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The parablis of Salamon, sone of Dauid, king of Irael; to ben koud wisdam, and discipline; to ben vnderstonden the woordis of prudence; and to ben vndirtake enformyng of doctrine, riȝtwysnesse, and dom, and equite; that felnesse be ȝeue to litle childer, and to the ȝunge ful waxen, kunnyng and vnderstonding. Herende the wise wisere shal ben; and vnderstondende gouernaile he shal welde. Take he heede the parable, and the remenyng; the woordis of wise men, and the derke spechis of hem. The drede of the Lord the begynnyng of wisdam; wisdam and lore foolis dispisen. Here, my sone, the discipline of thi fader, and ne leue thou the lawe of thi modir; that ther be added grace to thin hed, and a beȝe to thi necke. My sone, if thee synneres fulfille with mylc, ne assente thou to them. If thei sey, Cum thou with vs, waite wee to the blod, hide wee grenes aȝen the innocent in veyn; swolewe wee hym, as helle the liuende; and hol as the descendende in to the lake; alle precious substaunce we shul finde, wee shul fulfillen oure housis with spoilis; lot ley with vs, o bagge of monee be of vs alle; mi sone, ne go thou with hem; forfende thi foot fro the sties of hem. Forsothe the feet of hem to euel rennen; and heeȝen that thei sheden out blod. In vein forsothe is throwen a net befor the eȝen of the fethered. Thei also aȝen ther blod awaiten; and casten gilys aȝen ther soulis. So the pathis of the auerous man raueshen the liues of the welderes. Wisdam withouteforth precheth; in stretis it ȝyueth his vois. In the hed of cumpanyes it ofte crieth; in the doris of the ȝatis of the cite he bringeth forth his woordis, seiende, Hou longe, ȝee litle childer, loouen childhed, and foolis tho thingus that ben noȝesum to them shul coueiten, and vnprudent men shuln haten kunnyng? Be ȝee conuertid at my correccioun; lo! I shal bringe forth to ȝou my spirit, and shewen my woordis. For I clepede, and ȝee forsoken; I straȝte out myn hond, and ther was not that wolde beholden. Ȝee despiseden al my counseil; and my blamyngis ȝee roȝten not of. I forsothe in ȝoure deth shal lawȝhe; and vndermouwe ȝou, whan to ȝou that, that ȝee dredden, shal come. Whan shal falle feerli wrecchidnesse, and deth as tempest shal aȝen come; whan shal come vp on ȝou tribulacioun and anguysh. Thanne thei shul inwardli clepe me, and I shal not ful out heren; erly they shuln rise togidere, and not finde me. For thi that hatesum thei hadden disciplyne, and the drede of the Lord thei vndertoken not, ne assentiden to my counseil, and bacbitiden to al my correccioun. Thei shuln ete therfore the frutis of ther weie; and with ther counseilis thei shul be fulfild. The turning awei of litle childer shal slen hem; and the prosperite of foolis shal leesen hem. Who forsothe me shal heren, withoute ferd shal resten; and abundaunce he shal parfitli vsen, the ferd of euelis taken awey.
My sone, if thou vndertakest my woordis, and my maundementes hidist anent thee; that thin ere here wisdam, inwardliche bowe thin herte to ben knowen wisdam. If forsothe wisdam thou shalt inwardli clepen, and inwardli bowe thin herte to prudence; if thou shalt sechen it as money, and as tresoris deluen it out; thanne thou shalt vnderstonden the drede of the Lord, and the kunnyng of God finde. For the Lord ȝyueth wisdam; and of the mouth of hym prudence and kunnyng. He shal kepen the helthe of riȝt men, and defende the goende symplely; withholdende the pathis of riȝtwisnesse, and the weies of halewis kepende. Thanne thou shalt vnderstonde riȝtwisnesse, and dom, and equite, and eche good path. If wisdam shul go in to thin herte, and the kunnyng to thi soule plese, counseil shal kepe thee, and prudence shal withholde thee; that thou be pullid out fro an euel wey, and fro a man that speketh shreude thingus. Thei that forsaken the riȝt going, and wenten bi derke weies; that forsothe gladen, whan thei don euele, and ful out ioȝen in werst thingus; of whom the weies shreude, and yuel losid the goingys of hem. That thou be take awey fro an alien womman, and fro a straunge, that softeth hir woordis; and forsaketh the ledere of hir childhed, and the couenaunt of hir God hath forȝete. Forsothe inwardly bowid is to deth the hous of hir, and to helle the pathis of hir. Alle that gon in to hir, shul not turne aȝeen, ne take the sties of lif. That thou go in a good weye, and the pathis of riȝtwis men thou kepe. Who forsothe ben riȝte, shul dwelle in the erthe; and the symple shul parfitli wone in it. The vnpitouse forsothe fro the erthe shul be lost; and that wickidli don, shul be take fro it awei.
My sone, ne forȝete thou my lawe; and thin herte kepe myn hestis. Forsothe lengthe of daȝis, and ȝeeris of lif, and pes, thei shul ley to to thee. Mercy and treuthe forsake thei not thee; cumpase them to thi throte, and descryue in the tablis of thin herte. And thou shalt finde grace, and good discipline befor God and men. Haue trost in the Lord, of al thin herte; and ne lene thou to thi prudence. In alle thi weies thenc hym, and he shal riȝt reulen thi goingis. Ne be thou wis anent thiself; dred God, and go awey fro euel. Helthe forsothe shal ben in thi nauele, and watring of thi bones. Honoure the Lord of thi substaunce, and of the cheef of alle thi frutis ȝif to pore men; and thi bernes shul ben fulfild with fulnesse, and with win thi presses shul rebounden. The discipline of the Lord, my sone, ne caste thou awey; ne faile thou, whan of hym thou art chastisid. Whom forsothe the Lord looueth, he chastiseth; and as fader in the sone it with pleseth to hym. Blisful the man that findeth wisdam, and that flowith prudence. Betere is the purchasing of it, than the chaffering of gold and of siluer; first and most pure the frutis of it. More precious than alle richesses it is; and alle thingus that be desirid, to it moun not be comparisound. Lengthe of daȝis in his riȝt half, and in the left half of it richessis and glorie. The weies of it faire, and alle the pathis of it pesible. The tre of lif it is to them that cacchen it; and that holden it, ben blisful. The Lord bi wisdam foundede the erthe; bi prudence stablide heuenes. Bi the wisdam of hym breeken out depe watris; and the cloudis bi dew togidere waxen. My sone, ne flowe these thingis awei fro thin eȝe; kep thou my lawe, and counseil; and there shal ben lif to thi soule, and grace to thi chekis. Thanne thou shalt go trostli in thi wey; and thi foot shal not offende. If thou shul slepe, thou shalt not drede; thou shalt resten, and sweete shal be thi slep. Ne drede thou with sodeyn gastnesse, and the poweris of the vnpitous men fallende on to thee. The Lord forsothe shal ben in thi side; and kepe thi foot, that thou be not take. Wile thou not forfenden hym that mai wel don; if thou maist, and thiself wel do. Ne sey thou to thi frend, Go, and turne aȝeen, to moru I shal ȝyue to thee; whan anoon thou maist ȝiue. Ne caste thou to thi frend euel, whan he in thee hath trost. Ne striue thou aȝen a man in veyn, whan he no thing of euel hath don to thee. Ne enuye thou the vnriȝtwis man, ne folewe thou the weies of hym. For abhomynacioun of the Lord is eche gilour; and with the simple the sermounyng of hym. Nede of the Lord in the hous of the vnpitouse; the dwelling placis forsothe of riȝtwise men shul be blessid. He shal desceyue the desceyueres; and to the debonere he shal ȝyue grace. Glorie wise men shul welde; of foolis the out ioȝing shenshipe.
Here ȝee, sones, the discipline of the fader; and taketh heede, that ȝee knowen prudence. A good ȝifte I shal ȝyuen to ȝou; my lawe ne forsake ȝee. For and I was the sone of my fader, sum what tender, and the onli goten beforn my moder. And he taȝte me, and seide, Take my woordys thin herte; kep thou myn hestis, and thou shalt liue. Weld wisdam, weld prudence; ne forȝete thou, ne bowe thou doun fro the woordis of my mouth. Ne leue thou it, and it shal kepe thee; looue it, and it shal withholde thee. Begynnyng of wisdam, welde thou wisdam; and in al thi possessioun purchace prudence. Tac it, and it shal enhaunce thee; thou shalt be glorified of it, whan thou hast clippid it. It shal ȝiue to thin hed encrecis of gracis; and a noble crowne shal defende thee. Here thou, my sone, and vndertac my woordis; and be ther multeplied to thee ȝeris of lif. The weie of wisdam I shal shewe to thee; and lede thee bi the pathys of equyte. The whiche whan thou shalt gon in, thi goingis shul not be streitid; and rennende thou shalt not han letting. Hold discipline, and ne leue thou it; kep it, for it is thi lyf. Ne delite thou in the pathis of vnpitous men; and to thee plese not the weie of euele men. Flee fro it, and passe thou not bi it; bowe doun, and forsac it. Forsothe they slepen not, but if thei don euele; and slep is not caȝt of hem, but if thei supplaunte. Thei eten the bred of vnpitousnesse, and the win of wickidnesse drinken. Forsothe the path of riȝtwismen as shynende liȝt goth forth, and growith in to a parfit day. The weie of vnpitous men derk; thei witen not wher thei falle. My sone, hercne my woordis; and to my spechis bowe in thin ere. Ne go thei awey fro thin eȝen; kep thou hem in the myddel of thin herte. Forsothe lif thei ben to the findende hem, and of alle flesh the helthe. With alle warde kep thou thin herte, for of it lif goth forth. Remoue from thee a shreude mouth; and bacbitende lippis be thei ferr fro thee. Thin eȝen see thei riȝte thingis; and thin eȝelidis beforgo thei thi goingis. Riȝt reule the pathis to thi feet, and alle thi weies be they stablid. Ne bowe thou doun to the riȝt, ne to the lift; turne awei thi foot fro euel. Forsothe the weies that ben on the riȝthalf the Lord knewȝ; shreude forsothe ben, that of the lift ben. He forsothe riȝt shal make thi goingus; thi weies forsothe in pes shul be broȝt forth.
My sone, tac heed to my wisdam, and to my prudence bowe thou thin ere; that thou kepe thoȝtis, and discipline thi lippis withholden. Ne wile thou not entende to the desceyuyng of womman; forsothe an hony comb droppende the lippis of a strumpet, and clerere than oile the throte of hir; forsothe the laste of hir bitter as wormod, and the tunge of hir sharp as a twei bitende swerd. The feet of hir gon doun in to deth; and to helle the goingis of hir persen. Bi the path of lif thei gon not; vagaunt ben the goingus of hir, and vnserchable. Now thanne, my sone, here thou me, and ne go thou awei fro the woordis of my mouth. Aferr mac fro hir thi weie, and ne neȝhe thou to the doris of hir hous. Ne ȝyue thou to alienes thi wrshipe, and thi ȝeris to the cruel; lest perauenture be fulfild straungeres with thi strengthis, and thi trauailis ben in an aliene hous; and thou weile in thi laste, whan thou hast wastid thi flesh, and thi bodi; and sey, Whi wariede I discipline, and to snybbingis assentede not myn herte; ne I herde the vois of men techende me, and to maistris I bowide not myn ere? Neȝh I was in alle euel, in the myddel of the chirche, and of the synagoge. Drink watir of thi cisterne, and the flowingus of thi pyt. Ben lad out thi wellis withoute forth; and in stretis thi watir deuyde thou. Haue thou hem alone; and be not alienes thi parceneres. Be thi veyne blissid; and glade thou with the womman of thi ful waxende ȝouthe. A most cheere hynde; and a most kindeli hert calf. The tetis of hir inwardli make thee drunke alle time; and in the looue of hire delite thou bisili. Whi art thou broȝt doun, sone myn, of an alien womman; and art fed in the bosum of an othere? The Lord loketh the weie of a man; and alle the goingis of hym beholdith. His wickenesses taken the vnpitouse; and with the cordis of his synnes he is togidere streyned. He shal dien, for he hadde not discipline; and in the multitude of his folie he shal ben begylyd.
My sone, if thou become borȝ for thi frend; thou hast piȝt doun anent a straunger thin hond. Thou art gnarid with the woordis of thi mouth; and taken with thi proper woordis. Do thanne, my sone, that I seie, and deliuere thi self; for thou hast fallen in to the hond of thi neȝhebore. Ren hider and thider, heeȝe, rere vp thi frend; ne ȝiue thou slep to thin eȝen, and nappe not thin eȝelidis. Be thou pullid out as a foun fro the hond; and as a brid fro the spies of the foulere. Go to the anpte, O! thou slowe; and behold the weies of it, and lerne wisdam. The whiche, whan it hath no ledere, ne comaundere, ne prince; it greitheth in the somer mete to hymself, and gedereth togidere in time of rip, that it ete. Hou longe, thou slowe, shalt thou slepe? whanne shalt thou rise fro thi slep? A litil while thou shalt slepe, a litil while thou shalt nappe; a litil while thou shalt leyn togidere thin hondis, that thou slepe. And ther shal come to thee as a weie goere, nede; and porenesse, as a man armed. If forsothe vnsloȝ thou shul be, shal come as a welle thi rip; and nede ferr shal flee fro thee. A man apostata, a man ful of strengthe vnprofitable, goth with peruertid mouth; he twincleth with the eȝen, he tramplith with the foot, with the fingir he speketh, with shreude herte he castith euel; and alle times striues he sowith. To this anoon shal come his perdicioun, and sodeynli he shall be to-treden; and he shal han no mor medecyn. Sixe thingis ben, that the Lord hateth; and the seuenthe the lif of hym warieth. Heȝe eȝen, a tunge liere, hondis shedende out the innocent blod, the herte castende most euel thoȝtis, the swifte feet to rennen in to euel, the bringende forth lesingis, the desceyuable witnesse; and hym that sowith among brether discordis. Withhold, my sone, the hestis of thi fader; and ne leue thou the lawe of thi moder. Bind hem bisili in thin herte; and enuyroune to thi throte. Whan thou shalt go, go thei with thee; whan thou shalt slepe, kepe thei thee; and wakende speke thou with hem. For the maundement is a lanterne, and the lawe liȝt, and the weie of lif the snybbing of discipline; that thei kepe thee fro an euel womman, and fro the flaterende tunge of the straunge womman. Coueite not thin herte the fairnesse of hir; ne be thou take with the beckis of hir. The price forsothe of the strumpet vnethe is of o lof; the womman forsothe taketh the precious lif of a man. Whether mai a man hide fir in his bosum, that his clothis brenne not; or gon vpon colis, and his solis ben not brent? So he that goth in to the womman of his neȝhebore; shal not ben clene, whan he touchith hir. Not gret is the blame, whan a man stelith; forsothe he steleth, that he fulfille the hungrende soule. Caȝt therewith forsothe he shal ȝelde the seuene fold; and al the substaunce of his hous he shal take, and deliueren hymself. Who forsothe is auoutrer; for miseise of herte he shal lesen his soule. Filthe and shenshepe he gedereth to hymself; and the repref of hym shal not ben don awei. For the ielousnesse and the wodnesse of the man shal not sparen in the dai of veniaunce, ne assente to the preȝeeris of any man; and he shal not take for the aȝeen biȝing manye ȝiftis.
My sone, kep thou my woordis; and myne hestis ley vp to thee. Sone, honoure thou the Lord, and thou shalt fare wel; biside hym forsothe thou shalt not dreden an other. Kep my maundemens, and thou shalt liue; and my lawe as the appil of thin eȝe. Bind it in thi fingris; wryt it in the tablis of thin herte. Sey to wisdam, My sister thou art; and prudence clep thou thi lemman. That it kepe thee fro a straunge womman; and fro an alien, that hir woordis maketh sweete. Fro the windowe forsothe of myn hous bi the latys I beheeld the ȝunge man; and I see litle childer. I beholde the sori hertid ȝunge man, that passeth thurȝ the stretis, biside the corner; and neȝ the weie of that hous goth in derc, the dai waxende to euen, in the nyȝtis dercnessis and mystynesse. And lo! a womman aȝen cam to hym, with strumpet aray befor maad redi to the soulis to be desceyued, a chaterere, and vagaunt of reste, vnpacient, ne mowende in the hous abide stille with hir feet; now withouteforth, now in the stretys, now beside the corneres aspiende. And the caȝte ȝunge man she kisseth; and with wowende chere she flatereth, seiende, Sacrifises of victorie for helthe I haue gretli vouwid; to dai I haue ȝolde my vouwis. Therfore I wente out in to thin aȝen comyng, desirende thee to seen; and I haue founde. I haue araȝid with cordis my litil bed, and spred with peintid tapitis of Egipt; I ha sprengd my ligging place with myrre, and aloes, and canell. Cum, and be wee inwardli drunke with tetes, and vse wee the coueitid clippingis; to the time that the dai waxe liȝt. There is not a man in hir hous; he ȝide awei the most ferr weie. The bagge of his monee he toc with hym; in the dai of the fulle moone he is to turne aȝeen in to his hous. She grenede hym with manye woordis; and with flatering of lippis she fordroȝ hym. Anoon he folewith hir, as an oxe lad to the sacrifise of victorie; and as a lomb pleiende and vnknowende, that to bondis the fool is drawe, to the time that the arwe thirle thurȝ his mawe. As if a brid heeȝe to the grene; and wot not, that of the perile of his lif me purposeth. Now thanne, sone myn, here thou me; and tac tente to the woordis of my mouth. Ne be drawen awei in the weies of hir thi mynde; ne be thou bigilid in the sties of hir. Manye forsothe woundid she threw doun; and alle the strongeste ben slain of hir. The weies of helle the housis of hir; persende in to the innermor thingus of deth.
Whether not wisdam ofte crieth; and prudence ȝiueth his vois? In the heȝest and heȝe frountis, aboue the weie, in the myddel pathis, stondende biside the ȝate of the cite; in tho ȝate doris it speketh, seiende, O! men, to ȝou I ofte crie; and my vois to the sones of men. Vnderstondeth, ȝee litle childer, witnesse; and, ȝee vnwise men, taketh heed. Hereth, for of grete thingis I am to speke; and my lippis shul ben opened, that euene thingus thei preche. Treuthe my throte shal sweteli bethenke; and my lippis shul wlate the vnpitouse. Riȝtwise ben alle my sermownes; ther is not in hem any thing shreude, ne peruertid. Riȝte thei ben to vnderstondende men; and euene to men findende kunnyng. Taketh my discypline, and not money; doctrine mor than tresor cheseth. Betere is wisdam than alle the most precious richessis; and al desirable thing to it mai not be comparisound. I, wisdam, dwelle in counseil; and am among to lerned thoȝtis. The drede of the Lord hateth euel; enhauncing, and pride, and the shreude weie, and the mouth of the twisil tunge I wlate. Myn is counseil, and equite; myn is prudence, myn is and strengthe. By me kingus regnen; and makeris of lawis riȝte thingus demen. Bi me princis comaunden; and myȝti men deme riȝtwisnesse. I men loouende me looue; and that erli waken at me, shul finde me. With me ben richessis, and glorie; and proud plenteuousnessis, and riȝtwisnesse. Betere is my frut than gold, and than precious ston; and my buriounyngis than chosen siluer. In the weies of riȝtwisnesse I go, in the myddel of pathis of dom; that I make riche men loouende me, and fulfille the tresores of hem. The Lord weldide me in the begynnyng of his weies; er any thing shulde be maad, of the firste cause. Of the euere lastende I am ordeyned; and of the olde, er the erthe shulde be maad. Not ȝit weren the depthis of watir; and I now was conceyued. And not ȝit the wellis of watris hadden broken out, ne ȝit the mounteynes in heuy mykilnesse hadden ben maad; er the hillis I was born. Ȝit the erthe he hadde not maad; and flodis, and the utmost poyntys of the roundnesse of the erthe. Whan he greithede heuenes, I was thereat; whan in certein lawe and cumpas he closide the depnesse of watris. Whan the eir he fastnede aboue; and weȝede the wellis of watris. Whan he cumpaside to the se his terme; and lawe putte to watris, that thei passe not there coostis. Whan he heeng vp the foundemens of the erthe; with hym I was, alle thingis puttende togidere. And I delitede bi alle daȝes, beforn hym alle time, pleiende in to the roundnesse of erthis; and my delicis to be with the sones of men. Now thanne, sones, hereth me; blisful that kepen my weies. Hereth discipline, and beth wise men; and wileth not casten it awei. Blisful the man that hereth me, and that waketh at my ȝate dores al dai; and that waitith at the postis of my dore. Who me shal finde, shal finde lif; and drawen helthe of the Lord. Who forsothe in me shal synnen, shal hurten his soule; alle that hateden me, loouen deth.
Wisdam bilde out to hym an hous; heew out seuen pileris, offride his sacrifises of victorie, mengde win, and sette forth his bord. He sente his hand wymmen, that thei shulde clepe to the heiȝte; and to the wallis of the cite. If any is a litil child; come he to me. And to vnwise men he spac, Cometh, etith my bred; and drinketh win, that I mengde to ȝou. Forsaketh childhed, and liueth; and goth bi the weies of prudence. Who lerneth a scornere, doth wrong he to hymself; and who vndernemeth the vnpitouse, to hymself a wem gendrith. Wile thou not vndernyme the scornere; lest he shul hate thee. Vndirnym the wise man; and he shal looue thee. Ȝif to the wise man ocasioun; and ther shal ben addid to hym wisdam. Tech the riȝtwis man; and he shall heeȝe to take. The begynnyng of wisdam the drede of the Lord; and the kunnyng of halewis prudence. Forsothe bi me shul be multiplied thi daȝes; and ben added to thee the ȝerys of lif. If a wis man thou shul be; to thiself thou shalt be, and to thi neȝheboris. If forsothe a gilere; alone thou shalt bern euel. A fool womman, and crious, and ful of euele draȝtis to delicis, and no thing outerli kunnende, sat in the ȝate doris of hir hous, vpon a sete, in the heȝe place of the cite; that she myȝte clepe men passende bi the weie, and men goende in ther gate. Who is a litil child; bowe he doun to me. And to the sory hertid she spac, Stoln watris ben swettere, and hid bred more swete. And he knew not that there ben ieauntis; and in the depthis of helle the gestis of hir. Who forsothe shal be ioyned to hir; shal falle doun in to helle. For whi he that goth awey from hir; shal be saued.
A wys sone gladeth the fader; forsothe a sone fool, the sorewe is of his modir. No thing shal profiten the tresores of vnpitousnesse; riȝtwisnesse forsothe shal deliuere fro deth. The Lord shal not tormente thurȝ hungir the soule of the riȝtwise; and the spies of the vnpitous men he shal turn vpso doun. Nedynesse wercheth the slowe hond; the hond forsothe of stronge men greitheth richessis. Who forsothe vseth lesingis, this fedeth windis; the same folewith fleende briddes. Who gedereth in rep, is a wis sone; who forsothe routeth in somer, is the sone of confusioun. The blissing of God vpon the hed of the riȝtwis; the mouth forsothe of vnpitous men wickidnesse couereth. The mynde of the riȝtwise with preisingis; and the name of vnpitous men shal waxe stinkinge. The wise man in herte shal kepen the hestis; the fool is beten with lippis. Who goth simpleli, goth trostli; who forsothe beshrewith his weies, shal be maad opene. Who twinclith with eȝe, shal ȝiue sorewe; the fool with lippis shal be bete. The veyne of lif the mouth of the riȝtwis; the mouth forsothe of vnpitous men couereth wickidnesse. Hate rereth striues; and alle giltis charite couereth. In the lippis of the wis man is founde wisdam; and a ȝerde in the rigge of hym that is nedi in herte. Wise men hiden kunnyng; the mouth forsothe of the fool is next to confusioun. The substaunce of the riche man the cite of his strengthe; the ferd of pore men the nedynesse of hem. The werc of the riȝtwis man to lif; the frut forsothe of the vnpitous to synne. The weie of lif to the kepende discipline; who forsothe vndernemyngis forsaketh, erreth. Liende lippis hiden hate; who speketh wrongful blamyng, is an vnwis man. In myche speche shal not lacke synne; who forsothe temperth his lippis, is most prudent. Chosen siluer the tunge of the riȝtwis; the herte of vnpitous men for noȝt. The lippis of the riȝtwise techen manye; who forsothe ben vntaȝt, in the nedynesse of herte shul die. The blessing of the Lord maketh riche men; ne shal be felashipid to them tormenting. As by laȝhing the fool werchith hidous trespas; wisdam forsothe is to a man purueing. That that the vnpitouse dredeth, shal come vpon hym; ther desir to riȝtwis men shal be ȝiue. As tempest passende, shal be the vnpitouse; the riȝtwise forsothe as euere durende ground. As eisel to teeth, and smoke to eȝen; so the slowe to hem that senten hym in the weie. The drede of the Lord leith to daȝes; and the ȝeris of vnpitous men shul be shortid. The biding of riȝtwismen gladnesse; the hope forsothe of vnpitous men shal pershen. The strengthe of the simple the weie of the Lord; and ferd to them that werken euel. The riȝtwis into withoute ende shal not be moued; vnpitouse forsothe shul not dwelle vp on erthe. The mouth of the riȝtwis shal bere wisdam; the tunge of shrewis shal pershen. The lippis of the riȝtwis beholden plesid thingis; and the mouth of vnpitouse peruertid thingis.
A treccherous weȝe abominacioun is anent God; and an euen weiȝt the wil of hym. Wher shal be pride, there shal be wrongful blamyng; wher forsothe is mecnesse, and there wisdam. Simplenesse of riȝtwis men shal riȝt reule them; and supplaunting of peruertid men shal waste them. Richessis shul not profiten in the day of veniaunce; forsothe riȝtwisnesse shal deliuere fro deth. riȝtwisnesse of the simple shal riȝt reulen his weie; and the vnpitous in his vnpitousnesse shal falle. The riȝtwisnesse of riȝt men shal deliuere them; and wicke men in ther aspies shul be take. The vnpytous man dead, noon hope shal ben ouer; and the abiding of bisy men shal pershe. The riȝtwis fro anguysh is deliuered; and shal be take the vnpitous for hym. The feynere in mouth desceyueth his frend; riȝtwis men forsothe shul ben deliuered with kunnyng. In goodis of riȝtwis men shal ben enhauncid the cite; and in the leesing of vnpitous men shal ben preising. Thurȝ the blessing of riȝtwis men shal ben enhauncid the cite; and bi the mouth of vnpitous men it shal be turned vp so doun. Who desceyueth his frend, is nedi in herte; the prudent man forsothe shal be stille. Who goth gilendeli, shewith priue thingus; who forsothe is feithful, hilith the gilte of the frend. Wher is not a gouernour, the puple fallith; helthe forsothe, wher ben manye counselis. He shal be tormentid with euel, that doth feith for a stranger; who forsothe shoneth grenes, shal be sikir. A gracious womman shal finden glorie; and stronge men shuln han richessis. Wel doth to his soule the merciful man; who forsothe is cruel, casteth awei neeȝh men. The vnpitouse maketh werc vnstable; to the sowende forsothe riȝtwisnesse feithfull mede. Noble mercy shal greithe lif; and folewing of euelis deth. Abhominable a shreude herte to the Lord; and his wil in hem, that simply gon. Hond in hond, shal not ben innocent the euele man; the sed forsothe of riȝtwis men shal be saued. A goldene cercle in the nosethirlis of a souwe, a fair womman and a fool. The desir of riȝtwis men alle good thing is; the abiding of vnpitous men wodnesse. Othere men deuyden proper thingus, and ben maad richere; othere reuen not their owne, and euermor ben in nedynesse. The lif that blisseth, shal ben inwardli fattid; and he that maketh inwardli drunken, also hymself shal ben inwardli maad drunken. He that hideth whete in time, shal be cursid in puplis; blessing forsothe vp on the hed of silleris. Wel riseth erli, that secheth goodis; who forsothe is enserchere of euelis, of hem shal be oppressid. Who trosteth in his richessis, shal falle; riȝtwis men forsothe as a greene lef shul burioune. Who disturbith his hous, shal han windis; and he that is a fool, shal seruen to the wise man. The frut of the riȝtwise the tree of lif; and he that vndertaketh soulis, is a wis man. If the riȝtwise in the erthe resceyueth, myche more the vnpitous, and the synnere.
Who looueth discipline, looueth kunnyng; who forsothe hateth blamyngus, is vnwis. Who forsothe is good, shal drawe to hym grace of the Lord; who forsothe trostith in his thoȝtis, vnpitously doth. A man shal not be strengthid of vnpitousnesse; and the roote of riȝtwis men shal not ben al moued. A bisi womman a croune is to hir man; and stinc in the bones of hir, that berth thingus wrthi confusioun. The thoȝtis of riȝtwis men domes; and counseilis of vnpitous men gilesum. The woordis of vnpitous men spien to blod; the mouth of riȝtwis men shal deliuere them. Turne vnpitous men, and thei shul not be; the housis forsothe of riȝtwis men shal abide stille. Bi his doctrine shal be knowen a man; who forsothe is veyn and herteles, shal ben open to despising. Betere is a pore man, and suffisaunt to hymself, than a glorious, and nedi bred. The riȝtwis knewȝ the liues of his helpeli bestis; the bowelis forsothe of vnpitous men cruel. Who werketh his lond, shal be fulfild with loues; who forsothe folewith idel reste, most fool is. Who is sweete, liueth in tempringis; in his monestingis he forsaketh wrongful blamyngis. The desir of the vnpitous is the myndeful place of werst thingis; the roote forsothe of riȝtwis men shal profiten. For the synnes of lippis falling neȝheth to the euel man; forsothe the riȝtwis man shal fleen out of anguysh. Of the frut of his mouth eche shal be fulfild of goodis; and after the werkis of his hondis it shal be ȝolde to hym. The weie of the fool riȝt in the eȝen of hym; who forsothe is a wis man, hereth counseilis. The fool shewith anoon his wrathe; who forsothe dissymulith wrongus, is fel. Who that he knewȝ, speketh, domes man of riȝtwisnesse is; who forsothe lieth, is a gileful witnesse. Ther is that behoteth, and as with a swerd is pungid to the conscience; the tunge forsothe of wise men is helthe. The lippe of truthe shal be fast in to withoute ende; who forsothe is a feerli witnesse, maketh a tunge of lesing. Treccherie in the herte of men thenkende euelys; who forsothe gon in to the counseilis of pes, hem folewith ioȝe. Shal not holli sorewen the riȝtwis man, what euere thing shal falle to hym; vnpitous men forsothe shul be fulfild of euel. Abomynacioun is to the Lord liende lippis; who forsothe feithfulli don, plesen to hym. A man turned to deceit, hilith kunnyng; the herte of vnwise men stireth to folie. The hond of stronge men shal lordshepen; the whiche forsothe is sloȝ, shal serue to tributis. Mornyng in the herte of the riȝtwis man shal meken hym; and with a good woord he shal be maad glad. Who dispisith harm for a frend, is riȝtwis; the weie forsothe of vnpitous men shal desceyue them. The gileful man shal not finde wynnyng; and the substaunce of a man shal be the pris of gold. In the path of riȝtwisnesse lif; the going out wei forsothe ledeth to deth.
The wise sone the doctrine of the fader; who forsothe is a gilere, hereth not, whan he is vndernomyn. Of the frut of his mouth a man shal be fild with goodis; the soule forsothe of the lawe brekeris wicke. Who kepeth his mouth, kepeth his soule; who forsothe is vnauysid to speken, shal felen euelis. The slowe wile, and wile not; the soule forsothe of werkende men shal ben inwardliche fattid. A lesing woord the riȝtwis man shal wlaten; the vnpitous man forsothe shendeth, and shal be shent. riȝtwisnesse kepeth the weie of the innocent; vnpitousnesse forsothe supplauntith the synnere. Ther is as a riche man, whan no thing he hath; and ther is as a pore man, whan in many richesses he is. The aȝeen biyng of the soule of a man his richessis; who forsothe is a pore man, blamyng suffreth not. The liȝt of riȝtwis men maketh glad; the lanterne forsothe of vnpitous men shal ben quenchid. Among proude men euermor ben striues; who forsothe alle thingis don with counseil, ben gouerned with wisdam. Substaunce hastid shal be lassid; that forsothe litilmele is gedered, with hond shal be multeplied. Hope that is deferrid, tormenteth the soule; the tree of lif desir comynge. Who bacbiteth to any thing, he oblisheth hymself in to the time to come; who forsothe dredeth the heste, in pes shal wone. The lawe of a wis man the welle of lif; that he bowe awei fro the falling of deth. Good doctrine shal ȝyue grace; in the weye of dispiseris a swolwȝ. A witti man alle thingis doth with counseil; who forsothe is a fool, shall opene folie. The messager of the vnpitous shal falle in to euel; the feithful sent is helthe. Nedynesse and shenshipe to hym that forsaketh discipline; who forsothe assenteth to the vndernymere, shal ben glorified. Desir, if it be fulfild, delitith the soule; foolis wlaten hem that flen euelis. Who with wise goth, a wis man shal ben; the frend of folis lic shal be maad. Synneres euel pursueth; and to riȝtwis men goode thingis shul be ȝolde. A good man leueth eiris sones, and sonys sones; and is kept to the riȝtwise the substaunce of the synnere. Manye metis in the newid feeldis of fadris; and to othere men thei ben gedered withoute dom. Who spareth to the ȝerde, hatith his sone; who forsothe looueth hym, bisili techeth. The riȝtwis eteth, and fulfillith his soule; the wombe forsothe of vnpitous vnfilable.
The wise womman bildeth vp hir hous; the vnwise the maad out forsothe with hondis shal destroȝe. The goende in riȝt weie, and dredende God, is dispisid of hym, that goth in the euel losid weie. In the mouth of the fool a ȝerde of pride; the lippis of wise men kepen hem. Wher ben not oxen, the cracche is voide; wher forsothe aperen many tilthis, there is open maad the strengthe of the oxe. A feithful witnesse shal not lien; the trecherous witnesse speketh lesing. The scornere seketh wisdam, and findeth not; the doctrine of prudent men liȝt. Go aȝen the fol; and he shal not knowe the lippis of prudence. The wisdam of the witti man is to vnderstonde his weie; and the vnprudence of foolis erring. The fool scorneth synne; among riȝtwis men grace shal wone. The herte that knew the bitternesse of his soule; in ioȝe to hym shal not be togidere mengd a straunger. The hous of vnpitous men shal be don awei; the tabernaclis of riȝtwis men shal burioune. Ther is forsothe a weie, that semeth to a man riȝtwis; the laste thingus forsothe of it bringen doun to deth. Lawȝing with sorewe shal be mengd; and the endis of ioȝe weiling ocupieth. With his weies shal be fulfild the fol; and aboue hym shal be a good man. The innocent trowith to eche woord; the witti beholdeth his goingis. The wise man dredeth, and bowith doun fro euel; the fol ouerlepeth, and trosteth. The vnpacient shal werche folie; and the 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 the ȝatis of riȝtwis men. Also to his neȝhebore the pore man hateful shal be; the frendis forsothe of riche men manye. Who despisith his neȝhebore, synneth; who forsothe doth merci to the pore man, shal be blisful. Who leeueth in the Lord, looueth merci; thei erren, that werchen euel. Mercy and treuthe greithen goodis; in alle good werc plente shal be. Wher forsothe ben manye woordis, there nedynesse ofte. The croune of wise men the richesses of hem; the folie of foolis vnprudence. A feithful witnesse deliuereth soulis; and speketh lesingus the peruertid. In the drede of the Lord trost of strengthe; and to the sones of hym shal ben hope. The drede of the Lord the welle of lif; that he bowe doun fro falling of deth. In the multitude of puple the dignete of the king; and in fewenesse of folc the shenshipe of the prince. Who is pacient, is gouerned with myche wisdam; who forsothe is vnpacient, enhaunceth hys folie. The lif of flesh helthe of herte; the stink of bones enuye. Who wrongfulli chalengeth the nedi, mysseith to his makere; he honoureth hym forsothe, that hath reuthe of the pore. In hys malice is put out the vnpitous; the riȝtwis forsothe hopeth in his deth. In the herte of the prudent man shal reste wisdam; and vntaȝt men also it shal lerne. riȝtwisnesse rereth vp folc; wreccheful maketh puplis synne. Alowid is to the king an vnderstondende seruaunt; the plente of his wrathe the vnprofitable shal suffre.
A nesshe answere breketh wrathe; an hard woord rereth woodnesse. The tunge of wise men enhourneth kunnyng; the mouth of foolis boilith out folie. In alle place the eȝen of the Lord beholden goode men, and euele. A plesable tunge the tree of lif; whiche forsothe is vntemprid, shal defoule the spirit. The fol scorneth the discipline of his fader; who forsothe kepith blamyngis, shal be more witti. In plenteeuous riȝtwisnesse is most vertue; thoȝtys forsothe of vnpitous men shul be pullid out bi the roote. The hous of the riȝtwise myche strengthe; and in the frutis of vnpitouse al disturbaunce. The lippis of wise men shul sowen abrod kunnyng; the herte of foolis vnlic shal ben. The sacrifise of victorie of vnpitous men wlatesum to the Lord; the vouwis of riȝtwys men plesable. Abominacioun is to the Lord the lif of the vnpitous; who folewith riȝtwisnesse, shal be looued of hym. Euel doctrine to the forsakende the weie of lif; who blamyngis hateth, shal dien. Helle and perdicioun befor the Lord; myche more the hertis of the sonus of men. The bacbitere looueth not hym that chastiseth hym; ne to wise men goth. The ioȝende herte maketh out gladsum the face; in mornyng of inwit shal be throwe doun the spirit. The herte of the wise man shal seche doctrine; and the mouth of foolis is fed with vnwisdam. Alle the daȝis of the pore euele; a sikir mynde as a contynuel feste. Betere is a litil with the drede of the Lord, than grete tresoris and vnfillable. Betere is to be clepid to wrtis with charite, than to a fat calf with hate. A man ful of wrathe stirith striues; who is pacient, swageth the vprered. The weie of slowe men as heggis of thornes; the weie of riȝtwis men withoute thing of hurting. A wis sone maketh glad the fader; and a fool man despiseth his moder. Folie is ioȝe to the fool; and a prudent man shal riȝt reulen his goingus. Thoȝtis ben to-scatered, wher is not counseil; wher forsothe ben manye counseileris, thei ben confermed. A man gladeth in the sentence of his mouth; and the spedful sermoun is best. The path of lif vp on the taȝt man; that he bowe doun fro the last helle. The hous of proude men the Lord shal destroȝe; and stedefast he shal make the termes of the widewe. Abominacioun of the Lord euele thoȝtis; a pure sermoun most fair shal be fastned of hym. He al disturbith his hous, that folewith auarice; who forsothe hatith ȝiftis, shal liue. Bi merci and feith ben purgyd synnes; bi the drede forsothe of the Lord bowith doun eche man fro euel. The mynde of the riȝtwis sweteli thenketh wisdam; the mouth of vnpitous men reboundeth to euelis. Ferr is the Lord fro vnpitous men; and the orisouns of riȝtwis men he shal ful out heren. The liȝt of eȝen maketh glad the soule; good los inwardli fattith bones. The ere that hereth blamyngus of lif, in the myddel of wise men shal al abide. Who casteth awei discipline, despiseth his soule; who forsothe assenteth to vndirnymyngis, weldere is of herte. The drede of the Lord discipline of wisdam; and mecnesse goth befor glorie.
Off a man is to make redy the inwit; and of the Lord to gouerne the tunge. Alle the weies of man ben opene to the eȝen of hym; of spiritis the peisere is the Lord. Shewe to the Lord thi werkis; and riȝt reulid shul ben thi thoȝtis. Alle thingus for hymself wroȝte the Lord; also the vnpitouse to the euele dai. Abominacioun is of the Lord eche proud man; also if hond at hond were, he shal not be innocent. The begynnyng of the good wey to do riȝtwyssnesse; is alouwid anent God, more than to offre ostis. Bi merci and treuthe wickidnesse is forboȝt; and in drede of the Lord is bowid awei fro euel. Whan shul plese to the Lord the weies of man, the enemys forsothe of hym he shal turne to pes. Betere is a litil with riȝtwisnesse, than manye frutis with wickidnesse. The herte of man shal disposen his weie; but of the Lord is to riȝt reulen his goingis. Deuynyng in the lippis of the king; in dom his mouth shal not erre. Weiȝte and balaunce ben the domes of the Lord; and his werkis alle the stones of the world. Abominable to the king, that don vnpitously; for bi riȝtwisnesse is fastned the kingis dignete. The wil of the king riȝtwis lippis; that riȝt thingus speketh, shal be riȝt reulid. The indignacioun of the king messageres of deth; and a wis man shal don aseeth to hym. In gladnesse of the chere of the king lif; and the noble mercy of hym as euetid weder. Weld wisdam, for betere it is than gold; and purchase prudence, for it is mor precious than siluer. The path of riȝtwis men bowith awei euelis; the kepere of his soule holdeth faste his weye. Pride goth befor contricioun; and befor falling the spirit shal ben enhauncid. Betere is to be meke with mylde men, than to deuyde spoilis with proude men. The lerned in woord shal finde goodis; and that hopeth in the Lord is blisful. Who is wis in herte, shal be clepid prudent; and who is sweete in fair speche, more thingis shal finde. The welle of lif the lernyng of the weldere; the doctrine of foolis folie. The herte of the wise man shal lerne the mouth of hym; and to the lippis of hym it shal adde grace. The comb of hony wel set woordis; swetnesse of soule is helthe of bones. Ther is a weie that semeth to a man riȝt; and the last thingis of it leden to deth. The soule of the trauailere trauaileth to hymself; for hys mouth compellide hym. An unwis man delueth euel; and in the lippis of hym fyr brenneth. A man peruertid rereth striues; and the man ful of woordis seuereth princis. The wicke man flatereth his frend; and ledeth hym bi a weie not good. That with stoneȝid eȝen thenketh shreude thingis, bitende his lippis parformeth euel. The croune of dignete elde, that in the weie of riȝtwisnesse shal be founde. Betere is the pacient, than a strong man; and that lordshipeth to his wil, than an ouercomere of cites. Lotis ben put in to the bosum; but of the Lord thei ben temprid.
Betere is a drie morsel with ioȝe, than an hous ful of sacrifises of victorie with strif. A wis seruaunt shal lordshipen to sones foolis; and among bretheren eritage he shal deuyde. As bi fyr is proued siluer, and gold bi the chymney, so hertes the Lord preueth. The euele man obesheth to the wicke tunge; and the desceyuable consenteth to the liende lippis. Who dispiseth a pore man, mysseyth to his makere; and who gladeth in the falling of an other, shal not ben vnpunshid. The croune of olde men sones of sones; and the glorie of sones the fadris of hem. There semeth not the fool faire set woordis; ne the prince a liende lippe. Most kinde iemme the abiding of the abidere; whider euere he turneth hymself, prudentli he vnderstant. Who helith the gilte, secheth frenshipis; who with an other sermoun reherceth, seuereth the federed. Mor profiteth correccioun anent the prudent, than an hundrid veniaunces anent the fol. Euermor striues secheth the euel man; the cruel forsothe aungil shal be sent aȝen hym. It spedeth mor to aȝen come to a she bere, whan hir whelpis ben take awey, than to a fol trostende to hymself in his folie. Who ȝeldeth euelis for goodis, shal not go awei euel fro his hous. Who leueth water, hed is of striues; and er he suffre wrong blamyng, dom he forsaketh. And who iustefieth the vnpitouse, and who condempneth the riȝtwise, abominable is either anent God. What profiteth to the fol to han richessis, whan wisdam bie he mai not? Who heiȝ maketh his hous, secheth falling; and who shoneth to lerne, falleth in to euelis. Alle time looueth, that is a frend; and a brother in anguysshis is preued. A fool man shal for ioȝe flappe with hondis, whan he shal behoten for his frend. Who sweteli thenketh discordis, looueth striues; and who enhauncith his herte, secheth falling. Who is of peruertid herte, findeth not good; and who turneth the tunge, shal falle in to euel. Born is the fool in his shenshipe; but ne the fader in the fol shal glade. Ioȝende inwit maketh briȝt age; a drery spirit ful out drieth bones. Ȝiftis of the bosum the vnpitous taketh, that he peruerte the pathis of dom. In the face of the prudent shyneth wisdam; the eȝen of foolis in the endis of erthe. The wrathe of the fader a sone fol; the sorewe of the modir that gat hym. It is not good to bern in harm to the riȝtwis; ne to smyte a prince that riȝt demeth. Who tempreth his woordis, taȝt and prudent is; and of precious spirit the man lerned. The fool forsothe, if he holde his pes, wis shal ben holde; if he threste togidere his lippis, vnderstondende.
Ocasioun secheth, that wil gon awei fro a frend; alle time wariable he shal be. A fol resceiueth not the woordis of prudence; but tho thingis thou shul seyn, that ben ofte turned in his herte. The vnpitous, whan in to depthe of synne shal come, dispiseth; and ther folewith hym shenshipe and repreff. Deep water woordis of the mouth of a man; and a stef strem the reboundende welle of wisdam. To alouwen the persone of the vnpitouse in dom, is not good, that thou bowe awei fro the sothfastnesse of dom. The lippis of the fol shul menge themself with striues; and the mouth of hym debatis stireth. The mouth of the fool to-treding of hym; and the lippis of hym the falling of his soule. The woordis of the twisil tunge as simple; and tho thurȝ comen vnto the entrailis of the wombe. The slowe drede threwȝ doun; the soulis forsothe of wommanysh men shul hungren. Who is nesshe, and dissolut in his werk, brother is of the man scaterende his werkes. The most strong tour the name of the Lord; to it renneth the riȝtwise, and he shal ben enhauncid. The substaunce of the riche man the cite of his strengthe; and as a strong wal cumpassende hym. Er it be to-treden, is enhauncid the herte of a man; and er it be glorified, it is mekid. Who rathere answereth than he hereth, a fool hymself to ben he shewith; and confusioun wrthi. The spirit of the man susteneth his feblenesse; the spirit forsothe liȝt to wrathen, who shal moun sustene? The herte of the prudent shal welde kunnyng; and the ere of wise men secheth doctrine. The free ȝifte of a man spredeth abrod his weie; and befor princis space to hym maketh. The riȝtwis rathere is the acusere of hymself; ther cometh his frend, and he shal enserchen hym. Aȝenseiyngus lot thresteth togidere; and among myȝti men also dyuersly demeth. The brother that is holpen of the brother, as a stef cite; and the domes as barris of cites. Of the frut of the mouth of a man shal be fulfild his wombe; and the buriounyngis of the lippis of hym shul fulfillen hym. Deth and lif in the hondis of the tunge; who loouen it, shuln ete the frutis of it. Who findeth a good womman, findeth good; and shal drawen merthe of the Lord. Who putteth out a good womman, putteth out good; who forsothe holdeth avoutresse, is a fool and vnwis. With obsecraciouns speketh the pore man; and a riche man shal speke out ruggidli. A man amyable to felashipe mor a frend shal be, than a brother.
Betere is a pore man, that goth in simplenes, than a riche man tormentende his lippis, and vnwis. Wher is not kunnyng of soule, is not good; and who is hastif, with feett stumblith. The folie of a man supplauntith hise goingis; and aȝen God boileth in his inwit. Richesses adden manye frendis; fro the pore forsothe and tho that he hadde, ben seuered. A fals witnesse shal not ben vnpunshid; and he that lesing speketh, shal not ascapen. Manye herien the persone of the myȝti; and frendis ben of the ȝiuende ȝiftis. The brethern of the pore man hateden hym; ferthermor and frendis aferr wenten awei fro hym. Who onli woordis folewith, no thing shal han; who forsothe weldere is of the mynde, looueth his soule, and the kepere of prudence shal finde goodis. The false witnesse shal not ben vnpunshid; and that speketh lesing, shal pershen. Delicis semen not the fool; ne the seruaunt to lordshipen to princis. The doctrine of a man bi pacience is knowe; and the glorie of hym is to go biside wicke thingys. As the gnasting of a leoun, so and the wrathe of the king; and as deu vpon erbe, so and the gladnesse of hym. The sorewe of the fader, the sone a fol; and rooues contynuelli thurȝ droppende, a womman ful of strif. Housis and richessis ben ȝeue of the fadris; of the Lord forsothe properli a prudent wif. Slouthe sendeth in slep; and a dissolut soule shal hungre. Who kepeth the maundement, kepeth his soule; who forsothe despisith his weie, shal be maad dead. He vsureth to the Lord, that hath reuthe of the pore; and his while he shal ȝelde to hym. Lerne thou thi sone, ne despeire thou; to the slaȝter forsothe of hym ne poote thou thi soule. Who forsothe is vnpacyent, shal suffre harm; and whan he shall cacche, other thing he shal putte to. Here thou counseil, and vndertac discipline; that thou be wijs in thi laste thingis. Manye thoȝtis in the herte of a man; the wil forsothe of the Lord shal abide stille. A man nedi is merciful; and betere the pore man riȝtwis, than a man liere. The drede of the Lord to lif; and in plenteuousnesse it shal abide stille, withoute visiting of the werste. The slowe hideth his hond vnder the arm pit; ne to his mouth he leith it. The man ful of pestilence scourgid, a fool the wisere shal ben. If forsothe thou chastise the wise man, he shal vnderstonde discipline. Who tormentith the fader, and fleeth the modir, shenful shal be, and vnblisful. Cese thou not, sone, to here doctrine; ne vnknowe thou the woordis of kunnyng. The wicke wytnesse scorneth dom; and the mouth of vnpitous men deuoureth wickidnesse. Greithid ben to scorneres domes; and smytende hameres to the bodies of foolis.
A leccherous thing win, and noiseful drunkenesse; who so euere in these thingis delitith, shal not be wis. As the roring of a leoun, so and the ferd of the king; who terreth hym, synneth aȝen his soule. Wrshipe is to the man that seuereth hym fro striues; alle forsothe foolis shul be mengd with wrong blamyngis. For cold the slowe wolde not eren; thanne he shal begge in somer, and it shal not ben ȝiue to hym. As dep watir, so counseil in the herte of a man; but a wis man shal drawe it out. Manye men merciful ben clepid; a feithful man forsothe who shal finde? The riȝtwis forsothe that goth in his simplenesse, blisful sones aftir hym shal leuen. The king that sit in the see of dom, scatereth alle euelis in his clere loking. Who mai sey, Clene is myn herte; pure withoute synne? Peis and peis, mesure and mesure, either is abhominable anent God. Of his studies is the child vnderstonde, if riȝt ben and clene the workis of hym. The herende ere, and the seende eȝe, the Lord made euer either. Wile thou not looue slep, lest thee nedynesse opresse; opene thin eȝen, and be thou fulfild with loues. Euel it is, euel it is, seith eche biere; and whan he goth awei, thanne he shal glorien. Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and precious vessel, the lippis of kunnyng. Tac the cloth of hym, that borȝ was of the alien; and for straungeres tac awei the wed fro hym. Swete is to a man the bred of lesing; and aftir shal be fulfild the mouth of hym with a litil pibbil ston. Thoȝtis bi counseilis ben strengthid; and bi gouernailis batailis ben to be tretid. To hym that openeth priuetes, and goth gilendeli, and spredeth abrod his lippis, ne be thou togidere mengd. Who cursith to his fader and moder, shal be quenchid his liȝt in myddyl dercnesses. Eritage to the whiche is heeȝid in the begynnyng, in the laste shal lacke blissing. Ne sey thou, I shal ȝelde euel for euel; abid the Lord, and he shal deliuere thee. Abominacioun is anent God weiȝte and weiȝte; a treeccherous balaunce is not good. Of the Lord ben riȝt reulid the goingis of a man; who forsothe of men mai vnderstonde his wei? Falling is of men ofte to vouwe to seintis, and aftir the vouwis aȝeen drawe. Scatereth vnpitous men a wis king; and he bowith in vpon hem a stonene bowe. The lanterne of the Lord the brething place of a man, that enserchith alle the priuetes of the wombe. Mercy and treuthe kepen the king; and his trone is strengthid with noble mercy. The ful out ioȝing of ȝunge men the strengthe of hem; and the dignete of olde men hornesse. The wannesse of wounde shal clense awei euelis, and woundis in the priuyere partys of the wombe.
As deueseouns of watris, so the herte of the king in the hond of the Lord; whider euere he wile, he shal bowe it. Eche weie of a man riȝt to hym semeth; the Lord forsothe peiseth the hertis. To do mercy and dom, more pleseth to the Lord, than sacrifises of victorie. The enhauncing of eȝen is the larging of the herte; the lanterne of vnpitous men synne. The thoȝtis of the strong man euermor in plente; eche forsothe slouȝ euermor is in nedynesse. Who gedereth tresores with the tunge of lesing, vein and herteles is; and he shal be put in to the grenes of deth. Raueynes of vnpitous men shul drawe them doun; for thei wolden not do dom. The peruertid weie of a man alien is fro God; who forsothe is clene, riȝt is the werc of hym. Betere is to sitte in the corner of the hous, than with the womman ful of strif, and in the hous of feste. The soule of the vnpitouse desireth euel; he shal not han merci to his neȝhebore. Punshid the bacbitere, the wisere shal be the litle child; and if he folewe the wise man, he shal take kunnyng. The riȝtwis bethenkith of the hous of the vnpitous, that he drawe awei vnpitous men fro euel. Who stoppeth his ere at the cri of the pore, and he shal crie, and shal not ben herd. ȝifte hyd quencheth wrathis; and fre ȝifte in the bosum most indignacioun. Ioȝe to the riȝtwis is to don dom; and ferd to men werkende wickidnesse. The man that erreth fro the weie of doctrine, in the felashipe of ieauntis shal wone. Who looueth deynte metis, in nedynesse shall be; who looueth win and fatte thingus, shall not be maad riche. For the riȝtwise shal ben ȝoue the vnpitouse; and for the riȝt man the wicke. Betere is to dwelle in desert lond, than with a ianglende womman, and wratheful. Desyrable tresor and oile in the dwelling place of the riȝtwis; and the vnprudent man shal scateren it. Who folewith riȝtwisnesse and mercy, shal finde lif and riȝtwisnesse and glorie. The cite of stronge men the wise man steȝede vp, and destroȝide the strengthe of the trost of it. Who kepeth his mouth and his tunge, kepeth his soule fro anguysshis. The proud man and the enhaunsende hymself is clepid vntaȝt, the whiche in wrathe wercheth pride. Desires slen the slowe; wolden not forsothe the hondis of hym any thing werchen. Al dai he coueitith and desireth; who forsothe is riȝtwis, shal ȝelde, and not cese. The ostis of vnpitous men abominable, that ben offrid of hidous gilte. A witnesse liere shal pershe; the obeisaunt man shall speke victorie. The vnpitous man wowendeli stablith his chere; who forsothe is riȝt, mendeth his weie. Ther is not wisdam, ther is not prudence, ther is not counseil aȝen the Lord. An hors is maad redi to the dai of bataile; the Lord forsothe helthe shal ȝeelden.
Betere is a good name, than manye richessis; ouer siluer forsothe and gold good grace. The riche man and the pore metten togidere; the werkere of euer either is the Lord. The felle man seeth euel, and hideth hymself; and the innocent passede, and is tormentid with harm. The ende of manernesse the dred of the Lord; richessis, and glorie, and lif. Armes and swerdis in the weie of the proud; the kepere forsothe of his soule ferr goth awei fro hem. A prouerbe is, A ȝung ful waxen man aftyr his weie, and whan he eldeth, shal not gon awei fro it. The riche man to pore men comaundeth; and he that taketh borewing, seruaunt is of the vsurer. Who sowith wickidnesse, shal repen euelis; and the ȝerde of his wrathe shal be ful endid. Who redi is to mercy, shal be blissid; of his loues forsothe he ȝaf to the pore. Victorie and worshipe shal purchace, that ȝeueth ȝiftis; forsothe he taketh awei the soule of the resceyueres. Cast awey the scornere, and with hym shal gon out strif; and causis shul cese, and wrong blamyngis. Who looueth clennesse of herte, for the grace of his lippis shal han the king frend. The eȝen of the Lord kepe kunnyng; and supplauntyd ben the woordis of the wicke. The slowe shal seyen, A leoun is withoute; in the myddel of the stretes I am to be slain. A dep dich the mouth of the alien womman; to whom the Lord is wroth, shal falle in to hir. Folie is bounde togidere in the herte of the child; and the ȝerde off discipline shal driuen awei it. Who wrong chalengeth the pore, that he eeche his richessis, he shal ȝyue to a richere, and neden. My sone, bowe in thin ere, and here the woordis of wise men; lei to forsothe herte to my doctrine. The whiche fair shal be to thee, whan thou kepist it in thi wombe, and shal rebounde in thi lippis. That in the Lord be thyn trost; wherfore and I shal shewe to thee it to dai. Lo! I haue discriued it thre wise, in thoȝtus and kunnyng, that I shulde shewe to thee stedefastnesse; and faire spechis of treuthe thou shuldest answere of these thingis to them that senten thee. Do thou not violence to the pore, for he is pore; ne to-trede thou the nedy in the ȝate. For the Lord shal deme the cause of hym, and he shal stike them, that stekeden the lif of hym. Wile thou not be frend to a man ful of wrathe, ne go thou with a wood man; lest parauenture thou lerne the pathis of hym, and take sclaunder to thi soule. Wile thou not be with them that ficche doun ther hondis, and that borewis offren hemself for dettis; if forsothe thou hast wherof thou restore, what of cause is, that thou take coueryng fro thi bed? Ne ouerpasse thou olde termes, the whiche thi fadris setteden. Hast thou seen a swift man in his werc? befor kingis he shal stonde, ne he shal ben beforn vnnoble men.
Whan thou shal sitte, that thou ete with a prince, besili tac heede that ben set befor thi face, and set a culter in thi throte. If ner the latere thou haue power in to thi soule, ne desire thou of the metis of hym, in the whiche is the bred of lesing. Wile thou not trauailen that thou be riche, but to thi prudence put maner. Ne rere thou thin eȝen to richessis, that thou maist not han; for thei make to them federis, as of an egle, and thei shul flee in to heuene. Ne ete thou with an enuyous man, and ne desire thou the metis of hym; for in licnesse of a deuynour and of a fals castere, he eymeth that he knowith not. Et and drink, he shal sei to thee; and the mynde of hym is not with thee. The metes that thou hast eten, thou shalt spewen out; and thou shalt leesen thi faire wrdis. In the eres of vnwise men speke thou not; for thei shul dispisen the doctrine of thi speche. Ne ateyne thou the termes of litle childer; and the feeld of moderles childer go thou not in. The neeȝh forsothe of them is strong, and he shal demen aȝen thee the causes of hem. Go in to doctrine thin herte, and thin eris to the wrdis of kunnyng. Wile thou not withdrawe fro a child discipline; if forsothe thou smyte hym with ȝerde, he shal not die. Thou with a ȝerde shalt smite hym, and the soule of hym fro helle thou shalt deliueren. My sone, if wijs were thin inwit, myn herte shal ioȝen with thee; and ful out shuln ioȝen my reenes, whan thi lippis shul speke riȝt. Ne enuye thin herte synneres; but in the drede of the Lord be thou al dai. For thou shalt han hope in the laste, and thin abiding shal not ben taken awei. Heere, my sone, and be thou wijs, and riȝt reule in the weie thin inwit. Wile thou not ben in the festis of drinkeris, ne in the meteshipis of hem, that flesh to eten bringen. For thei tendende to drinkis, and ȝiuende scot, shul ben wastid, and napping shal be clad with clothis. Heere thou thi fader, that gat thee; and ne dispise thou, whan shal eelden thi moder. Bie treuthe, and wile thou not selle wisdam, and doctrine, and vnderstonding. Ful out ioȝeth with ioȝe the fader of the riȝtwise; that a wis man gat, shal gladen in hym. Ioȝe thi fader and thi moder, and ful out ioȝe, that gat thee. Ȝif, sone myn, thin herte to me, and thin eȝen my weies kepe thei. A dep dich forsothe is a strumpet, and a streit pit an alien womman. She waiteth in the weie, as a thef; and whom vnsleiȝ she seeth, she shal slen. To whom wo? to whos fader wo? to whom strif? to whom dichis? to whom withoute cause woundis? to whom thristing out of eȝen? Whether not to them, that dwellen in win, and studien to chalices to ben drunken vp? Ne beholde thou the win, whan it floureth, whan shal shine in the verr the colour of it. It shal gon in softe, but in the laste it shal bite as a shadewe eddere, and as a kokatrice venymys shal heelden abrod. Thin eȝen shul beholde straunge wymen, and thin herte shal speke peruertid thingus. And thou shalt ben as slepende in the myddil se, and as the steris man al forslept, the steer staf lost. And thou shalt sey, Thei beeten me, but I sorewide not; thei drowen me, and I felide not; whanne shal I wake, and eft wines finden?
Ne enuye thou euele men, ne desire thou to ben with them. For raueynes sweteli thenketh the mynde of hem, and giles the lippis of hem speken. Bi wisdam shal the hous ben bild, and bi prudence it shul be strengthid. In doctrine shul be fulfild the celeris, with alle precious substaunce and most fair. A wis man is strong, and a taȝt man is stalwrthe and myȝti. For with disposicioun men goth in to bataile; and helthe shal ben, wher ben many counseilis. Ful heeȝ to the fool wisdam; in the ȝate he shal not openen his mouth. Who thenketh euelis to don, a fool shal ben clepid. The thenking of the fool is synne; and abhominacioun of men the bacbitere. If slyden thou despeire, in the dai of anguysh shal be maad litil thi strengthe. Deliuere hem, that ben lad to deth; and that ben drawen to diyng, to deliuere ne cese thou. If thou shul seyn, Strengthis seruen not; he that is the inward beholdere of herte, vnderstondith, and the kepere of thi soule no thing begilith, and shall ȝelde to a man after his werkis. Et, sone, hony for good; and the most swete honycomb to thi throte. So and the doctrine of wisdam to thi soule; the whiche whan thou findist, thou shalt han in the laste thingus hope; and thin hope shal not pershe. Ne aspie thou, and seche vnpitousnesse in the hous of the riȝtwis, ne waste thou the reste of hym. Seuene sithes forsothe shal falle the riȝtwis, and risen; the vnpitouse forsothe shal fallen in to euel. Whan thin enemy fallith, ne ioȝe thou; and in the falling of hym ful out ioȝe not thin herte; lest perauenture the Lord see, and it displese to hym, and he take awei fro hym his wrathe. Striue thou not with the werste men, and enuye thou not vnpitose men. For euele men han not hope of thingus to come, and the lanterne of vnpitous men shal be quenchid. Dreed God, sone myn, and the king; and with bacbiteres be thou not mengd. For sodeynli at ones shal rise the perdicioun of hem, and the falling of euer either who knewȝ? These thingus forsothe to wise men. To knowen persone in dom is not good. Who seith to the vnpitous, Thou 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, that riȝt wrdis answerth. Greithe out forth thi werc, and bisili enhaunte thi feeld, that aftir thou bilde vp thin hous. Be thou not a witnesse in idil aȝen thi neȝhebore; and ne flatere thou any man with thi lippes. Ne sey thou, As he dide to me, so I shal do to hym, and I shal ȝelde to eche man after his werc. Bi the feld of the slowe man I passede, and bi the vyne of the fool man; and lo! al netlis hadden fulfild, thornes hadden couered the vtmost of it, and the wal of stones was destroȝed. The whiche whan I hadde see, I putte in myn herte, and bi exsaumple lernede discipline. Hou longe, slowe, thou slepist? hou longe fro slep thou shalt rise? A litil forsothe thou shalt slepe, a litil while thou shalt nappe, a litil thin hondis thou shalt lei togidere, that thou reste; and ther shal come to thee as a corour thi nedynesse, and thi beggingnesse as a man armyd.
These forsothe the Parablis of Salamon, the whiche translateden the men of Ezechie, king of Juda. The glorie of God is to hilyn a wrd; and the glorie of kingis to enserchen a sermoun. Heuene aboue, and erthe benethe, and the herte of kingus vnserchable. Do awei rust from siluer, and ther shal gon out a most pure vessel. Do awei vnpitousnesse fro the chere of the king, and bi riȝtwisnesse shal ben fastned the trone of hym. Ne glorious apere thou befor the king, and in place of grete men stonde thou not. Betere is forsothe, that it be seid to thee, Steȝe vp hidir, than that thou be mekid beforn a prince. That thin eȝen seȝen, ne speke thou soone in strif; lest parauenture thou mowe not amende, whan thou hast dishonestid thi frend. Thi cause trete with thi frend, and priuyte to a straunger opene thou not; lest perauenture he asaile to thee, whan he shal heren, and to repreuen cese not. Grace and frendshipe delyueren, the whiche kepe thou to thee, lest thou be maad repreuable. A goldene cheke bon in siluerene beddis, that speketh a wrd in his tyme. A goldene erering, and a margarite shynende, that vndernemeth a wis man, and an ere obedient. As cold of snoȝ in the dai of rep, so an feithful messager to hym that sente hym; the soule of hym to resten he maketh. Cloud and wind, and reines not folewende, a man glorious, and the behestes not fulfillende. Bi pacience shal ben maad softe the prince; and a nesshe tunge shal to-breke hardnesse. Hony thou hast founden, ett that suffiseth to thee; lest parauenture fulfild thou spewe it out. Withdraȝ thi foot fro the hous of thi neȝhebore; lest any time fulfild, he shul hate thee. Spere, and swerd, and sharp arwe, a man that speketh aȝen his neȝhebore fals witnesse. A roten toth, and a foot sliden, that hopith vpon the vnfeithful in the dai of anguysh, and leeseth the mantil in the dai of cold. Eisel in glas, that singeth dites with peruertid herte. As a moȝhe to the cloth, and a werm to the tree, so sorewe of a man noȝeth to the herte. If thin enemy shul hungren, feed hym; if he thristith, ȝif hym watir to drinke; forsothe colis thou shalt gadere togidere vp on the hed of hym; and the Lord shal ȝelde to thee. A northerne wind scatereth reynes; and a dreri face the bacbitende tunge. Betere is to sitte in a corner of a roof, than with a womman ful of strif, in the hous of a feste. Cold watir to the threstende soule; and a good messager fro a ferr lond. A welle trublid bi foot, and a veyne corupt, the riȝtwis fallende beforn the vnpitous. As he that etith myche hony, and it is not to hym good; so that is a serchere of mageste, shal ben opressid of glorie. As an opyn cite, and withoute enuyrounyng of wallis; so a man that mai not in speking chastisen his spirit.
What maner snoȝ in somer, and reyn in rep time; so vnsemende is to the fool glorie. For as a brid to heȝe thingus 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 the reg of vnprudent men. Answere thou not to a fool aftir his folie, lest thou 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, that sendith wordus bi a fool messager. What maner the halte hath in veyn faire leggis; so vnsemende thing is in the mouth of foolis a parable. As he that sendith a ston in to an hep of monee; so he that ȝiueth to an vnwis man wrshipe. What maner if a thorun be growen in the hond of the drunken; so a parable in the mouth of foolis. Dom determyneth causes; and he that puttith silence to a fool, swageth wrathis. As an hound that tourneth aȝeen to his vome; so an vnprudent man, that reherseth his folie. Hast thou seen a man wis to be seen to hymself? more than he an vnwis man shal han hope. The slowe seith, A leoun is in the weie, and a leounesse is in the gatis. As a dore is turned in his heeng; so a sloȝ man in his litle bed. A sloȝ man hidith his hondis vnder his arm pit; and trauailith, if to his mouth he shal turne them. Wisere to hymself the slowe semeth, than seuene men spekende sentences. As he that cachith bi the eres a dogge; so he that passeth, and vnpacient shal be mengd with to the strif of an other. As gilti he is, that sendith speres and arwes in to deth; so the man that gilendeli noȝeth to his frend, and whan he were caȝt, shal sey, Pleiende I dide. Whan wodis shuln failen, the fyr shal ben queynt; and the groynere withdrawen, striues togidere resten. As deade colis to quyke colis, and wode to fyr; so a wratheful man rereth striues. The wrdis of a groynere as simple; and thei comen thurȝ to the inmostis of the herte. What maner as with foul siluer thou wilt honoure britil vessel; so swellende lippis with werst herte felashipid. In his lippis is vndirstonde the enemy, whan in herte he hath tretid treccheries. Whan he shal vndirputte his vois, ne ȝiue thou credence to hym; for seuene wickidnesses ben in the herte of hym. Who couereth hate gilendeli, shal ben opened the malice of hym in counseil. Who delueth a dich, shal falle in to it; and who ouirturneth a ston, it shal ben aȝeen turned to hym. A deseyuable tunge looueth not the treuthe; and the slideri mouth werchith fallingis.
Ne glorie thou in to the moru, vnknowende what the dai to ouercome bringe forth. Preise thee an alien, and not thi mouth; a straunger, and not thi lippis. Heuy is the ston, and charious is the grauel; but the wrathe of the fool is heuyere than either. Wrathe hath not mercy, ne brekende out wodnesse; and the bure of the stirid spirit bern who shall moun? Betere is open amending, than hid looue. Betere ben the woundis of the loouere, than the gileful kosses of the hatere. The soule fulfild shal to-trede the hony comb; the soule forsothe hungrende also bitter for sweete shal take. As a brid ouerpassende fro his nest, so a man that forsaketh his place. With oynement and diuers smellis deliteth the herte; and with goode counseilis of the frend the soule is swetid. Thi frend, and the frend of thi fader, ne leue thou; and the hous of thi brother go thou not in, in the dai of thi tormenting. Betere is a neȝhebore biside, than a brother aferr. Studie to wisdam, sone myn, and glade thou myn herte; that thou mowe to the repreuere answern a wrd. The felle seende euel is hid; litle childer forth passende suffreden harmys. Tac the clothing of hym, that behotith for a straunger; and for an alien tac awei to hym a wed. Who blissith to his neȝhebore with a gret vois, fro nyȝt risende, to the cursere shal be lic. Rooues thurȝ droppende in the dai of cold, and a womman ful of strif ben comparisound togidere. Who holdith hir, as he heelde wind; and the oile of his riȝt side he auoide out. Iren with iren is whettid out; and a man whettith out the face of his frend. Who kepith a fige tree, shal ete the frutis of it; and who kepere is of his lord, shal ben glorified. What maner wise in watris aȝeen shinen the cheres of men lokende; so the hertes of men ben opened to prudent men. Helle and perdicioun neuere ben fulfild; and the eȝen of men vnfillable. What maner wise siluer is preued in the ȝeting vessel, and gold in the furneis; so is preued a man in the mouth of preiseris. The herte of the wicke sechith out euelis; the riȝt forsothe herte secheth out kunnyng. If thou bete togidere a fool in a morter, as hoolid barli smytende there vp on the pestel; shal not ben take awei fro hym his folie. Bisili knowe thou the chere of thi beeste; and thi flockis behold. Forsothe thou shalt not han continuelli power; but a croune shal be ȝolde to thee in ieneracioun of ieneraciouns. Opened ben the medwis, and apereden greene erbis; and gedered ben heys fro the hillis. Lombis ben to thi clothing; and geet to the pris of the feeld. Suffise to thee the mylc of got in to thi metes; in to the necessaries of thin hous, and to liflode to thin hond wymmen.
The vnpitouse fleeth, no man pursuende; the riȝtwis forsothe as a leoun trostende without ferd shal be. For the synnes of the erthe manye princis of it; and for the wisdam of a man, and the kunnyng of these thingus that ben seid, the lif of a duk shal ben lengere. A man pore chalengende pore men, lic is to hidous weder, in whiche is greithid hunger. Who forsaken the lawe, preisen the vnpitous; who kepen, shul ben tend vp aȝen hym. Euele men thenken not dom; who forsothe aȝeen sechen the Lord, taken to heed alle thingus. Betere is a pore man goende in his simplenesse, than a riche man in his shreude weies. Who kepith the lawe, a wis sone is; who forsothe glotounes fedith, shendith his fader. Who kepith togidere richesses with vsures, and with free wynnyng of vsure, in to pore men he gedereth hem togidere. Who bowith doun his eres, that he here not the lawe; his orisoun shal be maad cursful. Who desceyueth riȝte men in an euel weie, in his deth shal falle; and simple men shuln welden his goodis. A wis man to hymself is seen a riche man; the pore forsothe prudent shal enserchen hym. In the ful out ioȝing of riȝtwis men myche glorie is; regnende vnpitous men, fallingus ben of men. Who hidith his hidous giltis, shal not ben riȝt reulid; who forsothe knoulechith and forsakith, mercy shal gete. Blisful the man, that euermor is ferdful; who forsothe 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 forsothe hatith auarice, long shul be made the daȝes of hym. The man that wrongfulli chalengith to the soule, the blod of hym, if vn to the lake he shul flee, no man susteneth. Who goth simpleli, shal ben saaf; who in peruertid weies shal go, shal falle togidere at ones. Who werchith his erthe, shal be fulfild with loeues; who folewith idil reste, shal ben fulfild with nedynesse. A man feithful myche shal ben preisid; who forsothe heeȝeth to be maad riche, shal not ben innocent. Who knowith in dom face, he this doth not wel; and for a morsel of bred he forsaketh the treuthe. The man that heeȝeth to be maad riche, and to othere men enuyeth; vnknowith that nedinesse come vp on to hym. Who chastiseth a man, grace aftir shal find anent hym; more than he that bi flateringus of tunge bigilith. Who withdrawith any thing fro his fader and moder, and seith that not to ben synne, parcener is of a man sleere. Who bostith of hymself, and spredeth abrod, sterith striues; who forsothe hopeth in the Lord, shal be saued. Who trostith in his herte, is a fool; who forsothe goth wisly, he shal ben preisid. Who ȝiueth to the pore, shal not neden; who dispiseth the preiere louli, shal suffre scarnesse. Whan vnpitous men shuln risen, men shul ben hid; and whan thei han pershid, the riȝtwise shul ben multiplied.
To the man, that the chastisere with hard noll dispisith, feerli deth shal come vp on to hym; and hym helthe shal not folewe. In the multepliyng of riȝtwis men shal gladen the comun; and whan vnpitous men han taken princehed, the puple shal weilen. The man that looueth wisdam, gladith his fader; who forsothe nurshith an hoore, shal leese substaunce. A riȝtwis king rereth vp the lond; an auerous man shal destroȝen it. The man that with flateryng and feyned wrdis spekith to his frend; a net spredith to his goingis. The sinnende wicke man a grene shal inwrappe; and the riȝtwise shal preisen, and ioȝen. The riȝtwise kneȝ the cause of pore men; the vnpitous vnknowith kunnyng men. Bacbitende scateren the cite; wise men forsothe turnen awei wodnesse. A wis man if with a fool shul striue; whethir he laȝhe, or wrathe, he shal not finde reste. Men of blodis hateden the simple; riȝtwis men forsothe sechen the soule of hym. Al his spirit bringeth forth the fool; a wis man berth ouer, and kepith vnto afterward. A prince that gladli hereth the wrdis of lesing; alle the mynystris hath vnpitouse. The pore and the creaunsour metten togidere; of either the liȝtnere is the Lord. The king that demeth in treuthe pore men; the trone of hym in to withoute ende shal be fastned. Ȝerde and correccioun shal ȝelde wisdam; the child forsothe, that is laft to his wil, confoundith his modir. In the multipliyng of vnpitous men shuln ben multiplied hidous giltis; and the fallingis of hem riȝtwis men shul see. Lerne thi sone, and he shal refreshen thee; and he shal ȝiue delices to his soule. Whan prophecie shal faile, the puple shal ben scaterid; who forsothe kepith the lawe, is blisful. The seruaunt in wrdis mai not ben lerned; for that that thou seist, he vndirstant, and to answern he dispisith. Hast thou seen a man swift to speken? folie more is to ben hopid than the correccioun of hym. Who delicatli fro childhed nurshith his seruaunt; afterward shal feelen hym vnobeisaunt. The man wratheful stireth striues; and he that is liȝt to han indignacioun, shal be to synnes more redi. The proude man lounesse folewith; and the meke man in spirit glorie shal resceyue. Who with a theef is parcener, hatith his soule; the adiurere he hereth, and not shewith. Who dredith a man, soone shal falle; who hopith in the Lord, shal ben vp rerid. Manye sechen the face of the prince; and dom of eche shal gon out fro the Lord. Riȝtwis men wlaten the vnpitous man; and vnpitous men wlaten hem, that ben in the riȝt weie. The sone kepende the wrd shal ben out of perdicioun.
The wrdis of the gederere, vomende sone. The viseoun that a man spac, with whiche is God, and that, God with hym wonende, coumfortid, seith, Most fool I am of men; and the wisdam of men is not with me. I lernede not wisdam; and I knewȝ the kunnyng of seintus. Who steȝide vp in to heuene, and who cam doun? Who with heeld spirit in his hondis? who bond togidere watris as in a cloth? Who rerede alle the termes of the erthe? What name is of hym? and what name of the sone of hym, if thou knewe? Eche sermoun of God firid, a sheld it is to alle hoperis in itself. Ne adde thou any thing to the wordis of hym; and thou be vndernome, and founde a liere. Two thingus I preȝede to thee; ne denien thou to me, er I die. Vanyte and lesing wrdis fer do awei fro me; beggerie and richessis ne ȝiue thou to me; ȝif onli to my liflode nedeful thingus; lest par auenture I fulfild, be drawen to denyen, and seie, Who is the Lord? and thurȝ nede constreyned, stele, and forswere the name of my God. Ne acuse thou a seruaunt to his lord, lest par auenture he curse to thee, and thou falle. Jeneracioun is, that to his fader cursith, and that to his moder blisseth not. Jeneracioun that to hymself clene is seen, and neuer the latere it is not wasshe fro his filthis. Jeneracioun of the whiche ben the eȝen and the eȝe lidis of it in to heȝe thingus vp rerid. Jeneracioun that for teth hath swerdis, and chewith with his wang teth; that he ete helpeles fro the erthe, and pore men fro men. Waterlechis two ben doȝtris, seiende, Bring on, bring on. Thre thingus ben vnfillable, and the ferthe, that seith neuermore, It suffisith; helle, and the mouth of a womman wombe, and the erthe that neuer is fild with water; fijr forsothe neuermor seith, It suffiseth. The eȝe that scorneth the fader, and that dispiseth the birthe of his moder, pecken hym out crowis of the stremes; and ete hym the sonus of the egle. Thre thingus ben hard to me, and the ferthe outerli I knowe not; the weie of an egle in heuene, the weie of the shadewe eddere on a ston, the weie of a ship in the myd se, and the weie of a man in his waxende ȝouthe. Such is the weie of the womman auoutresse, that etith, and wipende hir mouth, seith, I haue not wroȝt euel. Bi thre thingus is moued the erthe, and the ferthe it mai not sustene; bi a seruaunt, whan he regneth; bi a fool, whan he were fulfild with 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 thingus ther ben the leste of erthe, and thei ben wisere than wise men; amptis, a feble puple, that greithen in rep time mete to them; a litil hare, a folc vnmyȝti, that in a ston his bed settith; a king the locuste hath not, and it goth out alle bi cumpanyes; a lisard with hondis cleueth, and he dwellith in the housis of a king. Thre thingus ben, that weel gon, and the ferthe, that goth welsumly. A leoun, most strong of bestes, at aȝen coomyng of noon shal dreden; a cok gyrd vp the leendis, and a ram, and ther is not that withstonde to hym. And that fool shal seme, aftir that he is rerid vp in to heeȝ; if forsothe he hadde vnderstonden, to his mouth he hadde put on hond. Who forsothe strongli thresteth tetes, to drawen out mylc, threstith out buttere; and who hugeli smyteth, drawith out blod; and who terreth wrathis, bringeth forth discordis.
The wrdis of Lamuel, the king; the siȝte in whiche his moder taȝte hym. What my leef? what my leef of my wombe? what my leef of my vouwis? Ne ȝiue thou to wimmen thi substaunce, and thi richesses to ben don awei kingus. Wile thou not to kingus, O! Lamuel, wile thou not to kingus ȝiue win; for no priuyte is, where drunkenesse regneth. Lest par auenture thei drinken, and forȝeten domes, and chaungen the cause of the sonus of the pore. Ȝiueth cither to mornende men, and win to hem that ben in bitter inwit. Drinke thei, and forȝete thei of ther nedynesse; and of ther sorewe recorde thei no more. Opene thi mouth to the doumbe, and to the causes of alle sones that passen, opene thou thi mouth. Deme that is riȝtwis, and venge the helpeles and the pore.
Aleph. A strong womman who shal finde? aferr and fro the utmost endis the pris of hir.
Beth. Trosteth in hir the herte of hir man; and spoiles he shal not neden.
Gimel. She shal ȝelde to hym good, and not euel, alle the daȝes of hir lif.
Deleth. She soȝte wlle and flax; and wroȝte bi the counseil of hir hondis.
He. She is mad as a ship of a marchaund, fro aferr bringende hir bred.
Vau. And fro the 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 the frut of hir hondis she plauntide a vyne.
Heth. She girde to with strengthe hir leendis, and made stalwrthe hir arm.
Teth. She tastide, and saȝ, for good is the chaffaring of hir; shall not ben quenchid in the nyȝt the lanterne of hir.
Joth. Hir hond she putte to stronge thingus, and hir fingris caȝten the spindle.
Caf. Hir hond she openede to the helpeles, and hir paumes she straȝte out to the pore.
Lameth. She shal not drede to hir hous of coldys of snoȝ; alle forsothe hir homli men ben clad with double.
Men. A rai cloth she made to hir; bijs and purpre the clothing of hir.
Num. Noble in the ȝates the man of hir, whan he shal sitte with the senatoures of the erthe.
Sameth. Sendel she made, and solde; and a litil girdil she toc to Canane.
Ayn. Strengthe and fairnesse the clothing of hir; and she shal laȝhen in the laste dai.
Fee. Hir mouth she openede to wisdam; and the lawe of noble merci in the tunge of hir.
Sade. She beheeld the pathis of hir hous; and idil bred she eet not.
Cof. Ther risen the sones of hir, and most blisful precheden; and the man of hir preiside hir.
Res. Manie doȝtris gedereden richesses; thou ouerpassedist alle.
Syn. Desceyuable grace and veyn is fairnesse; the womman dredende the Lord, she shal be preisid.
Thau. Ȝiueth to hir of the frut of hir hondis; and preisen hir in the ȝates hir werkis.
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