeþ in þe ſomer mete to hymſelf, and gedereþ togidere in time of rip, þat it ete. Hou longe, þou ſlowe, ſhalt þou ſlepe? whanne ſhalt þou riſe fro þi ſlep? A litil while þou ſhalt ſlepe, a litil while þou ſhalt nappe; a litil while þou ſhalt leyn togidere þin hondis, þat þou ſlepe. And þer ſhal come to þee as a weie goere, nede; and poreneſſe, as a man armed. If forſoþe vnſloȝ þou ſhul be, ſhal come as a welle þi rip; and nede ferr ſhal flee fro þee. A man apoſtata, a man ful of ſtrengþe vnprofitable, goþ wiþ peruertid mouþ; he twincleþ wiþ þe eȝen, he trampliþ wiþ þe foot, wiþ þe fingir he ſpekeþ, wiþ ſhreude herte he caſtiþ euel; and alle times ſtriues he ſowiþ. To þis anoon ſhal come his perdicioun, and ſodeynli he ſhall be to-treden; and he ſhal han no mor medecyn. Sixe þingis ben, þat þe Lord hateþ; and þe ſeuenþe þe lif of hym warieþ. Heȝe eȝen, a tunge liere, hondis ſhedende out þe innocent blod, þe herte caſtende moſt euel þoȝtis, þe ſwifte feet to rennen in to euel, þe bringende forþ leſingis, þe deſceyuable witneſſe; and hym þat ſowiþ among breþer diſcordis. Wiþhold, my ſone, þe heſtis of þi fader; and ne leue þou þe lawe of þi moder. Bind hem biſili in þin herte; and enuyroune to þi þrote. Whan þou ſhalt go, go þei wiþ þee; whan þou ſhalt ſlepe, kepe þei þee; and wakende ſpeke þou wiþ hem. For þe maundement is a lanterne, and þe lawe liȝt, and þe weie of lif þe ſnybbing of diſcipline; þat þei kepe þee fro an euel womman, and fro þe flaterende tunge of þe ſtraunge womman. Coueite not þin herte þe fairneſſe of hir; ne be þou take wiþ þe beckis of hir. Þe price forſoþe of þe ſtrumpet vneþe is of o lof; þe womman forſoþe takeþ þe precious lif of a man. Wheþer mai a man hide fir in his boſum, þat his cloþis brenne not; or gon vpon colis, and his ſolis ben not brent? So he þat goþ in to þe womman of his neȝhebore; ſhal not ben clene, whan he touchiþ hir. Not gret is þe blame, whan a man ſteliþ; forſoþe he ſteleþ, þat he fulfille þe hungrende ſoule. Caȝt þerewiþ forſoþe he ſhal ȝelde þe ſeuene fold; and al þe ſubſtaunce of his hous he ſhal take, and deliueren hymſelf. Who forſoþe is auoutrer; for miſeiſe of herte he ſhal leſen his ſoule. Filþe and ſhenſhepe he gedereþ to hymſelf; and þe repref of hym ſhal not ben don awei. For þe ielouſneſſe and þe wodneſſe of þe man ſhal not ſparen in þe dai of veniaunce, ne aſſente to þe preȝeeris of any man; and he ſhal not take for þe aȝeen biȝing manye ȝiftis.

Capitulum VII.

My ſone, kep þou my woordis; and myne heſtis ley vp to þee. Sone, honoure þou þe Lord, and þou ſhalt fare wel; biſide hym forſoþe þou ſhalt not dreden an oþer. Kep my maundemens, and þou ſhalt liue; and my lawe as þe appil of þin eȝe. Bind it in þi fingris; wryt it in þe tablis of þin herte. Sey to wiſdam, My ſiſter þou art; and prudence clep þou þi lemman. Þat it kepe þee fro a ſtraunge womman; and fro an alien, þat hir woordis makeþ ſweete. Fro þe windowe forſoþe of myn hous bi þe latys I beheeld þe ȝunge man; and I ſee litle childer. I beholde þe ſori hertid ȝunge man, þat paſſeþ þurȝ þe ſtretis, biſide þe corner; and neȝ þe weie of þat hous goþ in derc, þe dai waxende to euen, in þe nyȝtis dercneſſis and myſtyneſſe. And lo! a womman aȝen cam to hym, wiþ ſtrumpet aray befor maad redi to þe ſoulis to be deſceyued, a chaterere, and vagaunt of reſte, vnpacient, ne mowende in þe hous abide ſtille wiþ hir feet; now wiþouteforþ, now in þe ſtretys, now beſide þe corneres aſpiende. And þe caȝte ȝunge man ſhe kiſſeþ; and wiþ wowende chere ſhe flatereþ, ſeiende, Sacrifiſes of victorie for helþe I haue gretli vouwid; to dai I haue ȝolde my vouwis. Þerfore I wente out in to þin aȝen comyng, deſirende þee to ſeen; and I haue founde. I haue araȝid wiþ cordis my litil bed, and ſpred wiþ peintid tapitis of Egipt; I ha ſprengd my ligging place wiþ myrre, and aloes, and canell. Cum, and be wee inwardli drunke wiþ tetes, and vſe wee þe coueitid clippingis; to þe time þat þe dai waxe liȝt. Þere is not a man in hir hous; he ȝide awei þe moſt ferr weie. Þe bagge of his monee he toc wiþ hym; in þe dai of þe fulle moone he is to turne aȝeen in to his hous. She grenede hym wiþ manye woordis; and wiþ flatering of lippis ſhe fordroȝ hym. Anoon he folewiþ hir, as an oxe lad to þe ſacrifiſe of victorie; and as a lomb pleiende and vnknowende, þat to bondis þe fool is drawe, to þe time þat þe arwe þirle þurȝ his mawe. As if a brid heeȝe to þe grene; and wot not, þat of þe perile of his lif me purpoſeþ. Now þanne, ſone myn, here þou me; and tac tente to þe woordis of my mouþ. Ne be drawen awei in þe weies of hir þi mynde; ne be þou bigilid in þe ſties of hir. Manye forſoþe woundid ſhe þrew doun; and alle þe ſtrongeſte ben ſlain of hir. Þe weies of helle þe houſis of hir; perſende in to þe innermor þingus of deþ.

Capitulum VIII.

Wheþer not wiſdam ofte crieþ; and prudence ȝiueþ his vois? In þe heȝeſt and heȝe frountis, aboue þe weie, in þe myddel paþis, ſtondende biſide þe ȝate of þe cite; in þo ȝate doris it ſpekeþ, ſeiende, O! men, to ȝou I ofte crie; and my vois to þe ſones of men. Vnderſtondeþ, ȝee litle childer, witneſſe; and, ȝee vnwiſe men, takeþ heed. Hereþ, for of grete þingis I am to ſpeke; and my lippis ſhul ben opened, þat euene þingus þei preche. Treuþe my þrote ſhal ſweteli beþenke; and my lippis ſhul wlate þe vnpitouſe. Riȝtwiſe ben alle my ſermownes; þer is not in hem any þing ſhreude, ne peruertid. Riȝte þei ben to vnderſtondende men; and euene to men findende kunnyng. Takeþ my diſcypline, and not money; doctrine mor þan treſor cheſeþ. Betere is wiſdam þan alle þe moſt precious richeſſis; and al deſirable þing to it mai not be compariſound. I, wiſdam, dwelle in counſeil; and am among to lerned þoȝtis. Þe drede of þe Lord hateþ euel; enhauncing, and pride, and þe ſhreude weie, and þe mouþ of þe twiſil tunge I wlate. Myn is counſeil, and equite; myn is prudence, myn is and ſtrengþe. By me kingus regnen; and makeris of lawis riȝte þingus demen. Bi me princis comaunden; and myȝti men deme riȝtwiſneſſe. I men loouende me looue; and þat erli waken at me, ſhul finde me. Wiþ me ben richeſſis, and glorie; and proud plenteuouſneſſis, and riȝtwiſneſſe. Betere is my frut þan gold, and þan precious ſton; and my buriounyngis þan choſen ſiluer. In þe weies of riȝtwiſneſſe I go, in þe myddel of paþis of dom; þat I make riche men loouende me, and fulfille þe treſores of hem. Þe Lord weldide me in þe begynnyng of his weies; er any þing ſhulde be maad, of þe firſte cauſe. Of þe euere laſtende I am ordeyned; and of þe olde, er þe erþe ſhulde be maad. Not ȝit weren þe depþis of watir; and I now was conceyued. And not ȝit þe wellis of watris hadden broken out, ne ȝit þe mounteynes in heuy mykilneſſe hadden ben maad; er þe hillis I was born. Ȝit þe erþe he hadde not maad; and flodis, and þe utmoſt poyntys of þe roundneſſe of þe erþe. Whan he greiþede heuenes, I was þereat; whan in certein lawe and cumpas he cloſide þe depneſſe of watris. Whan þe eir he faſtnede aboue; and weȝede þe wellis of watris. Whan he cumpaſide to þe ſe his terme; and lawe putte to watris, þat þei paſſe not þere cooſtis. Whan he heeng vp þe foundemens of þe erþe; wiþ hym I was, alle þingis puttende togidere. And I delitede bi alle daȝes, beforn hym alle time, pleiende in to þe roundneſſe of erþis; and my delicis to be wiþ þe ſones of men. Now þanne, ſones, hereþ me; blisful þat kepen my weies. Hereþ diſcipline, and beþ wiſe men; and wileþ not caſten it awei. Blisful þe man þat hereþ me, and þat wakeþ at my ȝate dores al dai; and þat waitiþ at þe poſtis of my dore. Who me ſhal finde, ſhal finde lif; and drawen helþe of þe Lord. Who forſoþe in me ſhal ſynnen, ſhal hurten his ſoule; alle þat hateden me, loouen deþ.

Capitulum IX.

Wiſdam bilde out to hym an hous; heew out ſeuen pileris, offride his ſacrifiſes of victorie, mengde win, and ſette forþ his bord. He ſente his hand wymmen, þat þei ſhulde clepe to þe heiȝte; and to þe wallis of þe cite. If any is a litil child; come he to me. And to vnwiſe men he ſpac, Comeþ, etiþ my bred; and drinkeþ win, þat I mengde to ȝou. Forſakeþ childhed, and liueþ; and goþ bi þe weies of prudence. Who lerneþ a ſcornere, doþ wrong he to hymſelf; and who vndernemeþ þe vnpitouſe, to hymſelf a wem gendriþ. Wile þou not vndernyme þe ſcornere; leſt he ſhul hate þee. Vndirnym þe wiſe man; and he ſhal looue þee. Ȝif to þe wiſe man ocaſioun; and þer ſhal ben addid to hym wiſdam. Tech þe riȝtwis man; and he ſhall heeȝe to take. Þe begynnyng of wiſdam þe drede of þe Lord; and þe kunnyng of halewis prudence. Forſoþe bi me ſhul be multiplied þi daȝes; and ben added to þee þe ȝerys of lif. If a wis man þou ſhul be; to þiſelf þou ſhalt be, and to þi neȝheboris. If forſoþe a gilere; alone þou ſhalt bern euel. A fool womman, and crious, and ful of euele draȝtis to delicis, and no þing outerli kunnende, ſat in þe ȝate doris of hir hous, vpon a ſete, in þe heȝe place of þe cite; þat ſhe myȝte clepe men paſſende bi þe weie, and men goende in þer gate. Who is a litil child; bowe he doun to me. And to þe ſory hertid ſhe ſpac, Stoln watris ben ſwettere, and hid bred more ſwete. And he knew not þat þere ben ieauntis; and in þe depþis of helle þe geſtis of hir. Who forſoþe ſhal be ioyned to hir; ſhal falle doun in to helle. For whi he þat goþ awey from hir; ſhal be ſaued.

Capitulum X.

A wys ſone gladeþ þe fader; forſoþe a ſone fool, þe ſorewe is of his modir. No þing ſhal profiten þe treſores of vnpitouſneſſe; riȝtwiſneſſe forſoþe ſhal deliuere fro deþ. Þe Lord ſhal not tormente þurȝ hungir þe ſoule of þe riȝtwiſe; and þe ſpies of þe vnpitous men he ſhal turn vpſo doun. Nedyneſſe wercheþ þe ſlowe hond; þe hond forſoþe of ſtronge men greiþeþ richeſſis. Who forſoþe vſeþ leſingis, þis fedeþ windis; þe ſame folewiþ fleende briddes. Who gedereþ in rep, is a wis ſone; who forſoþe routeþ in ſomer, is þe ſone of confuſioun. Þe bliſſing of God vpon þe hed of þe riȝtwis; þe mouþ forſoþe of vnpitous men wickidneſſe couereþ. Þe mynde of þe riȝtwiſe wiþ preiſingis; and þe name of vnpitous men ſhal waxe ſtinkinge. Þe wiſe man in herte ſhal kepen þe heſtis; þe fool is beten wiþ lippis. Who goþ ſimpleli, goþ troſtli; who forſoþe beſhrewiþ his weies, ſhal be maad opene. Who twincliþ wiþ eȝe, ſhal ȝiue ſorewe; þe fool wiþ lippis ſhal be bete. Þe veyne of lif þe mouþ of þe riȝtwis; þe mouþ forſoþe of vnpitous men couereþ wickidneſſe. Hate rereþ ſtriues; and alle giltis charite couereþ. In þe lippis of þe wis man is founde wiſdam; and a ȝerde in þe rigge of hym þat is nedi in herte. Wiſe men hiden kunnyng; þe mouþ forſoþe of þe fool is next to confuſioun. Þe ſubſtaunce of þe riche man þe cite of his ſtrengþe; þe ferd of pore men þe nedyneſſe of hem. Þe werc of þe riȝtwis man to lif; þe frut forſoþe of þe vnpitous to ſynne. Þe weie of lif to þe kepende diſcipline; who forſoþe vndernemyngis forſakeþ, erreþ. Liende lippis hiden hate; who ſpekeþ wrongful blamyng, is an vnwis man. In myche ſpeche ſhal not lacke ſynne; who forſoþe temperþ his lippis, is moſt prudent. Choſen ſiluer þe tunge of þe riȝtwis; þe herte of vnpitous men for noȝt. Þe lippis of þe riȝtwiſe techen manye; who forſoþe ben vntaȝt, in þe nedyneſſe of herte ſhul die. Þe bleſſing of þe Lord makeþ riche men; ne ſhal be felaſhipid to þem tormenting. As by laȝhing þe fool werchiþ hidous treſpas; wiſdam forſoþe is to a man purueing. Þat þat þe vnpitouſe dredeþ, ſhal come vpon hym; þer deſir to riȝtwis men ſhal be ȝiue. As tempeſt paſſende, ſhal be þe vnpitouſe; þe riȝtwiſe forſoþe as euere durende ground. As eiſel to teeþ, and ſmoke to eȝen; ſo þe ſlowe to hem þat ſenten hym in þe weie. Þe drede of þe Lord leiþ to daȝes; and þe ȝeris of vnpitous men ſhul be ſhortid. Þe biding of riȝtwiſmen gladneſſe; þe hope forſoþe of vnpitous men ſhal perſhen. Þe ſtrengþe of þe ſimple þe weie of þe Lord; and ferd to þem þat werken euel. Þe riȝtwis into wiþoute ende ſhal not be moued; vnpitouſe forſoþe ſhul not dwelle vp on erþe. Þe mouþ of þe riȝtwis ſhal bere wiſdam; þe tunge of ſhrewis ſhal perſhen. Þe lippis of þe riȝtwis beholden pleſid þingis; and þe mouþ of vnpitouſe peruertid þingis.

Capitulum XI.

A treccherous weȝe abominacioun is anent God; and an euen weiȝt þe wil of hym. Wher ſhal be pride, þere ſhal be wrongful blamyng; wher forſoþe is mecneſſe, and þere wiſdam. Simpleneſſe of riȝtwis men ſhal riȝt reule þem; and ſupplaunting of peruertid men ſhal waſte þem. Richeſſis ſhul not profiten in þe day of veniaunce; forſoþe riȝtwiſneſſe ſhal deliuere fro deþ. riȝtwiſneſſe of þe ſimple ſhal riȝt reulen his weie; and þe vnpitous in his vnpitouſneſſe ſhal falle. Þe riȝtwiſneſſe of riȝt men ſhal deliuere þem; and wicke men in þer aſpies ſhul be take. Þe vnpytous man dead, noon hope ſhal ben ouer; and þe abiding of biſy men ſhal perſhe. Þe riȝtwis fro anguyſh is deliuered; and ſhal be take þe vnpitous for hym. Þe feynere in mouþ deſceyueþ his frend; riȝtwis men forſoþe ſhul ben deliuered wiþ kunnyng. In goodis of riȝtwis men ſhal ben enhauncid þe cite; and in þe leeſing of vnpitous men ſhal ben preiſing. Þurȝ þe bleſſing of riȝtwis men ſhal ben enhauncid þe cite; and bi þe mouþ of vnpitous men it ſhal be turned vp ſo doun. Who deſceyueþ his frend, is nedi in herte; þe prudent man forſoþe ſhal be ſtille. Who goþ gilendeli, ſhewiþ priue þingus; who forſoþe is feiþful, hiliþ þe gilte of þe frend. Wher is not a gouernour, þe puple falliþ; helþe forſoþe, wher ben manye counſelis. He ſhal be tormentid wiþ euel, þat doþ feiþ for a ſtranger; who forſoþe ſhoneþ grenes, ſhal be ſikir. A gracious womman ſhal finden glorie; and ſtronge men ſhuln han richeſſis. Wel doþ to his ſoule þe merciful man; who forſoþe is cruel, caſteþ awei neeȝh men. Þe vnpitouſe makeþ werc vnſtable; to þe ſowende forſoþe riȝtwiſneſſe feiþfull mede. Noble mercy ſhal greiþe lif; and folewing of euelis deþ. Abhominable a ſhreude herte to þe Lord; and his wil in hem, þat ſimply gon. Hond in hond, ſhal not ben innocent þe euele man; þe ſed forſoþe of riȝtwis men ſhal be ſaued. A goldene cercle in þe noſeþirlis of a ſouwe, a fair womman and a fool. Þe deſir of riȝtwis men alle good þing is; þe abiding of vnpitous men wodneſſe. Oþere men deuyden proper þingus, and ben maad richere; oþere reuen not þeir owne, and euermor ben in nedyneſſe. Þe lif þat bliſſeþ, ſhal ben inwardli fattid; and he þat makeþ inwardli drunken, alſo hymſelf ſhal ben inwardli maad drunken. He þat hideþ whete in time, ſhal be curſid in puplis; bleſſing forſoþe vp on þe hed of ſilleris. Wel riſeþ erli, þat ſecheþ goodis; who forſoþe is enſerchere of euelis, of hem ſhal be oppreſſid. Who troſteþ in his richeſſis, ſhal falle; riȝtwis men forſoþe as a greene lef ſhul burioune. Who diſturbiþ his hous, ſhal han windis; and he þat is a fool, ſhal ſeruen to þe wiſe man. Þe frut of þe riȝtwiſe þe tree of lif; and he þat vndertakeþ ſoulis, is a wis man. If þe riȝtwiſe in þe erþe reſceyueþ, myche more þe vnpitous, and þe ſynnere.

Capitulum XII.

Who looueþ diſcipline, looueþ kunnyng; who forſoþe hateþ blamyngus, is vnwis. Who forſoþe is good, ſhal drawe to hym grace of þe Lord; who forſoþe troſtiþ in his þoȝtis, vnpitouſly doþ. A man ſhal not be ſtrengþid of vnpitouſneſſe; and þe roote of riȝtwis men ſhal not ben al moued. A biſi womman a croune is to hir man; and ſtinc in þe bones of hir, þat berþ þingus wrþi confuſioun. Þe þoȝtis of riȝtwis men domes; and counſeilis of vnpitous men gileſum. Þe woordis of vnpitous men ſpien to blod; þe mouþ of riȝtwis men ſhal deliuere þem. Turne vnpitous men, and þei ſhul not be; þe houſis forſoþe of riȝtwis men ſhal abide ſtille. Bi his doctrine ſhal be knowen a man; who forſoþe is veyn and herteles, ſhal ben open to deſpiſing. Betere is a pore man, and ſuffiſaunt to hymſelf, þan a glorious, and nedi bred. Þe riȝtwis knewȝ þe liues of his helpeli beſtis; þe bowelis forſoþe of vnpitous men cruel. Who werkeþ his lond, ſhal be fulfild wiþ loues; who forſoþe folewiþ idel reſte, moſt fool is. Who is ſweete, liueþ in tempringis; in his moneſtingis he forſakeþ wrongful blamyngis. Þe deſir of þe vnpitous is þe myndeful place of werſt þingis; þe roote forſoþe of riȝtwis men ſhal profiten. For þe ſynnes of lippis falling neȝheþ to þe euel man; forſoþe þe riȝtwis man ſhal fleen out of anguyſh. Of þe frut of his mouþ eche ſhal be fulfild of goodis; and after þe werkis of his hondis it ſhal be ȝolde to hym. Þe weie of þe fool riȝt in þe eȝen of hym; who forſoþe is a wis man, hereþ counſeilis. Þe fool ſhewiþ anoon his wraþe; who forſoþe diſſymuliþ wrongus, is fel. Who þat he knewȝ, ſpekeþ, domes man of riȝtwiſneſſe is; who forſoþe lieþ, is a gileful witneſſe. Þer is þat behoteþ, and as wiþ a ſwerd is pungid to þe conſcience; þe tunge forſoþe of wiſe men is helþe. Þe lippe of truþe ſhal be faſt in to wiþoute ende; who forſoþe is a feerli witneſſe, makeþ a tunge of leſing. Treccherie in þe herte of men þenkende euelys; who forſoþe gon in to þe counſeilis of pes, hem folewiþ ioȝe. Shal not holli ſorewen þe riȝtwis man, what euere þing ſhal falle to hym; vnpitous men forſoþe ſhul be fulfild of euel. Abomynacioun is to þe Lord liende lippis; who forſoþe feiþfulli don, pleſen to hym. A man turned to deceit, hiliþ kunnyng; þe herte of vnwiſe men ſtireþ to folie. Þe hond of ſtronge men ſhal lordſhepen; þe whiche forſoþe is ſloȝ, ſhal ſerue to tributis. Mornyng in þe herte of þe riȝtwis man ſhal meken hym; and wiþ a good woord he ſhal be maad glad. Who diſpiſiþ harm for a frend, is riȝtwis; þe weie forſoþe of vnpitous men ſhal deſceyue þem. Þe gileful man ſhal not finde wynnyng; and þe ſubſtaunce of a man ſhal be þe pris of gold. In þe paþ of riȝtwiſneſſe lif; þe going out wei forſoþe ledeþ to deþ.

Capitulum XIII.

The wiſe ſone þe doctrine of þe fader; who forſoþe is a gilere, hereþ not, whan he is vndernomyn. Of þe frut of his mouþ a man ſhal be fild wiþ goodis; þe ſoule forſoþe of þe lawe brekeris wicke. Who kepeþ his mouþ, kepeþ his ſoule; who forſoþe is vnauyſid to ſpeken, ſhal felen euelis. Þe ſlowe wile, and wile not; þe ſoule forſoþe of werkende men ſhal ben inwardliche fattid. A leſing woord þe riȝtwis man ſhal wlaten; þe vnpitous man forſoþe ſhendeþ, and ſhal be ſhent. riȝtwiſneſſe kepeþ þe weie of þe innocent; vnpitouſneſſe forſoþe ſupplauntiþ þe ſynnere. Þer is as a riche man, whan no þing he haþ; and þer is as a pore man, whan in many richeſſes he is. Þe aȝeen biyng of þe ſoule of a man his richeſſis; who forſoþe is a pore man, blamyng ſuffreþ not. Þe liȝt of riȝtwis men makeþ glad; þe lanterne forſoþe of vnpitous men ſhal ben quenchid. Among proude men euermor ben ſtriues; who forſoþe alle þingis don wiþ counſeil, ben gouerned wiþ wiſdam. Subſtaunce haſtid ſhal be laſſid; þat forſoþe litilmele is gedered, wiþ hond ſhal be multeplied. Hope þat is deferrid, tormenteþ þe ſoule; þe tree of lif deſir comynge. Who bacbiteþ to any þing, he obliſheþ hymſelf in to þe time to come; who forſoþe dredeþ þe heſte, in pes ſhal wone. Þe lawe of a wis man þe welle of lif; þat he bowe awei fro þe falling of deþ. Good doctrine ſhal ȝyue grace; in þe weye of diſpiſeris a ſwolwȝ. A witti man alle þingis doþ wiþ counſeil; who forſoþe is a fool, ſhall opene folie. Þe meſſager of þe vnpitous ſhal falle in to euel; þe feiþful ſent is helþe. Nedyneſſe and ſhenſhipe to hym þat forſakeþ diſcipline; who forſoþe aſſenteþ to þe vndernymere, ſhal ben glorified. Deſir, if it be fulfild, delitiþ þe ſoule; foolis wlaten hem þat flen euelis. Who wiþ wiſe goþ, a wis man ſhal ben; þe frend of folis lic ſhal be maad. Synneres euel purſueþ; and to riȝtwis men goode þingis ſhul be ȝolde. A good man leueþ eiris ſones, and ſonys ſones; and is kept to þe riȝtwiſe þe ſubſtaunce of þe ſynnere. Manye metis in þe newid feeldis of fadris; and to oþere men þei ben gedered wiþoute dom. Who ſpareþ to þe ȝerde, hatiþ his ſone; who forſoþe looueþ hym, biſili techeþ. Þe riȝtwis eteþ, and fulfilliþ his ſoule; þe wombe forſoþe of vnpitous vnfilable.

Capitulum XIIII.

The wiſe womman bildeþ vp hir hous; þe vnwiſe þe maad out forſoþe wiþ hondis ſhal deſtroȝe. Þe goende in riȝt weie, and dredende God, is diſpiſid of hym, þat goþ in þe euel loſid weie. In þe mouþ of þe fool a ȝerde of pride; þe lippis of wiſe men kepen hem. Wher ben not oxen, þe cracche is voide; wher forſoþe aperen many tilþis, þere is open maad þe ſtrengþe of þe oxe. A feiþful witneſſe ſhal not lien; þe trecherous witneſſe ſpekeþ leſing. Þe ſcornere ſekeþ wiſdam, and findeþ not; þe doctrine of prudent men liȝt. Go aȝen þe fol; and he ſhal not knowe þe lippis of prudence. Þe wiſdam of þe witti man is to vnderſtonde his weie; and þe vnprudence of foolis erring. Þe fool ſcorneþ ſynne; among riȝtwis men grace ſhal wone. Þe herte þat knew þe bitterneſſe of his ſoule; in ioȝe to hym ſhal not be togidere mengd a ſtraunger. Þe hous of vnpitous men ſhal be don awei; þe tabernaclis of riȝtwis men ſhal burioune. Þer is forſoþe a weie, þat ſemeþ to a man riȝtwis; þe laſte þingus forſoþe of it bringen doun to deþ. Lawȝing wiþ ſorewe ſhal be mengd; and þe endis of ioȝe weiling ocupieþ. Wiþ his weies ſhal be fulfild þe fol; and aboue hym ſhal be a good man. Þe innocent trowiþ to eche woord; þe witti beholdeþ his goingis. Þe wiſe man dredeþ, and bowiþ doun fro euel; þe fol ouerlepeþ, and troſteþ. Þe vnpacient ſhal werche folie; and þe deſſeyuable man is hateful. Litle childer ſhul welde folie; and witti men ſhul abide kunnyng. Euel men ſhul lyn befor good men; and vnpitous men befor þe ȝatis of riȝtwis men. Alſo to his neȝhebore þe pore man hateful ſhal be; þe frendis forſoþe of riche men manye. Who deſpiſiþ his neȝhebore, ſynneþ; who forſoþe doþ merci to þe pore man, ſhal be blisful. Who leeueþ in þe Lord, looueþ merci; þei erren, þat werchen euel. Mercy and treuþe greiþen goodis; in alle good werc plente ſhal be. Wher forſoþe ben manye woordis, þere nedyneſſe ofte. Þe croune of wiſe men þe richeſſes of hem; þe folie of foolis vnprudence. A feiþful witneſſe deliuereþ ſoulis; and ſpekeþ leſingus þe peruertid. In þe drede of þe Lord troſt of ſtrengþe; and to þe ſones of hym ſhal ben hope. Þe drede of þe Lord þe welle of lif; þat he bowe doun fro falling of deþ. In þe multitude of puple þe dignete of þe king; and in feweneſſe of folc þe ſhenſhipe of þe prince. Who is pacient, is gouerned wiþ myche wiſdam; who forſoþe is vnpacient, enhaunceþ hys folie. Þe lif of fleſh helþe of herte; þe ſtink of bones enuye. Who wrongfulli chalengeþ þe nedi, myſſeiþ to his makere; he honoureþ hym forſoþe, þat haþ reuþe of þe pore. In hys malice is put out þe vnpitous; þe riȝtwis forſoþe hopeþ in his deþ. In þe herte of þe prudent man ſhal reſte wiſdam; and vntaȝt men alſo it ſhal lerne. riȝtwiſneſſe rereþ vp folc; wreccheful makeþ puplis ſynne. Alowid is to þe king an vnderſtondende ſeruaunt; þe plente of his wraþe þe vnprofitable ſhal ſuffre.

Capitulum XV.

A neſſhe anſwere brekeþ wraþe; an hard woord rereþ woodneſſe. Þe tunge of wiſe men enhourneþ kunnyng; þe mouþ of foolis boiliþ out folie. In alle place þe eȝen of þe Lord beholden goode men, and euele. A pleſable tunge þe tree of lif; whiche forſoþe is vntemprid, ſhal defoule þe ſpirit. Þe fol ſcorneþ þe diſcipline of his fader; who forſoþe kepiþ blamyngis, ſhal be more witti. In plenteeuous riȝtwiſneſſe is moſt vertue; þoȝtys forſoþe of vnpitous men ſhul be pullid out bi þe roote. Þe hous of þe riȝtwiſe myche ſtrengþe; and in þe frutis of vnpitouſe al diſturbaunce. Þe lippis of wiſe men ſhul ſowen abrod kunnyng; þe herte of foolis vnlic ſhal ben. Þe ſacrifiſe of victorie of vnpitous men wlateſum to þe Lord; þe vouwis of riȝtwys men pleſable. Abominacioun is to þe Lord þe lif of þe vnpitous; who folewiþ riȝtwiſneſſe, ſhal be looued of hym. Euel doctrine to þe forſakende þe weie of lif; who blamyngis hateþ, ſhal dien. Helle and perdicioun befor þe Lord; myche more þe hertis of þe ſonus of men. Þe bacbitere looueþ not hym þat chaſtiſeþ hym; ne to wiſe men goþ. Þe ioȝende herte makeþ out gladſum þe face; in mornyng of inwit ſhal be þrowe doun þe ſpirit. Þe herte of þe wiſe man ſhal ſeche doctrine; and þe mouþ of foolis is fed wiþ vnwiſdam. Alle þe daȝis of þe pore euele; a ſikir mynde as a contynuel feſte. Betere is a litil wiþ þe drede of þe Lord, þan grete treſoris and vnfillable. Betere is to be clepid to wrtis wiþ charite, þan to a fat calf wiþ hate. A man ful of wraþe ſtiriþ ſtriues; who is pacient, ſwageþ þe vprered. Þe weie of ſlowe men as heggis of þornes; þe weie of riȝtwis men wiþoute þing of hurting. A wis ſone makeþ glad þe fader; and a fool man deſpiſeþ his moder. Folie is ioȝe to þe fool; and a prudent man ſhal riȝt reulen his goingus. Þoȝtis ben to-ſcatered, wher is not counſeil; wher forſoþe ben manye counſeileris, þei ben confermed. A man gladeþ in þe ſentence of his mouþ; and þe ſpedful ſermoun is beſt. Þe paþ of lif vp on þe taȝt man; þat he bowe doun fro þe laſt helle. Þe hous of proude men þe Lord ſhal deſtroȝe; and ſtedefaſt he ſhal make þe termes of þe widewe. Abominacioun of þe Lord euele þoȝtis; a pure ſermoun moſt fair ſhal be faſtned of hym. He al diſturbiþ his hous, þat folewiþ auarice; who forſoþe hatiþ ȝiftis, ſhal liue. Bi merci and feiþ ben purgyd ſynnes; bi þe drede forſoþe of þe Lord bowiþ doun eche man fro euel. Þe mynde of þe riȝtwis ſweteli þenkeþ wiſdam; þe mouþ of vnpitous men reboundeþ to euelis. Ferr is þe Lord fro vnpitous men; and þe oriſouns of riȝtwis men he ſhal ful out heren. Þe liȝt of eȝen makeþ glad þe ſoule; good los inwardli fattiþ bones. Þe ere þat hereþ blamyngus of lif, in þe myddel of wiſe men ſhal al abide. Who caſteþ awei diſcipline, deſpiſeþ his ſoule; who forſoþe aſſenteþ to vndirnymyngis, weldere is of herte. Þe drede of þe Lord diſcipline of wiſdam; and mecneſſe goþ befor glorie.

Capitulum XVI.

Off a man is to make redy þe inwit; and of þe Lord to gouerne þe tunge. Alle þe weies of man ben opene to þe eȝen of hym; of ſpiritis þe peiſere is þe Lord. Shewe to þe Lord þi werkis; and riȝt reulid ſhul ben þi þoȝtis. Alle þingus for hymſelf wroȝte þe Lord; alſo þe vnpitouſe to þe euele dai. Abominacioun is of þe Lord eche proud man; alſo if hond at hond were, he ſhal not be innocent. Þe begynnyng of þe good wey to do riȝtwyſſneſſe; is alouwid anent God, more þan to offre oſtis. Bi merci and treuþe wickidneſſe is forboȝt; and in drede of þe Lord is bowid awei fro euel. Whan ſhul pleſe to þe Lord þe weies of man, þe enemys forſoþe of hym he ſhal turne to pes. Betere is a litil wiþ riȝtwiſneſſe, þan manye frutis wiþ wickidneſſe. Þe herte of man ſhal diſpoſen his weie; but of þe Lord is to riȝt reulen his goingis. Deuynyng in þe lippis of þe king; in dom his mouþ ſhal not erre. Weiȝte and balaunce ben þe domes of þe Lord; and his werkis alle þe ſtones of þe world. Abominable to þe king, þat don vnpitouſly; for bi riȝtwiſneſſe is faſtned þe kingis dignete. Þe wil of þe king riȝtwis lippis; þat riȝt þingus ſpekeþ, ſhal be riȝt reulid. Þe indignacioun of þe king meſſageres of deþ; and a wis man ſhal don aſeeþ to hym. In gladneſſe of þe chere of þe king lif; and þe noble mercy of hym as euetid weder. Weld wiſdam, for betere it is þan gold; and purchaſe prudence, for it is mor precious þan ſiluer. Þe paþ of riȝtwis men bowiþ awei euelis; þe kepere of his ſoule holdeþ faſte his weye. Pride goþ befor contricioun; and befor falling þe ſpirit ſhal ben enhauncid. Betere is to be meke wiþ mylde men, þan to deuyde ſpoilis wiþ proude men. Þe lerned in woord ſhal finde goodis; and þat hopeþ in þe Lord is blisful. Who is wis in herte, ſhal be clepid prudent; and who is ſweete in fair ſpeche, more þingis ſhal finde. Þe welle of lif þe lernyng of þe weldere; þe doctrine of foolis folie. Þe herte of þe wiſe man ſhal lerne þe mouþ of hym; and to þe lippis of hym it ſhal adde grace. Þe comb of hony wel ſet woordis; ſwetneſſe of ſoule is helþe of bones. Þer is a weie þat ſemeþ to a man riȝt; and þe laſt þingis of it leden to deþ. Þe ſoule of þe trauailere trauaileþ to hymſelf; for hys mouþ compellide hym. An unwis man delueþ euel; and in þe lippis of hym fyr brenneþ. A man peruertid rereþ ſtriues; and þe man ful of woordis ſeuereþ princis. Þe wicke man flatereþ his frend; and ledeþ hym bi a weie not good. Þat wiþ ſtoneȝid eȝen þenkeþ ſhreude þingis, bitende his lippis parformeþ euel. Þe croune of dignete elde, þat in þe weie of riȝtwiſneſſe ſhal be founde. Betere is þe pacient, þan a ſtrong man; and þat lordſhipeþ to his wil, þan an ouercomere of cites. Lotis ben put in to þe boſum; but of þe Lord þei ben temprid.

Capitulum XVII.

Betere is a drie morſel wiþ ioȝe, þan an hous ful of ſacrifiſes of victorie wiþ ſtrif. A wis ſeruaunt ſhal lordſhipen to ſones foolis; and among breþeren eritage he ſhal deuyde. As bi fyr is proued ſiluer, and gold bi þe chymney, ſo hertes þe Lord preueþ. Þe euele man obeſheþ to þe wicke tunge; and þe deſceyuable conſenteþ to þe liende lippis. Who diſpiſeþ a pore man, myſſeyþ to his makere; and who gladeþ in þe falling of an oþer, ſhal not ben vnpunſhid. Þe croune of olde men ſones of ſones; and þe glorie of ſones þe fadris of hem. Þere ſemeþ not þe fool faire ſet woordis; ne þe prince a liende lippe. Moſt kinde iemme þe abiding of þe abidere; whider euere he turneþ hymſelf, prudentli he vnderſtant. Who heliþ þe gilte, ſecheþ frenſhipis; who wiþ an oþer ſermoun reherceþ, ſeuereþ þe federed. Mor profiteþ correccioun anent þe prudent, þan an hundrid veniaunces anent þe fol. Euermor ſtriues ſecheþ þe euel man; þe cruel forſoþe aungil ſhal be ſent aȝen hym. It ſpedeþ mor to aȝen come to a ſhe bere, whan hir whelpis ben take awey, þan to a fol troſtende to hymſelf in his folie. Who ȝeldeþ euelis for goodis, ſhal not go awei euel fro his hous. Who leueþ water, hed is of ſtriues; and er he ſuffre wrong blamyng, dom he forſakeþ. And who iuſtefieþ þe vnpitouſe, and who condempneþ þe riȝtwiſe, abominable is eiþer anent God. What profiteþ to þe fol to han richeſſis, whan wiſdam bie he mai not? Who heiȝ makeþ his hous, ſecheþ falling; and who ſhoneþ to lerne, falleþ in to euelis. Alle time looueþ, þat is a frend; and a broþer in anguyſſhis is preued. A fool man ſhal for ioȝe flappe wiþ hondis, whan he ſhal behoten for his frend. Who ſweteli þenkeþ diſcordis, looueþ ſtriues; and who enhaunciþ his herte, ſecheþ falling. Who is of peruertid herte, findeþ not good; and who turneþ þe tunge, ſhal falle in to euel. Born is þe fool in his ſhenſhipe; but ne þe fader in þe fol ſhal glade. Ioȝende inwit makeþ briȝt age; a drery ſpirit ful out drieþ bones. Ȝiftis of þe boſum þe vnpitous takeþ, þat he peruerte þe paþis of dom. In þe face of þe prudent ſhyneþ wiſdam; þe eȝen of foolis in þe endis of erþe. Þe wraþe of þe fader a ſone fol; þe ſorewe of þe modir þat gat hym. It is not good to bern in harm to þe riȝtwis; ne to ſmyte a prince þat riȝt demeþ. Who tempreþ his woordis, taȝt and prudent is; and of precious ſpirit þe man lerned. Þe fool forſoþe, if he holde his pes, wis ſhal ben holde; if he þreſte togidere his lippis, vnderſtondende.

Capitulum XVIII.

Ocaſioun ſecheþ, þat wil gon awei fro a frend; alle time wariable he ſhal be. A fol reſceiueþ not þe woordis of prudence; but þo þingis þou ſhul ſeyn, þat ben ofte turned in his herte. Þe vnpitous, whan in to depþe of ſynne ſhal come, diſpiſeþ; and þer folewiþ hym ſhenſhipe and repreff. Deep water woordis of þe mouþ of a man; and a ſtef ſtrem þe reboundende welle of wiſdam. To alouwen þe perſone of þe vnpitouſe in dom, is not good, þat þou bowe awei fro þe ſoþfaſtneſſe of dom. Þe lippis of þe fol ſhul menge þemſelf wiþ ſtriues; and þe mouþ of hym debatis ſtireþ. Þe mouþ of þe fool to-treding of hym; and þe lippis of hym þe falling of his ſoule. Þe woordis of þe twiſil tunge as ſimple; and þo þurȝ comen vnto þe entrailis of þe wombe. Þe ſlowe drede þrewȝ doun; þe ſoulis forſoþe of wommanyſh men ſhul hungren. Who is neſſhe, and diſſolut in his werk, broþer is of þe man ſcaterende his werkes. Þe moſt ſtrong tour þe name of þe Lord; to it renneþ þe riȝtwiſe, and he ſhal ben enhauncid. Þe ſubſtaunce of þe riche man þe cite of his ſtrengþe; and as a ſtrong wal cumpaſſende hym. Er it be to-treden, is enhauncid þe herte of a man; and er it be glorified, it is mekid. Who raþere anſwereþ þan he hereþ, a fool hymſelf to ben he ſhewiþ; and confuſioun wrþi. Þe ſpirit of þe man ſuſteneþ his febleneſſe; þe ſpirit forſoþe liȝt to wraþen, who ſhal moun ſuſtene? Þe herte of þe prudent ſhal welde kunnyng; and þe ere of wiſe men ſecheþ doctrine. Þe free ȝifte of a man ſpredeþ abrod his weie; and befor princis ſpace to hym makeþ. Þe riȝtwis raþere is þe acuſere of hymſelf; þer comeþ his frend, and he ſhal enſerchen hym. Aȝenſeiyngus lot þreſteþ togidere; and among myȝti men alſo dyuerſly demeþ. Þe broþer þat is holpen of þe broþer, as a ſtef cite; and þe domes as barris of cites. Of þe frut of þe mouþ of a man ſhal be fulfild his wombe; and þe buriounyngis of þe lippis of hym ſhul fulfillen hym. Deþ and lif in þe hondis of þe tunge; who loouen it, ſhuln ete þe frutis of it. Who findeþ a good womman, findeþ good; and ſhal drawen merþe of þe Lord. Who putteþ out a good womman, putteþ out good; who forſoþe holdeþ avoutreſſe, is a fool and vnwis. Wiþ obſecraciouns ſpekeþ þe pore man; and a riche man ſhal ſpeke out ruggidli. A man amyable to felaſhipe mor a frend ſhal be, þan a broþer.

Capitulum XIX.

Betere is a pore man, þat goþ in ſimplenes, þan a riche man tormentende his lippis, and vnwis. Wher is not kunnyng of ſoule, is not good; and who is haſtif, wiþ feett ſtumbliþ. Þe folie of a man ſupplauntiþ hiſe goingis; and aȝen God boileþ in his inwit. Richeſſes adden manye frendis; fro þe pore forſoþe and þo þat he hadde, ben ſeuered. A fals witneſſe ſhal not ben vnpunſhid; and he þat leſing ſpekeþ, ſhal not aſcapen. Manye herien þe perſone of þe myȝti; and frendis ben of þe ȝiuende ȝiftis. Þe breþern of þe pore man hateden hym; ferþermor and frendis aferr wenten awei fro hym. Who onli woordis folewiþ, no þing ſhal han; who forſoþe weldere is of þe mynde, looueþ his ſoule, and þe kepere of prudence ſhal finde goodis. Þe falſe witneſſe ſhal not ben vnpunſhid; and þat ſpekeþ leſing, ſhal perſhen. Delicis ſemen not þe fool; ne þe ſeruaunt to lordſhipen to princis. Þe doctrine of a man bi pacience is knowe; and þe glorie of hym is to go biſide wicke þingys. As þe gnaſting of a leoun, ſo and þe wraþe of þe king; and as deu vpon erbe, ſo and þe gladneſſe of hym. Þe ſorewe of þe fader, þe ſone a fol; and rooues contynuelli þurȝ droppende, a womman ful of ſtrif. Houſis and richeſſis ben ȝeue of þe fadris; of þe Lord forſoþe properli a prudent wif. Slouþe ſendeþ in ſlep; and a diſſolut ſoule ſhal hungre. Who kepeþ þe maundement, kepeþ his ſoule; who forſoþe deſpiſiþ his weie, ſhal be maad dead. He vſureþ to þe Lord, þat haþ reuþe of þe pore; and his while he ſhal ȝelde to hym. Lerne þou þi ſone, ne deſpeire þou; to þe ſlaȝter forſoþe of hym ne poote þou þi ſoule. Who forſoþe is vnpacyent, ſhal ſuffre harm; and whan he ſhall cacche, oþer þing he ſhal putte to. Here þou counſeil, and vndertac diſcipline; þat þou be wijs in þi laſte þingis. Manye þoȝtis in þe herte of a man; þe wil forſoþe of þe Lord ſhal abide ſtille. A man nedi is merciful; and betere þe pore man riȝtwis, þan a man liere. Þe drede of þe Lord to lif; and in plenteuouſneſſe it ſhal abide ſtille, wiþoute viſiting of þe werſte. Þe ſlowe hideþ his hond vnder þe arm pit; ne to his mouþ he leiþ it. Þe man ful of peſtilence ſcourgid, a fool þe wiſere ſhal ben. If forſoþe þou chaſtiſe þe wiſe man, he ſhal vnderſtonde diſcipline. Who tormentiþ þe fader, and fleeþ þe modir, ſhenful ſhal be, and vnblisful. Ceſe þou not, ſone, to here doctrine; ne vnknowe þou þe woordis of kunnyng. Þe wicke wytneſſe ſcorneþ dom; and þe mouþ of vnpitous men deuoureþ wickidneſſe. Greiþid ben to ſcorneres domes; and ſmytende hameres to þe bodies of foolis.

Capitulum XX.

A leccherous þing win, and noiſeful drunkeneſſe; who ſo euere in þeſe þingis delitiþ, ſhal not be wis. As þe roring of a leoun, ſo and þe ferd of þe king; who terreþ hym, ſynneþ aȝen his ſoule. Wrſhipe is to þe man þat ſeuereþ hym fro ſtriues; alle forſoþe foolis ſhul be mengd wiþ wrong blamyngis. For cold þe ſlowe wolde not eren; þanne he ſhal begge in ſomer, and it ſhal not ben ȝiue to hym. As dep watir, ſo counſeil in þe herte of a man; but a wis man ſhal drawe it out. Manye men merciful ben clepid; a feiþful man forſoþe who ſhal finde? Þe riȝtwis forſoþe þat goþ in his ſimpleneſſe, blisful ſones aftir hym ſhal leuen. Þe king þat ſit in þe ſee of dom, ſcatereþ alle euelis in his clere loking. Who mai ſey, Clene is myn herte; pure wiþoute ſynne? Peis and peis, meſure and meſure, eiþer is abhominable anent God. Of his ſtudies is þe child vnderſtonde, if riȝt ben and clene þe workis of hym. Þe herende ere, and þe ſeende eȝe, þe Lord made euer eiþer. Wile þou not looue ſlep, leſt þee nedyneſſe opreſſe; opene þin eȝen, and be þou fulfild wiþ loues. Euel it is, euel it is, ſeiþ eche biere; and whan he goþ awei, þanne he ſhal glorien. Gold, and þe multitude of iemmes, and precious veſſel, þe lippis of kunnyng. Tac þe cloþ of hym, þat borȝ was of þe alien; and for ſtraungeres tac awei þe wed fro hym. Swete is to a man þe bred of leſing; and aftir ſhal be fulfild þe mouþ of hym wiþ a litil pibbil ſton. Þoȝtis bi counſeilis ben ſtrengþid; and bi gouernailis batailis ben to be tretid. To hym þat openeþ priuetes, and goþ gilendeli, and ſpredeþ abrod his lippis, ne be þou togidere mengd. Who curſiþ to his fader and moder, ſhal be quenchid his liȝt in myddyl dercneſſes. Eritage to þe whiche is heeȝid in þe begynnyng, in þe laſte ſhal lacke bliſſing. Ne ſey þou, I ſhal ȝelde euel for euel; abid þe Lord, and he ſhal deliuere þee. Abominacioun is anent God weiȝte and weiȝte; a treeccherous balaunce is not good. Of þe Lord ben riȝt reulid þe goingis of a man; who forſoþe of men mai vnderſtonde his wei? Falling is of men ofte to vouwe to ſeintis, and aftir þe vouwis aȝeen drawe. Scatereþ vnpitous men a wis king; and he bowiþ in vpon hem a ſtonene bowe. Þe lanterne of þe Lord þe breþing place of a man, þat enſerchiþ alle þe priuetes of þe wombe. Mercy and treuþe kepen þe king; and his trone is ſtrengþid wiþ noble mercy. Þe ful out ioȝing of ȝunge men þe ſtrengþe of hem; and þe dignete of olde men horneſſe. Þe wanneſſe of wounde ſhal clenſe awei euelis, and woundis in þe priuyere partys of þe wombe.

Capitulum XXI.

As deueſeouns of watris, ſo þe herte of þe king in þe hond of þe Lord; whider euere he wile, he ſhal bowe it. Eche weie of a man riȝt to hym ſemeþ; þe Lord forſoþe peiſeþ þe hertis. To do mercy and dom, more pleſeþ to þe Lord, þan ſacrifiſes of victorie. Þe enhauncing of eȝen is þe larging of þe herte; þe lanterne of vnpitous men ſynne. Þe þoȝtis of þe ſtrong man euermor in plente; eche forſoþe ſlouȝ euermor is in nedyneſſe. Who gedereþ treſores wiþ þe tunge of leſing, vein and herteles is; and he ſhal be put in to þe grenes of deþ. Raueynes of vnpitous men ſhul drawe þem doun; for þei wolden not do dom. Þe peruertid weie of a man alien is fro God; who forſoþe is clene, riȝt is þe werc of hym. Betere is to ſitte in þe corner of þe hous, þan wiþ þe womman ful of ſtrif, and in þe hous of feſte. Þe ſoule of þe vnpitouſe deſireþ euel; he ſhal not han merci to his neȝhebore. Punſhid þe bacbitere, þe wiſere ſhal be þe litle child; and if he folewe þe wiſe man, he ſhal take kunnyng. Þe riȝtwis beþenkiþ of þe hous of þe vnpitous, þat he drawe awei vnpitous men fro euel. Who ſtoppeþ his ere at þe cri of þe pore, and he ſhal crie, and ſhal not ben herd. ȝifte hyd quencheþ wraþis; and fre ȝifte in þe boſum moſt indignacioun. Ioȝe to þe riȝtwis is to don dom; and ferd to men werkende wickidneſſe. Þe man þat erreþ fro þe weie of doctrine, in þe felaſhipe of ieauntis ſhal wone. Who looueþ deynte metis, in nedyneſſe ſhall be; who looueþ win and fatte þingus, ſhall not be maad riche. For þe riȝtwiſe ſhal ben ȝoue þe vnpitouſe; and for þe riȝt man þe wicke. Betere is to dwelle in deſert lond, þan wiþ a ianglende womman, and wraþeful. Deſyrable treſor and oile in þe dwelling place of þe riȝtwis; and þe vnprudent man ſhal ſcateren it. Who folewiþ riȝtwiſneſſe and mercy, ſhal finde lif and riȝtwiſneſſe and glorie. Þe cite of ſtronge men þe wiſe man ſteȝede vp, and deſtroȝide þe ſtrengþe of þe troſt of it. Who kepeþ his mouþ and his tunge, kepeþ his ſoule fro anguyſſhis. Þe proud man and þe enhaunſende hymſelf is clepid vntaȝt, þe whiche in wraþe wercheþ pride. Deſires ſlen þe ſlowe; wolden not forſoþe þe hondis of hym any þing werchen. Al dai he coueitiþ and deſireþ; who forſoþe is riȝtwis, ſhal ȝelde, and not ceſe. Þe oſtis of vnpitous men abominable, þat ben offrid of hidous gilte. A witneſſe liere ſhal perſhe; þe obeiſaunt man ſhall ſpeke victorie. Þe vnpitous man wowendeli ſtabliþ his chere; who forſoþe is riȝt, mendeþ his weie. Þer is not wiſdam, þer is not prudence, þer is not counſeil aȝen þe Lord. An hors is maad redi to þe dai of bataile; þe Lord forſoþe helþe ſhal ȝeelden.

Capitulum XXII.

Betere is a good name, þan manye richeſſis; ouer ſiluer forſoþe and gold good grace. Þe riche man and þe pore metten togidere; þe werkere of euer eiþer is þe Lord. Þe felle man ſeeþ euel, and hideþ hymſelf; and þe innocent paſſede, and is tormentid wiþ harm. Þe ende of manerneſſe þe dred of þe Lord; richeſſis, and glorie, and lif. Armes and ſwerdis in þe weie of þe proud; þe kepere forſoþe of his ſoule ferr goþ awei fro hem. A prouerbe is, A ȝung ful waxen man aftyr his weie, and whan he eldeþ, ſhal not gon awei fro it. Þe riche man to pore men comaundeþ; and he þat takeþ borewing, ſeruaunt is of þe vſurer. Who ſowiþ wickidneſſe, ſhal repen euelis; and þe ȝerde of his wraþe ſhal be ful endid. Who redi is to mercy, ſhal be bliſſid; of his loues forſoþe he ȝaf to þe pore. Victorie and worſhipe ſhal purchace, þat ȝeueþ ȝiftis; forſoþe he takeþ awei þe ſoule of þe reſceyueres. Caſt awey þe ſcornere, and wiþ hym ſhal gon out ſtrif; and cauſis ſhul ceſe, and wrong blamyngis. Who looueþ clenneſſe of herte, for þe grace of his lippis ſhal han þe king frend. Þe eȝen of þe Lord kepe kunnyng; and ſupplauntyd ben þe woordis of þe wicke. Þe ſlowe ſhal ſeyen, A leoun is wiþoute; in þe myddel of þe ſtretes I am to be ſlain. A dep dich þe mouþ of þe alien womman; to whom þe Lord is wroþ, ſhal falle in to hir. Folie is bounde togidere in þe herte of þe child; and þe ȝerde off diſcipline ſhal driuen awei it. Who wrong chalengeþ þe pore, þat he eeche his richeſſis, he ſhal ȝyue to a richere, and neden. My ſone, bowe in þin ere, and here þe woordis of wiſe men; lei to forſoþe herte to my doctrine. Þe whiche fair ſhal be to þee, whan þou kepiſt it in þi wombe, and ſhal rebounde in þi lippis. Þat in þe Lord be þyn troſt; wherfore and I ſhal ſhewe to þee it to dai. Lo! I haue diſcriued it þre wiſe, in þoȝtus and kunnyng, þat I ſhulde ſhewe to þee ſtedefaſtneſſe; and faire ſpechis of treuþe þou ſhuldeſt anſwere of þeſe þingis to þem þat ſenten þee. Do þou not violence to þe pore, for he is pore; ne to-trede þou þe nedy in þe ȝate. For þe Lord ſhal deme þe cauſe of hym, and he ſhal ſtike þem, þat ſtekeden þe lif of hym. Wile þou not be frend to a man ful of wraþe, ne go þou wiþ a wood man; leſt parauenture þou lerne þe paþis of hym, and take ſclaunder to þi ſoule. Wile þou not be wiþ þem þat ficche doun þer hondis, and þat borewis offren hemſelf for dettis; if forſoþe þou haſt wherof þou reſtore, what of cauſe is, þat þou take coueryng fro þi bed? Ne ouerpaſſe þou olde termes, þe whiche þi fadris ſetteden. Haſt þou ſeen a ſwift man in his werc? befor kingis he ſhal ſtonde, ne he ſhal ben beforn vnnoble men.

Capitulum XXIII.

Whan þou ſhal ſitte, þat þou ete wiþ a prince, beſili tac heede þat ben ſet befor þi face, and ſet a culter in þi þrote. If ner þe latere þou haue power in to þi ſoule, ne deſire þou of þe metis of hym, in þe whiche is þe bred of leſing. Wile þou not trauailen þat þou be riche, but to þi prudence put maner. Ne rere þou þin eȝen to richeſſis, þat þou maiſt not han; for þei make to þem federis, as of an egle, and þei ſhul flee in to heuene. Ne ete þou wiþ an enuyous man, and ne deſire þou þe metis of hym; for in licneſſe of a deuynour and of a fals caſtere, he eymeþ þat he knowiþ not. Et and drink, he ſhal ſei to þee; and þe mynde of hym is not wiþ þee. Þe metes þat þou haſt eten, þou ſhalt ſpewen out; and þou ſhalt leeſen þi faire wrdis. In þe eres of vnwiſe men ſpeke þou not; for þei ſhul diſpiſen þe doctrine of þi ſpeche. Ne ateyne þou þe termes of litle childer; and þe feeld of moderles childer go þou not in. Þe neeȝh forſoþe of þem is ſtrong, and he ſhal demen aȝen þee þe cauſes of hem. Go in to doctrine þin herte, and þin eris to þe wrdis of kunnyng. Wile þou not wiþdrawe fro a child diſcipline; if forſoþe þou ſmyte hym wiþ ȝerde, he ſhal not die. Þou wiþ a ȝerde ſhalt ſmite hym, and þe ſoule of hym fro helle þou ſhalt deliueren. My ſone, if wijs were þin inwit, myn herte ſhal ioȝen wiþ þee; and ful out ſhuln ioȝen my reenes, whan þi lippis ſhul ſpeke riȝt. Ne enuye þin herte ſynneres; but in þe drede of þe Lord be þou al dai. For þou ſhalt han hope in þe laſte, and þin abiding ſhal not ben taken awei. Heere, my ſone, and be þou wijs, and riȝt reule in þe weie þin inwit. Wile þou not ben in þe feſtis of drinkeris, ne in þe meteſhipis of hem, þat fleſh to eten bringen. For þei tendende to drinkis, and ȝiuende ſcot, ſhul ben waſtid, and napping ſhal be clad wiþ cloþis. Heere þou þi fader, þat gat þee; and ne diſpiſe þou, whan ſhal eelden þi moder. Bie treuþe, and wile þou not ſelle wiſdam, and doctrine, and vnderſtonding. Ful out ioȝeþ wiþ ioȝe þe fader of þe riȝtwiſe; þat a wis man gat, ſhal gladen in hym. Ioȝe þi fader and þi moder, and ful out ioȝe, þat gat þee. Ȝif, ſone myn, þin herte to me, and þin eȝen my weies kepe þei. A dep dich forſoþe is a ſtrumpet, and a ſtreit pit an alien womman. She waiteþ in þe weie, as a þef; and whom vnſleiȝ ſhe ſeeþ, ſhe ſhal ſlen. To whom wo? to whos fader wo? to whom ſtrif? to whom dichis? to whom wiþoute cauſe woundis? to whom þriſting out of eȝen? Wheþer not to þem, þat dwellen in win, and ſtudien to chalices to ben drunken vp? Ne beholde þou þe win, whan it floureþ, whan ſhal ſhine in þe verr þe colour of it. It ſhal gon in ſofte, but in þe laſte it ſhal bite as a ſhadewe eddere, and as a kokatrice venymys ſhal heelden abrod. Þin eȝen ſhul beholde ſtraunge wymen, and þin herte ſhal ſpeke peruertid þingus. And þou ſhalt ben as ſlepende in þe myddil ſe, and as þe ſteris man al forſlept, þe ſteer ſtaf loſt. And þou ſhalt ſey, Þei beeten me, but I ſorewide not; þei drowen me, and I felide not; whanne ſhal I wake, and eft wines finden?

Capitulum XXIIII.

Ne enuye þou euele men, ne deſire þou to ben wiþ þem. For raueynes ſweteli þenkeþ þe mynde of hem, and giles þe lippis of hem ſpeken. Bi wiſdam ſhal þe hous ben bild, and bi prudence it ſhul be ſtrengþid. In doctrine ſhul be fulfild þe celeris, wiþ alle precious ſubſtaunce and moſt fair. A wis man is ſtrong, and a taȝt man is ſtalwrþe and myȝti. For wiþ diſpoſicioun men goþ in to bataile; and helþe ſhal ben, wher ben many counſeilis. Ful heeȝ to þe fool wiſdam; in þe ȝate he ſhal not openen his mouþ. Who þenkeþ euelis to don, a fool ſhal ben clepid. Þe þenking of þe fool is ſynne; and abhominacioun of men þe bacbitere. If ſlyden þou deſpeire, in þe dai of anguyſh ſhal be maad litil þi ſtrengþe. Deliuere hem, þat ben lad to deþ; and þat ben drawen to diyng, to deliuere ne ceſe þou. If þou ſhul ſeyn, Strengþis ſeruen not; he þat is þe inward beholdere of herte, vnderſtondiþ, and þe kepere of þi ſoule no þing begiliþ, and ſhall ȝelde to a man after his werkis. Et, ſone, hony for good; and þe moſt ſwete honycomb to þi þrote. So and þe doctrine of wiſdam to þi ſoule; þe whiche whan þou findiſt, þou ſhalt han in þe laſte þingus hope; and þin hope ſhal not perſhe. Ne aſpie þou, and ſeche vnpitouſneſſe in þe hous of þe riȝtwis, ne waſte þou þe reſte of hym. Seuene ſiþes forſoþe ſhal falle þe riȝtwis, and riſen; þe vnpitouſe forſoþe ſhal fallen in to euel. Whan þin enemy falliþ, ne ioȝe þou; and in þe falling of hym ful out ioȝe not þin herte; leſt perauenture þe Lord ſee, and it diſpleſe to hym, and he take awei fro hym his wraþe. Striue þou not wiþ þe werſte men, and enuye þou not vnpitoſe men. For euele men han not hope of þingus to come, and þe lanterne of vnpitous men ſhal be quenchid. Dreed God, ſone myn, and þe king; and wiþ bacbiteres be þou not mengd. For ſodeynli at ones ſhal riſe þe perdicioun of hem, and þe falling of euer eiþer who knewȝ? Þeſe þingus forſoþe to wiſe men. To knowen perſone in dom is not good. Who ſeiþ to þe vnpitous, Þou art riȝtwis, puples ſhal curſen to hym; and linages ſhul wlaten hym. Who vndernymyn, ſhul ben preiſid; and vp on hem ſhal come bleſſing. Lippes ſhal kiſſe, þat riȝt wrdis anſwerþ. Greiþe out forþ þi werc, and biſili enhaunte þi feeld, þat aftir þou bilde vp þin hous. Be þou not a witneſſe in idil aȝen þi neȝhebore; and ne flatere þou any man wiþ þi lippes. Ne ſey þou, As he dide to me, ſo I ſhal do to hym, and I ſhal ȝelde to eche man after his werc. Bi þe feld of þe ſlowe man I paſſede, and bi þe vyne of þe fool man; and lo! al netlis hadden fulfild, þornes hadden couered þe vtmoſt of it, and þe wal of ſtones was deſtroȝed. Þe whiche whan I hadde ſee, I putte in myn herte, and bi exſaumple lernede diſcipline. Hou longe, ſlowe, þou ſlepiſt? hou longe fro ſlep þou ſhalt riſe? A litil forſoþe þou ſhalt ſlepe, a litil while þou ſhalt nappe, a litil þin hondis þou ſhalt lei togidere, þat þou reſte; and þer ſhal come to þee as a corour þi nedyneſſe, and þi beggingneſſe as a man armyd.

Capitulum XXV.

Theſe forſoþe þe Parablis of Salamon, þe whiche tranſlateden þe men of Ezechie, king of Juda. Þe glorie of God is to hilyn a wrd; and þe glorie of kingis to enſerchen a ſermoun. Heuene aboue, and erþe beneþe, and þe herte of kingus vnſerchable. Do awei ruſt from ſiluer, and þer ſhal gon out a moſt pure veſſel. Do awei vnpitouſneſſe fro þe chere of þe king, and bi riȝtwiſneſſe ſhal ben faſtned þe trone of hym. Ne glorious apere þou befor þe king, and in place of grete men ſtonde þou not. Betere is forſoþe, þat it be ſeid to þee, Steȝe vp hidir, þan þat þou be mekid beforn a prince. Þat þin eȝen ſeȝen, ne ſpeke þou ſoone in ſtrif; leſt parauenture þou mowe not amende, whan þou haſt diſhoneſtid þi frend. Þi cauſe trete wiþ þi frend, and priuyte to a ſtraunger opene þou not; leſt perauenture he aſaile to þee, whan he ſhal heren, and to repreuen ceſe not. Grace and frendſhipe delyueren, þe whiche kepe þou to þee, leſt þou be maad repreuable. A goldene cheke bon in ſiluerene beddis, þat ſpekeþ a wrd in his tyme. A goldene erering, and a margarite ſhynende, þat vndernemeþ a wis man, and an ere obedient. As cold of ſnoȝ in þe dai of rep, ſo an feiþful meſſager to hym þat ſente hym; þe ſoule of hym to reſten he makeþ. Cloud and wind, and reines not folewende, a man glorious, and þe beheſtes not fulfillende. Bi pacience ſhal ben maad ſofte þe prince; and a neſſhe tunge ſhal to-breke hardneſſe. Hony þou haſt founden, ett þat ſuffiſeþ to þee; leſt parauenture fulfild þou ſpewe it out. Wiþdraȝ þi foot fro þe hous of þi neȝhebore; leſt any time fulfild, he ſhul hate þee. Spere, and ſwerd, and ſharp arwe, a man þat ſpekeþ aȝen his neȝhebore fals witneſſe. A roten toþ, and a foot ſliden, þat hopiþ vpon þe vnfeiþful in þe dai of anguyſh, and leeſeþ þe mantil in þe dai of cold. Eiſel in glas, þat ſingeþ dites wiþ peruertid herte. As a moȝhe to þe cloþ, and a werm to þe tree, ſo ſorewe of a man noȝeþ to þe herte. If þin enemy ſhul hungren, feed hym; if he þriſtiþ, ȝif hym watir to drinke; forſoþe colis þou ſhalt gadere togidere vp on þe hed of hym; and þe Lord ſhal ȝelde to þee. A norþerne wind ſcatereþ reynes; and a dreri face þe bacbitende tunge. Betere is to ſitte in a corner of a roof, þan wiþ a womman ful of ſtrif, in þe hous of a feſte. Cold watir to þe þreſtende ſoule; and a good meſſager fro a ferr lond. A welle trublid bi foot, and a veyne corupt, þe riȝtwis fallende beforn þe vnpitous. As he þat etiþ myche hony, and it is not to hym good; ſo þat is a ſerchere of mageſte, ſhal ben opreſſid of glorie. As an opyn cite, and wiþoute enuyrounyng of wallis; ſo a man þat mai not in ſpeking chaſtiſen his ſpirit.

Capitulum XXVI.

What maner ſnoȝ in ſomer, and reyn in rep time; ſo vnſemende is to þe fool glorie. For as a brid to heȝe þingus ouerfleende, and a ſparewe whider hym liſt goende; ſo curs in veyn ſpoken in to ſum man ſhal comen ouer. A ſcourge to an hors, and a bernacle to an aſſe; and a ȝerde in þe reg of vnprudent men. Anſwere þou not to a fool aftir his folie, leſt þou be maad out lic to hym. Anſwere to a fool aftir his folie, leſt he ſeme to ben wis to hymſelf. Halt in feet, and drinkende wickidneſſe, þat ſendiþ wordus bi a fool meſſager. What maner þe halte haþ in veyn faire leggis; ſo vnſemende þing is in þe mouþ of foolis a parable. As he þat ſendiþ a ſton in to an hep of monee; ſo he þat ȝiueþ to an vnwis man wrſhipe. What maner if a þorun be growen in þe hond of þe drunken; ſo a parable in þe mouþ of foolis. Dom determyneþ cauſes; and he þat puttiþ ſilence to a fool, ſwageþ wraþis. As an hound þat tourneþ aȝeen to his vome; ſo an vnprudent man, þat reherſeþ his folie. Haſt þou ſeen a man wis to be ſeen to hymſelf? more þan he an vnwis man ſhal han hope. Þe ſlowe ſeiþ, A leoun is in þe weie, and a leouneſſe is in þe gatis. As a dore is turned in his heeng; ſo a ſloȝ man in his litle bed. A ſloȝ man hidiþ his hondis vnder his arm pit; and trauailiþ, if to his mouþ he ſhal turne þem. Wiſere to hymſelf þe ſlowe ſemeþ, þan ſeuene men ſpekende ſentences. As he þat cachiþ bi þe eres a dogge; ſo he þat paſſeþ, and vnpacient ſhal be mengd wiþ to þe ſtrif of an oþer. As gilti he is, þat ſendiþ ſperes and arwes in to deþ; ſo þe man þat gilendeli noȝeþ to his frend, and whan he were caȝt, ſhal ſey, Pleiende I dide. Whan wodis ſhuln failen, þe fyr ſhal ben queynt; and þe groynere wiþdrawen, ſtriues togidere reſten. As deade colis to quyke colis, and wode to fyr; ſo a wraþeful man rereþ ſtriues. Þe wrdis of a groynere as ſimple; and þei comen þurȝ to þe inmoſtis of þe herte. What maner as wiþ foul ſiluer þou wilt honoure britil veſſel; ſo ſwellende lippis wiþ werſt herte felaſhipid. In his lippis is vndirſtonde þe enemy, whan in herte he haþ tretid treccheries. Whan he ſhal vndirputte his vois, ne ȝiue þou credence to hym; for ſeuene wickidneſſes ben in þe herte of hym. Who couereþ hate gilendeli, ſhal ben opened þe malice of hym in counſeil. Who delueþ a dich, ſhal falle in to it; and who ouirturneþ a ſton, it ſhal ben aȝeen turned to hym. A deſeyuable tunge looueþ not þe treuþe; and þe ſlideri mouþ werchiþ fallingis.

Capitulum XXVII.

Ne glorie þou in to þe moru, vnknowende what þe dai to ouercome bringe forþ. Preiſe þee an alien, and not þi mouþ; a ſtraunger, and not þi lippis. Heuy is þe ſton, and charious is þe grauel; but þe wraþe of þe fool is heuyere þan eiþer. Wraþe haþ not mercy, ne brekende out wodneſſe; and þe bure of þe ſtirid ſpirit bern who ſhall moun? Betere is open amending, þan hid looue. Betere ben þe woundis of þe loouere, þan þe gileful koſſes of þe hatere. Þe ſoule fulfild ſhal to-trede þe hony comb; þe ſoule forſoþe hungrende alſo bitter for ſweete ſhal take. As a brid ouerpaſſende fro his neſt, ſo a man þat forſakeþ his place. Wiþ oynement and diuers ſmellis deliteþ þe herte; and wiþ goode counſeilis of þe frend þe ſoule is ſwetid. Þi frend, and þe frend of þi fader, ne leue þou; and þe hous of þi broþer go þou not in, in þe dai of þi tormenting. Betere is a neȝhebore biſide, þan a broþer aferr. Studie to wiſdam, ſone myn, and glade þou myn herte; þat þou mowe to þe repreuere anſwern a wrd. Þe felle ſeende euel is hid; litle childer forþ paſſende ſuffreden harmys. Tac þe cloþing of hym, þat behotiþ for a ſtraunger; and for an alien tac awei to hym a wed. Who bliſſiþ to his neȝhebore wiþ a gret vois, fro nyȝt riſende, to þe curſere ſhal be lic. Rooues þurȝ droppende in þe dai of cold, and a womman ful of ſtrif ben compariſound togidere. Who holdiþ hir, as he heelde wind; and þe oile of his riȝt ſide he auoide out. Iren wiþ iren is whettid out; and a man whettiþ out þe face of his frend. Who kepiþ a fige tree, ſhal ete þe frutis of it; and who kepere is of his lord, ſhal ben glorified. What maner wiſe in watris aȝeen ſhinen þe cheres of men lokende; ſo þe hertes of men ben opened to prudent men. Helle and perdicioun neuere ben fulfild; and þe eȝen of men vnfillable. What maner wiſe ſiluer is preued in þe ȝeting veſſel, and gold in þe furneis; ſo is preued a man in þe mouþ of preiſeris. Þe herte of þe wicke ſechiþ out euelis; þe riȝt forſoþe herte ſecheþ out kunnyng. If þou bete togidere a fool in a morter, as hoolid barli ſmytende þere vp on þe peſtel; ſhal not ben take awei fro hym his folie. Biſili knowe þou þe chere of þi beeſte; and þi flockis behold. Forſoþe þou ſhalt not han continuelli power; but a croune ſhal be ȝolde to þee in ieneracioun of ieneraciouns. Opened ben þe medwis, and apereden greene erbis; and gedered ben heys fro þe hillis. Lombis ben to þi cloþing; and geet to þe pris of þe feeld. Suffiſe to þee þe mylc of got in to þi metes; in to þe neceſſaries of þin hous, and to liflode to þin hond wymmen.

Capitulum XXVIII.

The vnpitouſe fleeþ, no man purſuende; þe riȝtwis forſoþe as a leoun troſtende wiþout ferd ſhal be. For þe ſynnes of þe erþe manye princis of it; and for þe wiſdam of a man, and þe kunnyng of þeſe þingus þat ben ſeid, þe lif of a duk ſhal ben lengere. A man pore chalengende pore men, lic is to hidous weder, in whiche is greiþid hunger. Who forſaken þe lawe, preiſen þe vnpitous; who kepen, ſhul ben tend vp aȝen hym. Euele men þenken not dom; who forſoþe aȝeen ſechen þe Lord, taken to heed alle þingus. Betere is a pore man goende in his ſimpleneſſe, þan a riche man in his ſhreude weies. Who kepiþ þe lawe, a wis ſone is; who forſoþe glotounes fediþ, ſhendiþ his fader. Who kepiþ togidere richeſſes wiþ vſures, and wiþ free wynnyng of vſure, in to pore men he gedereþ hem togidere. Who bowiþ doun his eres, þat he here not þe lawe; his oriſoun ſhal be maad cursful. Who deſceyueþ riȝte men in an euel weie, in his deþ ſhal falle; and ſimple men ſhuln welden his goodis. A wis man to hymſelf is ſeen a riche man; þe pore forſoþe prudent ſhal enſerchen hym. In þe ful out ioȝing of riȝtwis men myche glorie is; regnende vnpitous men, fallingus ben of men. Who hidiþ his hidous giltis, ſhal not ben riȝt reulid; who forſoþe knoulechiþ and forſakiþ, mercy ſhal gete. Blisful þe man, þat euermor is ferdful; who forſoþe is of hard mynde, ſhal falle in to euel. A leoun rorende, and a bere hungrende, an vnpitous prince on a pore puple. A nedi duk of prudence manye ſhal opreſſe bi chalenge; who forſoþe hatiþ auarice, long ſhul be made þe daȝes of hym. Þe man þat wrongfulli chalengiþ to þe ſoule, þe blod of hym, if vn to þe lake he ſhul flee, no man ſuſteneþ. Who goþ ſimpleli, ſhal ben ſaaf; who in peruertid weies ſhal go, ſhal falle togidere at ones. Who werchiþ his erþe, ſhal be fulfild wiþ loeues; who folewiþ idil reſte, ſhal ben fulfild wiþ nedyneſſe. A man feiþful myche ſhal ben preiſid; who forſoþe heeȝeþ to be maad riche, ſhal not ben innocent. Who knowiþ in dom face, he þis doþ not wel; and for a morſel of bred he forſakeþ þe treuþe. Þe man þat heeȝeþ to be maad riche, and to oþere men enuyeþ; vnknowiþ þat nedineſſe come vp on to hym. Who chaſtiſeþ a man, grace aftir ſhal find anent hym; more þan he þat bi flateringus of tunge bigiliþ. Who wiþdrawiþ any þing fro his fader and moder, and ſeiþ þat not to ben ſynne, parcener is of a man ſleere. Who boſtiþ of hymſelf, and ſpredeþ abrod, ſteriþ ſtriues; who forſoþe hopeþ in þe Lord, ſhal be ſaued. Who troſtiþ in his herte, is a fool; who forſoþe goþ wiſly, he ſhal ben preiſid. Who ȝiueþ to þe pore, ſhal not neden; who diſpiſeþ þe preiere louli, ſhal ſuffre ſcarneſſe. Whan vnpitous men ſhuln riſen, men ſhul ben hid; and whan þei han perſhid, þe riȝtwiſe ſhul ben multiplied.

Capitulum XXIX.

To þe man, þat þe chaſtiſere wiþ hard noll diſpiſiþ, feerli deþ ſhal come vp on to hym; and hym helþe ſhal not folewe. In þe multepliyng of riȝtwis men ſhal gladen þe comun; and whan vnpitous men han taken princehed, þe puple ſhal weilen. Þe man þat looueþ wiſdam, gladiþ his fader; who forſoþe nurſhiþ an hoore, ſhal leeſe ſubſtaunce. A riȝtwis king rereþ vp þe lond; an auerous man ſhal deſtroȝen it. Þe man þat wiþ flateryng and feyned wrdis ſpekiþ to his frend; a net ſprediþ to his goingis. Þe ſinnende wicke man a grene ſhal inwrappe; and þe riȝtwiſe ſhal preiſen, and ioȝen. Þe riȝtwiſe kneȝ þe cauſe of pore men; þe vnpitous vnknowiþ kunnyng men. Bacbitende ſcateren þe cite; wiſe men forſoþe turnen awei wodneſſe. A wis man if wiþ a fool ſhul ſtriue; wheþir he laȝhe, or wraþe, he ſhal not finde reſte. Men of blodis hateden þe ſimple; riȝtwis men forſoþe ſechen þe ſoule of hym. Al his ſpirit bringeþ forþ þe fool; a wis man berþ ouer, and kepiþ vnto afterward. A prince þat gladli hereþ þe wrdis of leſing; alle þe mynyſtris haþ vnpitouſe. Þe pore and þe creaunſour metten togidere; of eiþer þe liȝtnere is þe Lord. Þe king þat demeþ in treuþe pore men; þe trone of hym in to wiþoute ende ſhal be faſtned. Ȝerde and correccioun ſhal ȝelde wiſdam; þe child forſoþe, þat is laft to his wil, confoundiþ his modir. In þe multipliyng of vnpitous men ſhuln ben multiplied hidous giltis; and þe fallingis of hem riȝtwis men ſhul ſee. Lerne þi ſone, and he ſhal refreſhen þee; and he ſhal ȝiue delices to his ſoule. Whan prophecie ſhal faile, þe puple ſhal ben ſcaterid; who forſoþe kepiþ þe lawe, is blisful. Þe ſeruaunt in wrdis mai not ben lerned; for þat þat þou ſeiſt, he vndirſtant, and to anſwern he diſpiſiþ. Haſt þou ſeen a man ſwift to ſpeken? folie more is to ben hopid þan þe correccioun of hym. Who delicatli fro childhed nurſhiþ his ſeruaunt; afterward ſhal feelen hym vnobeiſaunt. Þe man wraþeful ſtireþ ſtriues; and he þat is liȝt to han indignacioun, ſhal be to ſynnes more redi. Þe proude man louneſſe folewiþ; and þe meke man in ſpirit glorie ſhal reſceyue. Who wiþ a þeef is parcener, hatiþ his ſoule; þe adiurere he hereþ, and not ſhewiþ. Who drediþ a man, ſoone ſhal falle; who hopiþ in þe Lord, ſhal ben vp rerid. Manye ſechen þe face of þe prince; and dom of eche ſhal gon out fro þe Lord. Riȝtwis men wlaten þe vnpitous man; and vnpitous men wlaten hem, þat ben in þe riȝt weie. Þe ſone kepende þe wrd ſhal ben out of perdicioun.

Capitulum XXX.

The wrdis of þe gederere, vomende ſone. Þe viſeoun þat a man ſpac, wiþ whiche is God, and þat, God wiþ hym wonende, coumfortid, ſeiþ, Moſt fool I am of men; and þe wiſdam of men is not wiþ me. I lernede not wiſdam; and I knewȝ þe kunnyng of ſeintus. Who ſteȝide vp in to heuene, and who cam doun? Who wiþ heeld ſpirit in his hondis? who bond togidere watris as in a cloþ? Who rerede alle þe termes of þe erþe? What name is of hym? and what name of þe ſone of hym, if þou knewe? Eche ſermoun of God firid, a ſheld it is to alle hoperis in itſelf. Ne adde þou any þing to þe wordis of hym; and þou be vndernome, and founde a liere. Two þingus I preȝede to þee; ne denien þou to me, er I die. Vanyte and leſing wrdis fer do awei fro me; beggerie and richeſſis ne ȝiue þou to me; ȝif onli to my liflode nedeful þingus; leſt par auenture I fulfild, be drawen to denyen, and ſeie, Who is þe Lord? and þurȝ nede conſtreyned, ſtele, and forſwere þe name of my God. Ne acuſe þou a ſeruaunt to his lord, leſt par auenture he curſe to þee, and þou falle. Jeneracioun is, þat to his fader curſiþ, and þat to his moder bliſſeþ not. Jeneracioun þat to hymſelf clene is ſeen, and neuer þe latere it is not waſſhe fro his filþis. Jeneracioun of þe whiche ben þe eȝen and þe eȝe lidis of it in to heȝe þingus vp rerid. Jeneracioun þat for teþ haþ ſwerdis, and chewiþ wiþ his wang teþ; þat he ete helpeles fro þe erþe, and pore men fro men. Waterlechis two ben doȝtris, ſeiende, Bring on, bring on. Þre þingus ben vnfillable, and þe ferþe, þat ſeiþ neuermore, It ſuffiſiþ; helle, and þe mouþ of a womman wombe, and þe erþe þat neuer is fild wiþ water; fijr forſoþe neuermor ſeiþ, It ſuffiſeþ. Þe eȝe þat ſcorneþ þe fader, and þat diſpiſeþ þe birþe of his moder, pecken hym out crowis of þe ſtremes; and ete hym þe ſonus of þe egle. Þre þingus ben hard to me, and þe ferþe outerli I knowe not; þe weie of an egle in heuene, þe weie of þe ſhadewe eddere on a ſton, þe weie of a ſhip in þe myd ſe, and þe weie of a man in his waxende ȝouþe. Such is þe weie of þe womman auoutreſſe, þat etiþ, and wipende hir mouþ, ſeiþ, I haue not wroȝt euel. Bi þre þingus is moued þe erþe, and þe ferþe it mai not ſuſtene; bi a ſeruaunt, whan he regneþ; bi a fool, whan he were fulfild wiþ mete; bi an hateful womman, whan ſhe were taken in to matrimoyne; and bi an hand womman, whan ſhe were eir of hir ladi. Foure þingus þer ben þe leſte of erþe, and þei ben wiſere þan wiſe men; amptis, a feble puple, þat greiþen in rep time mete to þem; a litil hare, a folc vnmyȝti, þat in a ſton his bed ſettiþ; a king þe locuſte haþ not, and it goþ out alle bi cumpanyes; a liſard wiþ hondis cleueþ, and he dwelliþ in þe houſis of a king. Þre þingus ben, þat weel gon, and þe ferþe, þat goþ welſumly. A leoun, moſt ſtrong of beſtes, at aȝen coomyng of noon ſhal dreden; a cok gyrd vp þe leendis, and a ram, and þer is not þat wiþſtonde to hym. And þat fool ſhal ſeme, aftir þat he is rerid vp in to heeȝ; if forſoþe he hadde vnderſtonden, to his mouþ he hadde put on hond. Who forſoþe ſtrongli þreſteþ tetes, to drawen out mylc, þreſtiþ out buttere; and who hugeli ſmyteþ, drawiþ out blod; and who terreþ wraþis, bringeþ forþ diſcordis.

Capitulum XXXI.

The wrdis of Lamuel, þe king; þe ſiȝte in whiche his moder taȝte hym. What my leef? what my leef of my wombe? what my leef of my vouwis? Ne ȝiue þou to wimmen þi ſubſtaunce, and þi richeſſes to ben don awei kingus. Wile þou not to kingus, O! Lamuel, wile þou not to kingus ȝiue win; for no priuyte is, where drunkeneſſe regneþ. Leſt par auenture þei drinken, and forȝeten domes, and chaungen þe cauſe of þe ſonus of þe pore. Ȝiueþ ciþer to mornende men, and win to hem þat ben in bitter inwit. Drinke þei, and forȝete þei of þer nedyneſſe; and of þer ſorewe recorde þei no more. Opene þi mouþ to þe doumbe, and to þe cauſes of alle ſones þat paſſen, opene þou þi mouþ. Deme þat is riȝtwis, and venge þe helpeles and þe pore.
Aleph. A ſtrong womman who ſhal finde? aferr and fro þe utmoſt endis þe pris of hir.
Beþ. Troſteþ in hir þe herte of hir man; and ſpoiles he ſhal not neden.
Gimel. She ſhal ȝelde to hym good, and not euel, alle þe daȝes of hir lif.
Deleþ. She ſoȝte wlle and flax; and wroȝte bi þe counſeil of hir hondis.
He. She is mad as a ſhip of a marchaund, fro aferr bringende hir bred.
Vau. And fro þe nyȝt ſhe ros, and ȝaf prei to hir homli men, and metis to hir hand wymmen.
Zay. She beheeld a feeld, and boȝte it; of þe frut of hir hondis ſhe plauntide a vyne.
Heþ. She girde to wiþ ſtrengþe hir leendis, and made ſtalwrþe hir arm.
Teþ. She taſtide, and ſaȝ, for good is þe chaffaring of hir; ſhall not ben quenchid in þe nyȝt þe lanterne of hir.
Joþ. Hir hond ſhe putte to ſtronge þingus, and hir fingris caȝten þe ſpindle.
Caf. Hir hond ſhe openede to þe helpeles, and hir paumes ſhe ſtraȝte out to þe pore.
Lameþ. She ſhal not drede to hir hous of coldys of ſnoȝ; alle forſoþe hir homli men ben clad wiþ double.
Men. A rai cloþ ſhe made to hir; bijs and purpre þe cloþing of hir.
Num. Noble in þe ȝates þe man of hir, whan he ſhal ſitte wiþ þe ſenatoures of þe erþe.
Sameþ. Sendel ſhe made, and ſolde; and a litil girdil ſhe toc to Canane.
Ayn. Strengþe and fairneſſe þe cloþing of hir; and ſhe ſhal laȝhen in þe laſte dai.
Fee. Hir mouþ ſhe openede to wiſdam; and þe lawe of noble merci in þe tunge of hir.
Sade. She beheeld þe paþis of hir hous; and idil bred ſhe eet not.
Cof. Þer riſen þe ſones of hir, and moſt blisful precheden; and þe man of hir preiſide hir.
Res. Manie doȝtris gedereden richeſſes; þou ouerpaſſediſt alle.
Syn. Deſceyuable grace and veyn is fairneſſe; þe womman dredende þe Lord, ſhe ſhal be preiſid.
Thau. Ȝiueþ to hir of þe frut of hir hondis; and preiſen hir in þe ȝates hir werkis.