THE HOLY BIBLE,
CONTAINING
THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS,
WITH THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS,
IN THE EARLIEST ENGLISH VERSIONS
MADE FROM THE LATIN VULGATE BY
JOHN WYCLIFFE AND HIS FOLLOWERS;
EDITED BY .
THE REV. JOSIAH FORSHALL, F.R.S. ETC.
LATE FELLOW OF EXETER COLLEGE,
AND
SIR FREDERIC MADDEN, K.H. F.R.S. ETC.
KEEPER OF THE MSS. IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
VOLUME III.
OXFORD, AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.
M.DCCC.L.
^
PROVERBS.
[Prologue on the book of Proverbs*:~\
IN these Prouerbis of Salomon is contened myche prudence and vndurstonding, jouen to Salomon bi the Spirit of God, and acordinge in many places with the gospel of Crist. And as Crist techith in his gospel goostli wisdom oonli, so Salomon techith worldli warnesse, how a man owith to gouerne him prudentli in the world, and to be war of perels and mescheues, and to fle nedynesse, and to schewe bi his gouernaunce, that the prudence of God is with him, which is arettid as lijt, and folie is arettid as derknesse.
Heere bygyneth the prologe in the booc off Prouerbys*.
'To Cromacie and Eliodere, bishopis, Jerome sendeth greeting1". Joynec the epistil whom ioyneth presthod ; 3he, the chartre twynne not, whom the looue of Crist knytteth. Exposiciouns in Osee, Amos, Zacharie, and Malachie, thed whiche 3ee asken, I shulde han write, if it hadde ben leeful for siknesse. 3ee senden solacys of costis, 3oure notories, and bokis writeres sustenende, that to 3ou most cure6 wit trauaile. And lo ! asidef the hauntende puple of men diuerse thingis askende, as or£ euene it be meh to trauailen, 3ou hungrende, also to othere, or, in resoun of 3yuen thing and taken, to any, saue 3ou, I be bounde. And so thur3 long siknesse brosid, lest fulli this 3eer I shulde be stille, and anent' 3ou I were doumb, the were of thre da3is to 3oure name I sacride ; the remenyng, that is, of thej thre volumes of Salomon, Masloch, that Ebrues Parablis, the comun making Prouerbis clepeth ; Coelech, that Grecli Eclesiasten, Latinli a Spekere wee moun seyn ; Cirasirym, that in to cure tunge is turned Song of Songis. It is told andk Panarethos, the boc of Jhesu, sone of Cirach ; and an other falsly writen, that is inwriten1 the Wisdam of Salamon. Of whichem the rathere I fond Ebru, not Ecclesiasticum, as anent the Latynes, but Parablis beforn notid ; to whom weren ioyned Eclesiastes and the Song of Songis ; that he shulde euene to" the licnesse of Salamon, not onli in noumbre of bokis, but also in maner0 of mateeris. The secounde anent the Ebrues is neuer no wher, for and that maner of speche sauoureth the Grekis faire specheP; and summe of olde writeres afermen this boc to ben of Jew Filon. As thanne Judith, and Tobie, and the bokis of
a This prologue is from M.
a Heer begynnelh the preface of seynt Jerom in the booc of Prouerbis. EGHI. Here bigynneth the prolog on the Parablis of Salamon. L. No initial rubric in AR. b Jerom sendith greetinge to Cromacie and
to Eliodere, bischopis L. c I ioyne R. d Om. u. e joure L. f of the side i. e Om. R. h Om. n. 1 anentis A el E et L passim. J Om. c. k Om. LR. ' writen LR. m the whiche c pr. m. I. n Om. .tui.n. 0 the maner L. P spechis R.
VOL. III.
2
PROVERBS.
i. i — 13.
Macabeis, redeth hem forsothe the chirche, but among the reuleer scnptuns resceyueth not ; so and these two volumes rede hei to the edificacioun of the* puple, not to the autorite of chirche teching* to ben confermed. If to any man forsothe more plese the translacioun of the seuenty remenoures, he hath it sum time amend* of vs Ne forsothe so newe thingis wee maken, that olde thingis wee desire. And 'neuer the latere', whan most diligentli redeth he", wite he oure writen thingis to ben vnderstonde, that ben not coruptid held* into the thridde vessel, but, anoon from the presse most pureli the vessel 3euen, han kept their sauour.
Here endith the prolog, and here btgynnen the ParaMs of Salomon".
Here-bigynneth the Parablis of Sa- lomon*,
CAP. I.
i THE parablis of Salamon, sone of Da- auid, king of Irael ; to ben koud wisdam,
3 and discipline ; to ben vnderstonden the woordis of prudence; and to ben vndir- take enformyng of doctrine, ri3twysnesse,
4 and dom, and equite ; that felnesse be 3eue to litle childer, and to the 3unge ful waxen, kunnyng and vnderstonding.
5 Herende the wise wisere shal ben ; and vnderstondende gouernaile he shal welde.
e Take he heede the parable, and the re-
menyng ; the woordis of wise men, and 7 the derke spechis of hem. The drede of
the Lord the? begynnyng of wisdam ; s wisdam and lore foolis dispisen. Here,
my sone, the discipline of thi fader, and 9ne leue thou the lawe of thi modir; that
ther be added grace to thin hed, and a iobe3ez to thi necke. My sone, if theea
synneres fulfiile with mylc, ne assente nthoub to them. If thei sey, Cum thou
with vs, waite wee to the blod, hide
wee grenes a3en the innocent in veyn ; laswolewe wee hym, as helle the liuende;
and hoi as the descendende in to the is lake; alle precious substaunce we shul
Here bigynnen the Prouerbis of Sa-
lomon*.
CAP. I.
The parablis of Salomon, the sone of i Dauid, king of Israel ; to kunne wisdom 2 and kunnyng; to vndurstonde the wordiss of prudence; and to take the lernyng of teching ; to take ri3tfulnesse, and dom, and equyte ; that felnessebb* be 3ouun to litle 4 children!, and kunnyng, and vndurstond- hie to a sone wexynee man. A wise nianr. tcAi'rf«™--that
• ° is, symple men.
heringe schal be wiserec; and a man vn- Lire here, cet
durstondinge schal holde gouernails. Hec
schal perseyue a parable, and expown-
yngd|; the wordis of wise men, and the
derk figuratif spechis of hem. The" drede?
of the Lord is the bieynning of wisdom ;
°J
foolis dispisen wisdom and teching. My 8 here. c. sone, here thou the teching of thi fadir§, §/<«/»•,• that and forsake thou not the lawe of thi «>*•, thwto, modir ; that grace be addid, ethir en-s "1*°°^^' creessidf, to thin heed, and a biell to thi 11 ««<*«««,«'«•*
. In eld ty me wise
necke. Mi sone, if synneris flateren thee, lomen weren
. i wont to haiif a
asseute thou not to hem. If thei seien, 1 1 gpidun We, in Come thou with vs, sette we aspics to S?lt«S~ bloods, hide we snaris of disseitis a3ens *"*• c- an innocent without cause ; swolowe we 12 him, as helle swolowith a man lyuynge ; and al hool, as goynge doun in to a lake;
thereof. Lire
q hem L. * Om. LR. » techingis E. * neuer lattere LR. u hem i. ' heeldid AEHILR. w From E. Here endith the prolog of Prouerbis, se now the book. i. Here eendith the prolog, and bigyiuieth the firste c°. L. Here eendith the prolog, and bigynneth the book of Prouerbis of Salamon. R. No final rubric in the other Mss. * From A. Incipit liber Proverbiorum. G. No initial rubric in the other Mss. y is the A. z wrethe B pr. m. a thee souken E pr, m. b thou not E pr. m.
b From EM. Here bygynnen the Prouerbis. o. Heere bigynnith the book of Prouerbis. i. Here biginnith the Prouerbis of Salomon, py. No initial rubric in the other Mss. bb telnesse, or tvarnesse v. « the wisere i. d the expownyng i. e Om. i. f cncreesse w. e schede blood i.
1. 14 — 32.
PROVERBS.
finde, wee sliul fulfillen oure housis with 14 spoilis ; lot ley with vs, o bagge of lamonee be of vs alle ; mi sone, ne go
thou with hem ; forfende thi foot fro the 16 sties of hem. Forsothe the feet of hem
to euel rennen ; and hee3en that thei I7sheden out blod. In vein forsothe is
throwen a net befor the e3en of the isfethered. Thei also a3en ther blod
awaiten ; and casten gilys a3en ther
19 soulis. So the pathis of the auerous man raueshen the Hues of the welderes. Wis-
20 dam withouteforth precheth ; in stretis
21 it 3yueth his vois. In the hed of cum- panyes it ofte crieth ; in the doris of the 3atis of the cite he bringeth forth
22 his woordis, seiende, Hou longe, 3ee litle childer, loouen childbed, and foolis tho thingus that ben no3esum to them shul coueiten, and vnprudent0 men shuln
23haten kunnyng? Be 366 conuertid at my correccioun ; lo ! I shal bringe forth to 3ou my spirit, and shewen my woordis.
24 For I clepede, and 366 forsokeri ; I stra3te out myn bond, and ther was not that
2o wolde beholden. 3ee despiseden al my counseil ; and my blarnyngisd 366 ro3ten
20 not of. I forsothe in 3oure deth shal Iaw3he ; and vndermouwe 3ou, whan to 3011 that, that 3ee dredden, shal come.
27 Whan shal falle feerli wrecchidnesse, and deth as tempest shal ajen come ; whan shal come vp on 3ou tribulacioun and an-
28guysh. Thanne thei shul inwardli clepe me, and I shal not ful out heren; erly they shuln rise togidere, and not finde
29 me. For thi that hatesum thei hadden disciplyne, and the drede of the Lord
so thei vndertoken not, ne assentiden to my counseil, and bacbitiden to al my correc-
31 cioun. Thei shuln ete therfore the frutis of ther weie ; and with ther counseilis
32 thei shul be fulfild. The turning awei
we schulen fynde al preciouse catel, weisf »/>«y/>»,; that schulen fille oure housis with spuylish*; sende1 thou lot with vs, o purs bek of vs 14 {^ alle; my sone, go thou not with hem ; 15 *f«-«- forbede thi foot fro the pathis of hem. net '» signefied
in ii f £ T- , disseit of wick-
For the feet of hem rennen to yuel; and i old men, and thei hasten to schede out blood. But ai7in'v netf is leid in veynj bifore the i$enj of ™^ briddis, that ban wengis. Also 'thilkeis^y -
. ,., '. . &, . benwyngidbi
wickid aisseyuens setten1 aspies a3ens her vertu to
, . . eschewe it.
owne blood ; and maken redi fraudis m Lire here. c. a3ens her soulis. So the pathis of ech i» dil"euiTor dis- auerouse man rauyschenn|| the soulis of '^btfore™1'' hem that welden". Wisdom 5[ prechith20vertuou»ewise
11 men. Ka.
with outforth; in stretis it 3yueth his vois. § infor the iym
,, . ., -, . ,, , , ,. that is, bifor
It crieth otte in the heed ot cumpenyes ; 21 bri,
in the leeues of 3atis of the citee it
bringith forth hise wordis, and seith,
long, 36? litle men in wit, louen'i 3ong
childhod**, and foolis schulen coueyte tho
thingis, that ben harmful to hem silf,
andr vnprudent men schulen hate kun-
nynff ? Be 36 conuertid at my repreu- 23 with out b'gyu-
3 • nyng. prech.
yng; lo, Y schal profre5 forth to 3ou my u'h; biprofetis
. . _- , , and techeris.
spirit, and i schal schewe my wordis. in stretis; for For Y clepideff, and 36 forsoken ; Y helde24ho^)Il8tumtd(a," forth myn bond, and noon was1 that bi- tryn> techen '"
* comyn places,
helde. 3e dispisidenu al my councel ; and 25 as ajenward
' . thei that han
chargiden not my blamyngis. And Y 26 yuei doctryn schal Iei3e in 3oure perisching; and Y schal wchen^priuy
c.
|| rauyschen, etc.; that is, alien thing to helle. Lin here. cua. f Wisdom; that is, God, wisdom
scornev sou, whanne that, that 3e dreden,
cometh to 3ou. Whanne sodeyne wretch-27hatithl'3*'and
• lie cometh not
idnesse fallith in, and perischingw bifallith to the ii3t, lest
. hise werkis hen
as tempest ; whanne tribulacioun and an- repreued, but
i ii v mi_ ii • no he that doith
gwisch cometh x on 3ou. lhanne thei28truthe;Cometh schulen clepe me, and Y schal not herejf;
thei schulen rise eerli, and thei schulen schewid, for tho
ben doon in
not fynde me. For^ thei hatidenz techinga, 29 God, as Cnst andb thei token riot thec drede of the *oijmn. "Lre' Lord, nether1' assentideii to my councel, 3oJf^A^Aod. and6 depraueden al rnyn amendyriff. Ther-3i that is> wan:
• tonnesse. Lire
for thei schulen ete the fruytis^ of her Aere. CNVB. weie; and thei schulen be fillid with her that is, L: wise'
c vnkunnynge A. d blamynge A.
k robries i. » putte i. k be ther i. l thei setten i. that setten s. m fraudis, or gijles i. " rauyschen or taken awey i. ° that is, wisdam K marg. V Om. I. <1 louen je i. r and hou longe i. s brynge ceteri. 4 ther was i. u haue dispisid j. ' bymowe NY. w spillyng i. x comen i. y For cause that i. * hadden i. a teching in hate i. b and for i. ° Om. i. d nether thei i. e and thei i.
B2
PROVERBS.
i. 33— n. 19-
of Htle childer shal slen hem; and the saprosperite 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.
CAP. II.
i My sone, if thou vndertakest my
woordis, and my maundementes hidist 2anent thee; that thin ere here wisdam,
inwardliche bowe thin herte to ben sknowen wisdam. If forsothe wisdam
thou shalt inwardli clepen, and inwardli 4 bowe thin herte to prudence; if thou
shalt sechen it as money, and as tresoris sdeluen it out; thanne thou shalt vnder-
stonden the drede of the Lord, and the e kunnyng of God finde. For the Lord
jyueth wisdam ; and of the mouth of 7hym prudence and kunnyng. He shal
kepen the helthe of ri3te men, and de- sfende thegoende symplely; withholdende
the pathis of ri3twisnesse, and the weies 9 of halewis kepende. Thanne thou shalt
vnderstonde ri3twisnesse, and dom, and loequite, and eche good path. If wisdam
shul go in to thin herte, and the kun- nnyng to thi soule plese, counseil shal
kepe thee, and prudence shal withholde 12 thee; that thou be pullid out fro an euel
wey, and fro a man that speketh shreude isthingus. Thei that forsaken the ri3t go-
14 ing, and wenten bi derke weies ; that for- sothe gladen, whan thei don euele, and
15 ful out iojen in werst thingus; of whom the weies shreude, and yuel losid the go-
leingys of hem. That thou be take awey fro an alien womman, and fro a straunge,
17 that softeth hir woordis; and forsaketh
IB the ledere of hir childbed, and the coue- naunt of hir God hath for3ete. Forsothe inwardly bowid is to deth the hous of
19 hir, and to helle the pathis of hir. Alle
counseils. The turnyng awei of Htle
in wit schal sle hem; and the prosperite e/c.,.thatis,fewe
of foolis schal leesef hem. But he thatas!
herithe me*, schal reste with outen drede;
and he schal vse abundaunce, whanne the
. tor the tyme of
drede of yuels is takun awei. merit is passid,
as to deed men, ether for thei
CAP. II. thatsynnen
. repenten not
Mi sone, if thou resseyuest my wordis, i verily, that is,
.1 i • At, ii, f°r the loue of
and hidist myn heestisf anentis thee; thata good, but oneiy thin eere here wisdom, bowe thin herte to knowe prudence. For if thou inwardli 3 clepist wisdom, and bowist thin herteb to prudence ;
peyne. Lire here. c.
§§eteth efruyth, etc. ; that is,
if thou sekist it as money J, 4 schuien be pu-
«<* »« ,• that is,
obeyeth to
Goddis heestis.
abundaunce :
Ofgoostii
in blis. Lire here. c. •f- and hidist myn heestis ;
and diggist it out as tresours ; thanne 5 thou schalt vndirstonde the drede of the Lord, and schalt fynde the kunnyng of God. For the Lord 3yueth wisdom $ ; e and prudence and kunnyng is of his mouth. He schal kepe the heelthe of ri3t-7 ful men, and he schal defende hem that goen sympli. And he schal kepe the a pathis of ri3tfulnesse', and he schal kepe the weies of hooli men. Thanne thou 9 schalt vndirstonde ri3tfulnesse, and dom, and equytee, and ech good path||. wysdom entrith in to thin herte, and kun- nyng plesith thi soule, good councel schal 11 kepe thee, and prudence schal kepe thee ; that thou be delyuered fro an yuel weie^T, I2is propiriy
, ~ ., , .,, , knowing of dy-
and iro a man that spekith weiward uyn thingis. thingis. Whiche™ forsaken a ri3tful weie, I3?s"kmwingor'' and goen bi derk weies; whiche" ben u '"^1 *'£fls glad, whanne thei ban do yuel, and maken doon- *«"»*»?,•
0 > » isofthmgistobe
ful out ioye in worste thingis ; whose 15 whoidun in wit.
.7 , , , Lire here. c.
weies ben weywerd, and her goymgis ben
owen to be comyned to
, but in kepinge tho as a preciouse
as money;
of yuel fame. That thou be delyuered fro an alien womman**, and fro a straunge womman, that makith soft hir wordis ;
M an auarouse
man sekith
money, and as
and forsakith the duyk° of hir tyme of 1 7 ?t "gSdhi* mariage, and hath foi^ete the couenaunti8§5'^^;s^m. of hir God. For the hous of hir is bowid fJJ™ fthac' to deeth, and hir pathis to helle. Allei9^ecltffood.Patlti
. that is, hij ver-
that entren to hirf f , schuien not turne a3en, tu, that l
e rijtwise A.
f fordo i. 8 tvel herith i. 0 duyk, or ledere i.
ere i. '• ri3twisnesse i.
The whiche i. n the whiche i.
II. so — HI. 17.
PROVERBS.
that gon in to hir, shul not turne a3een,
20 ne take the sties of lif. That thou go in a good weye, and the pathis of ri3twis
21 men thou kepe. Who forsothe ben ri3te, shul dwelle in the erthe; and the symple
22 shul parfitli wone in it. The vnpitouse forsothe fro the erthe shul be lost ; and that wickidli don, shul be take fro it
awei.
CAP. III.
1 My sone, ne for3ete thou my lawe ;
2 and thin herte kepe myn hestis. For- sothe lengthe of da3is, and 3eeris of lif,
3 and pes, thei shul ley tof to thee. Mercy and treuthe forsake thei not thee; cum- pase them to thi throte, and descryue in
4 the tablis of thin herte. And thou shalt finde grace, and good discipline befor
s God and men. Haue trost in the Lord, of al thin herte; and ne lene thou to thi
6 prudence. In alle thi weies thenc hym,
7 and he shal ri3t reulen thi goingis. Ne be thou wis anent thiself ; dred God, and
8 go awey fro euel. Helthe forsothe shal ben in thi nauele, and watring of thi
a bones. Honoure the Lord of thi sub- staunce, and of the cheef of alle thi
10 frutis 3if to pore men ; and thi bernes shul ben fulfild with fulnesse, and with
4
1 1 win thi presses shul rebounden. The discipline of the Lord, my sone, ne caste thou awey; ne faile thou, whan of hym
12 thou art chastisid. Whom forsothe the Lord looueth, he chastiseth ; and as fader in the sone it with pleseth to hym.
isBlisful the man that findeth wisdam,
u and that flowith prudence. Betere is the purchasing of it, than the chaffering of gold and of siluer; first and most pure
is the frutis of it. More precious than alle richesses it is; and alle thingus that be desirid, to it moun not be comparisound.
ic Lengthe of da3is in his ri3t half, and in the left half of it richessis and glorie.
17 The weies of it faire, and alle the pathis
nether? schulen catche the pathis of lijf. schortiy to biu. That thou go ini a good weie, and kepe 20 «i yL/ wey- the pathis of iust men. Forsothe thei that 21 %£ % idola- bea rijtful, schulen dwelle in the lond ; ** an alien.
and symple men schulen perfitli dwelle '"> fro H ther ynne. But vnfeithful men schuleu be 2* alien tm God, lost fro the loond ; and thei that doen wickidli, schulen be takun awey fro it.
TTT
. J.J.1.
daies, and the seeris of liif, and pees. tren '" hir> etc-s
_, J that is, for we
Merci and treuthe forsake thee not * ; 3 schulen turne bynde thou tho to thi throte, and write8 feith andTnour in the tablis of thin herte. And thou 4 £££ Lire schalt fynde grace, and good teching bi- *n^la^"^ fore God and men. Haue thou trist ins be not forsakun
ITI/*II.I -i* °^ thee, for whi
the Lord, of al thin herte ; and triste4 thou venues for.
Lire here. c.
that i8> fro any
womman that
m. , , , is leecberous,
sone, for3ete thou not my lawe; andi ajemis the bid.
thyn herte kepe my comaundementis. For 2 uwl0/^^'" thor schulen sette to thee the lengthe of l^^
not to thi prudence. In alle thi weies 6
thenke thouu on hym, and he schal dresse ff he *T,kit,!'
* tho. good tech-
thi goyngis. Be thou not wijs anentis thi 7 inss ether tem-
. ° peraunce and
silt 7; drede thou God, and go awei fro oneste m vtir- yuel. For whi helthe schal be in this doun.c°iSre'!a' nawlej, and moisting of thi boonys. *7n thV owne Onoure thou the Lord of thi catel, and of 9 «>Put!foun- K-
J in thi nawte ;
the beste of alle thi fruytis 3yue thou tins is a figura- to pore men ; and thi bernes schulen be 10 u thTheithTof fillid with abundaunce, and pressoursv schulen flowe with wiyn. My sone, caste u
thou not awei the teching of the Lord ; soule in p™-
sperites; and bi
and faile thou not, whanne thou art chas- moisture of tisid of him. For the Lord chastisithi2dm"tondun" hym, whom he loueth ; and as a fadir in £t££g£ the sone he plesith hym. Blessid is the is f '" ^ere- c-
• * It is a tre of
man that fyndith wisdom, and whichw %/,-asiiyfwas
_, . „ contynnued, bi
flowith with prudence. The geting therof 14 the tre of nyf, is betere than the marchaundie of gold dweih-n^Tm and of siluer ; the fruytis therof ben the J^JJSj, firste and clennestex. It is preciouserey is haue passid fro
the liyf of
than alle richessis ; and alle thingis that kynde to the
... , liyf of glorie,
ben desirid, moun not be comparisound to Without deth
this. Lengthe of daies is in the ri
therof, and richessis and glorie ben in the Prud«"
Om. AGH.
P nether tliei i. 1 in to A. r thei i. s write hem I. that i. * the clenneste i. J more precious i.
* lene i. u Om. i. v thi pressours i.
PROVERBS.
III. 18 — IV. 3.
is of it pesible. The tre of lif it is to them that cacchen it ; and that holden it, ben
loblisful. The Lord bi wisdam foundede the erthe; bi prudence stablide heuenes.
20 Bi the wisdam of hym breeken out depe watris ; and the cloudis bi dew togidere
21 waxen. My sone, ne flowe these thingis awei fro thin eje; kep thou my lawe, and
22counseil£; and there shal ben lif to thi
zasoule, and grace to thi chekis. Thanne
thou shalt go trostli in thi wey; and thi
24 foot shal not offende. If thou shul slepe, thou shalt not drede; thou shalt resten,
25 and sweete shal be thi slep. Ne drede thou with sodeyn gastnesse, and the poweris of the1' vnpitous men fallende
26 on to thee. The Lord forsothe shal ben in thi side; and kepe thi foot, that thou
27 be not take. Wile thou' not forfenden hym that mai wel don ; if thou maist,
28 and thiself wel do. Ne sey thou to thi frend, Go, anc( turne a3een, to moru I shal 3yue to thee ; whan anoon thou rnaist
29jiue. Ne caste thou to thi frend euel, so whan he in thee hath trost. Ne striue
thou a3en a mank in veyn, whan he no si thing of euel hath don to thee. Ne
enuye thou the vnri3twis man, ne folewe 32 thou the weies of hym. For1 abhomyna-
cioun of the Lord is eche gilour; and
with the simple the serrnounyrig of hym. ssNede of the Lord in the hous of the
vnpitouse; the dwelling placis forsothe of 34ri3twise men shul be blessid. He shal
desceyue the desceyueres ; and to the de- ssbonere he shal 3yue grace. Glorie wise
men shul welde ; of foolis the out io3ing
shenshipe.
weies therof the pathis
CAP. IV.
1 Here 3ee, sones, the discipline of the fader; and taketh heede, that 3ee knowen
2 prudence. A good 3ifte I shal 3yuen to 33ou ; my lawe ne forsake 3ee. For and I
e my counseile A. h Om. A. » Om. .
lifthalf therof. The
feire weies, and alle
ben pesible.
that taken it ; and he that holdith it, is
blessid.
ie/Z 17 a man I
liyf of grace to therof the liyf of glo- rie, without
It is a tre of lijf* to hemi8detb.0fdediy
synne goynge bitwixe, so that
The Lord foundide the erthe bii9amancontynue
in tho; therfor
wisdom ; he stablischide heuenes bi pru- it sueth, and he
. , , that holdith it,
dence. The depthis of ,watns braken out 20 ;„ b!essid . for bi his wisdom ; and cloudis wexen togi- ^hS^Wto dere biz dewe. My sone, these thingis 2 i^'-j^.™' flete not awey fro thin i3en ; kepe thou faiimge in to
dedly synne.
my lawe, and my counsel ; and lijf schal 22 the Lord schal
, . i « 777, ,1 • be at thi side;
be to thi soule, and grace schal be3 to thi thatif henyle chekis. Thanne thou schalt go tristili in 23 ^^^p^ne, thi weie; and thi foot schal not snapere. thu schal i* to
tin good, that
If thou schalt slepe, thou schalt not drede;24istoexcertiseof thou schalt reste, and thi sleep schal be to merit'of" soft. Drede thou not bib sudeyne feer, and 25 f<,°"e'c-i>re
the powers of wickid men fallynee in on
* & that bihetith
thee. For the Lord schal be at thi side;2Gg<x>d«Tith the
, . /. , mouth, that
and he schal kepe thi foot, that thou be thenkith yuel thou forbede to do welrj Lire here. c.
not takun. Nil
him that mai; if thou
thou wel. Seie thou not to thi
goodis and ' L'
maist, andc do Jh* * "' tcimi frend, 28 l)e multiplied
, in temporal
God, and turne thoue a3en, and to morewe
Y schal 3yue to thee ; whanne thou maist
3yue anoon. Ymagyne thou not yuel
thi freend, whanne he hath trist in thee. the ful out M.
ynge of foolis is
Stryue thou not a3ens a man with outso**«»»**ip»i
. , that is, ful of
cause, whanne he doith^ noon yuel to sciaundre ethir
thee. Sue thou not an vniust man,
thou not hise weies. For ech
is abhomynacioun off the Lord ; and his yueie, and
, . . . make:i ful out
speking is with simple men. Nedinesseasioyeinworste ts sent of the Lord in the hous of a wickid man; but the dwelling places of iust men schulen be blessidi.
1
scorne scorneris ; and he schal 3yue grace
to mylde men. Wise men schulen haue 35 afthe e
He scha}34sche'iichiPe\_
for thanne the
fiithe of her fou
glorie ; enhaunsing of foolis is schen- schipe§.
CAP. IV.
Sones, here 36 the teching of the*? fadir||; i and perseiue 36, that 30 kunne prudence. Y schal 3yue to 3ou a good 3ifte ; forsake 2 3e not my lawe. For whi and Y wash the 3 here- ?• ,
|| ofthefadir • man, a comelyng tiliere E pr. m. 1 Forsothe AH.
the hyndrere partis of an ape aperith more, whanne he stieth an hi; ; and oure Latyn translacioun semeth corupt bi writer! -, for
fto
i. 8 ymre i.
IV. 4— 24-
PROVERBS.
was the sone of my fader, sum what ten- der, and the onli goten beforn my moder.
4 And he ta3te me, and seide, Take my woordys thin™ herte ; kep thou myn
shestis, and thou shalt line. Weld wis- dam, weld prudence ; ne fo^ete thou, ne bowe thou doun fro the woordis of my
6 mouth. Ne leue thou it, and it shal kepe thee; looue it, and it shal withholde thee.
7Begynnyng of wisdam, welde thou wis- dam ; and in al thi possessioun purchacen
s prudence. Tac it, and it shal enhaunce thee ; thou shalt be glorified of it, whan
9 thou hast clippid it. It shal 3iue to thin hed encrecis of gracis; and a noble crowne
10 shal defende thee. Here thou, my sone, and vndertac my woordis ; and be ther
11 multeplied to thee 3eris of lif. The weie of wisdam I shal shewe to thee; and lede
lathee bi the pathys of equyte. The whiche whan thou shalt gori in, thi goingis shul not be streitid ; and rennende thou shalt
13 not ban letting. Hold discipline, and ne
14 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
is men. Flee" fro it, and passe thou not bi is it; bowe doun, and forsac it. Forsothe
they slepen not, but if thei don euele; and
slep is not ca3t of hem, but if thei sup- 17 plaunte. Thei eten the bred of vnpi-
tousnesse, and the win of wickidnesse? isdrinken. Forsothe the path of rijtwis-
men as shynende Ii3t goth forth, and logrowith in to a parfit day. The weie of
vnpitous men derki; thei witen not wher
20 thei falle. My sone, hercne my woordis ;
21 and to my spechis bowe in thin ere. Ne go thei awey fro thin e3en; kep thou hem
22 in the myddel of thin herte. Forsothe lif thei ben to the findende hem, and of
23alle flesh the helthe. With alle warde kep thou thin herte, for of it lif goth
24 forth. Remoue from thee a shreude mouth ; and bacbitende lippis be thei
sone of my fadir, a tendir sone, and oon this may be
'gendride bifore1 my modir. And my fadir 4
tau3te me, and seide, Thin herte resseyue
my wordis; kepe thou myn heestis, and God> cherffa-
1 1,1 ITT , , dir of alle ; and
thou schalt lyue. Welde thou wisdom, 5 this leu™ may welde thou prudence; for3ete thou not, ne-
deue thou stidefastly to a
w'ys techere.
welde thou wis-
dom; that is,
thir bowe thou awey fro the wordis of my mouth. Forsake thou not it, and it schal c ^ecj, kepe thee ; loue thou it, and it schal kepek «FW »/«•«-
,, m, , . e • i *. dom i that '">
thee. 1 he bigynnyng of wisdom*, welde 7 to gete wisdom.
ii • j i • i,i« . welde thou ww-
thou wisdom; and in al thi possessioun dam, that is,
gete thou prudence. Take thou it, and it 8
schal enhaunse thee ; thou schalt be glori-
fiedf of it, whanne thou hast biclippid it.
It schal 3yue encresyngis of graces to thing
heed ; and a noble coroun schal defende
thee. Mi sone, here thou, and take my 10 1'ymllsnth<; ;'""
wordis ; that the 3eris of liif be multiplied haue wisdom
in heuenli cun-
to thee. Y schal schewe to thee the weieu trey, which of wisdom; and Y schal lede thee bi the deer sijt and6 pathis of equyte. In to whiche1 whanne 12! thou hast entrid, thi goyngis schulen not -t
& * that is, bifor al
be maad streit ; and thou schalt rennen, thing that may
_. YTI, be gctun in to
and schalt not haue hirtyng. Holde thou 13 tw possessioun. teching™, and forsake it not ; kepe thou {hat ' it, for it is thi lijf. Delite thou not in the 14^ pathis of wyckid men ; and the weie of the fyynnyng
of wisdom, bte
yuele men plese not thee. Fie thou fro it, 15 thou wisdom ;
. , ,,i-i ,1 that is, the bi-
and passe thou not therbi ; bowe thou gynnyng to
awei, and forsake it. For thei slepen not,
'no but" thei ban do yuele ; and0 sleep is
rauyschidP fro hem, noi but thei1' han dis-
seyued:):. Thei eten the breed of vnpite, 17 here "wisdom"
and* dririkeri the wyn of wickidnesse^. Uyng, gtti Aou
But the path of iust men goitb forth asi8?r"1^'";e]ithat
o is, uitor alie
Iht schynynge, and encreessithll til to per- thiugis that
J J J * r moun be boujt,
fit dai. The weie of wickid men is derk ; 19 ether moun i>e
thei witen not where thei schulen falle. in euy man^r"
Mi sone, herkene thou my wordis; and 20
bowe doun thin eeris to my spechis.
riot tho* awei fro thyn i3en ; kepe thou id bifor many
men for it.
hem" in the myddil of thin herte. For 22 Lire here. c.
thov ben lijf to men fyndynge thoow,
and" heelthe'of al fleiscfay. With al kep- 23
ingz kepe thin herte, for lijf cometh forth ««««»• tha'is>
bi ?"** ether
seruyce a
wixs techere,
which is seid
Go 21 that 19> thou
schalt be onour-
m in thin AH. n purchace thou c pr. m. ° Flee thou A. P wickenesse EG pr. m. 1 is derk A.
1 bigotun tofore I. k warishe I. 1 the whiche i. m disciplyne or teching i. n but if i.
o neither A sec. m. P take awey i. 1 Om. A sec. m. r if thei i. s and thei i. * thei i. u tho cvw.. Om. FHU. T tho nordis i. w hem i. » and thei len i, y to ech man i. z warde i..
8
PROVERBS. iv. 25— v. 15.
Thin e3en see thei ri3te of it. Remoue thou* a schrewid mouth 24 g
ssferr fro thee. __
thingis; and thin e3elidis beforgo thei thi fro thee; and backbitynge lippis be fer i 26 goingis. Ri3t reule the pathis to thi feet, thee. Thin i3en se i^tful thingis; and thin wfij, etc.^gl 27 and alle thi weies be they stablid. Ne J3eliddis go bifore thi steppis. Dresse thou 26 ^ £ta rc
bowe thou doun to the ri3t, ne to the pathis to thi feet*, and alle thi weies schu- £3^£*
Bowe thou not to the 27 syon. tho ben
lift ; turne awei thi foot fro euel. For- sothe the weies that ben on the ri3thalf the Lord knew3 ; shreude forsothe benr, that of the lift ben. He forsothe ri3t shal make thi goingus; thi weies forsothe in pes shul be bro3t forth.
CAP. V.
1 My sone, tac heed to my wisdam, and to my prudence bowe thou thin ere ;
2 that thou kepe tho3tis, and discipline thi lippis withholden. Ne8 wile thou not entende to the desceyuyng of womman ;
3 forsothe an hony comb droppende the lippis of a strumpet, and clerere than oile
4 the throte of hir; forsothe the laste of hir bitter as wormod, and the tunge of
6 hir sharp as a twei bitende swerd. The feet of hir gon doun in to deth ; and to1
ehelle the goingis of hir persen. Bi the path of lif thei gon not ; vagaunt ben
7 the goingus of hir, and vnserchable. Now thanne, my sone, here thou me, and ne go thou awei fro the woordis of my
s mouth. Aferr mac fro hir thi weie, and
ne ne3he thou to the doris'of hir hous.
9 Ne 3yue thou to alienes thi wrshipe, and
10 thi 3eris to the cruel ; lest perauenture
be fulfild straungeres with thi strengthis,
and thi trauailis ben in anu aliene hous ; u and thou weile inv thi laste, whan thou
hast wastid thi flesh, and thi bodi ; and lasey, tWhi wariede I discipline, and to 13 snybbingis assentedew not myn herte ; ne
I herde the vois of men techende me, and H to maistris I bowide not myn ere ? Ne3h
I was in alle euel, in the myddel of the ischirche, and of the synagoge. Drink
watir of thi cisterne, and the flowingus
len be stablischid. — — -,.-,
ttyf; that is, ben
ri3tside |. nether to the leftside ; turne awei thi foot fro yuel. For the Lord} knowith the weies that ben at the ri3t- side ; but the weies ben weiward, that ben at the leftside. Eorsothe he schal make thi goyngis ri3tful ; and thi weies schulen be brou3t forth in pees.
CAP. V.
cause of liyf of grace, and maken good disposicioun of bodi to hem that kepen tho. Lire here. c. * to thi feet ; that is, to thyn affecciouns. Lire here. CK Na.
-)- Bowe thou not to the ritf side, etc. ; that . , is, be thou not
Mi sone, perseyue thou my wisdom, i drawun fro the
, i . j weye of rijtful-
and bowe doun thin eere to my prudence ; ne^e [,£££. that thou kepe thi thou3tis, and thi lippis 2 p^^ kepe techiner. 3yue thou not tent to the "ether [or faire
. . K] biheestis,
falsnesse of a womman ; for the lippis of 3 nether be thou
- 7 , i , brokun bi ad-
an hoorej ben an hony coomb droppinge, uersites, nether and hir throte is clerere than oile ; but 4 ™K.™K'. Lm
J For the Lord, etc. ; al this til to the ende of i ., TT- j? . the chapitre, is
on ech side. Hir feet gon doun in to deeth ; 5 not of the text,
the last thingis ben bittir as wormod, and hir tunge is scharp as a swerd keruynge
and hir steppis persen to hellis. Tho goon 6
not hi the path of lijf ; hir steppis ben vn- fof'a°'hoore
certevn, and moun not be sou?t out. Now?
•
thertor, my sone, here thou me, and go0 not awei fro the wordis of my mouth. Make fer thi weie fro hir, and nei3e thou 8 not to the doris of hir hous. 3vue thou 9
*•
not thin onour to ahens||, and thi 3eeris
, , , i . Goddis lawe. K.
to the cruel ; lest perauenture straungens 10 f withouten be fillid with thi strengthis, and lest thi
as Rabi Sala-
mon,
..that "«, to
nbaudisand
trauels be in an alien0 hous; and thouiid.00"af'ir
deeth. Sap.
biweile^f in the laste daies, whanne thou
hast wastid thi fleschisd, and thi bodi ; and thou* seie, Whif wlatide Y teching, and 12 j myn herte assentide not to blamyngis; nether Y herde the voys of men tedhinffe 13 here- c-
_r vse thou with
me, and Y bowide not doun myn eere to drede thin maistris? Almest Y was in al yuel, in the u kTpThTre^ro myddis of the chirche, and of the syna- SJjSbwhdB. goge. Drinke thou watir** of thi cisterneff, 15 dren "' ver-
tuous loue. K.
and the floodis of thi pit. Thi wellis be ie tt i>> <"a/er of
* thei ben A. s Om. A. t jn to A. u Om. E pr. m. * Om. c. w assente c.
8 Om. i. b go thou i. c aiiens AIj d fleish j. « Om. i. * Thanne whi i.
V. 1 6 — VI. 10.
PROVERBS.
9
ic of thi pyt. Ben lad out thi wellis with-
oute forth ; and in stretis thi watir de-
17 uyde thou. Haue thou hem alone ; and
is be not alienes thi parceneres. Be thi
veyne blissid ; and glade thou with the
19 womman of thi ful waxende 3outhe. A most cheerex hynde ; and a most kindeli hert calf. The tetis of hir inwardli make thee drunke alle time ; and in the looue
20 of hire delite thou bisili. Whi art thou bro3t doun, sone myn, of an alien wom- man ; and art fed in the bosum of an
21 othere ? The Lord loketh the weie of a man ; and alle the goingis of hym be-
22 holdithy. His wickenesses2 taken the vn- pitouse; and with the cordis of his synnes
23 he is togidere streyned. He shal dien, for he hadde not discipline ; and in the multitude of his folie he shal ben be-
gylyd.
CAP. VI.
1 My sone, if thou become bor3 for thi frend; thou hast pi3t doun anent a straun-
2 ger thin hond. Thou art gnarid with the woordis of thi mouth ; and taken with thi
3 proper woordis. Do thanne, my sone, that I seie, and deliuere thi self; for thou hast fallen in to the hond of thi ne3hebore. Ren hider and thider, hee3e, rere vp thi
4 frend ; ne 3iue thou slep to thin e3en, sand nappe not thin e3elidis. Be thou
pullid out as aa foun fro the hond ; and as
6 a brid fro the spies of the foulere. Go to the anpte, O ! thou slowe ; and behold
7 the weies of it, and lerne wisdam. The whiche, whan it hath no ledere, ne co-
s maundere, ne prince ; it greitheth in the somer mete to hymselfb, and gedereth
9 togidere in time of rip, that it etc. Hou longe, thou slowe, shalt thou slepe ?
10 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.
stremed forth* ; and departe thi watris in dneme; i, vK. stretis. Haue thou aloone vtho watrise ; i^n and aliens be not thi parcenerisf. Thi is veynei be blessid ; and be thou glad with hoo|y «criPt"™'-
. A man owith
the womman or thi 3ongh wexynge age§. t» departe this An hynde moost dereworthe|| ; and an hert 19 Mi* tat i»
calf moost acceptable. Hir teetis fille thee
in al tyme ; and delite thou contynueli in 0,":ith to haue
• this watir of
the loue of hir**. Mi sone, whi art thou 20 wisdom, not disseyued of an alien womman; and art oth fostrid in the bosum of an othere? The 21 SS^ Lord seeth the weie of a man ; and' bi- 8C"™e,r;.8 fnd
vnfeithful men.
holdith alle hise steppis. The wickid-22c-
,, , ., . , , » thiwettisbe
nessis ot a wyckid man taken hym ; and stremed forth ; he is boundun with the roopis of hise be^endrld'of6" synnes. He schal die, for he hadde not 23 ^™ _"£**• lernyngk; and he schal be disseyued in here-^-
J ° ' * and departe
the mychilnesse of his fooli. M watris, etc. s
that is, jyue thou to manage thi children nmn m to a^e.
CAP. VI. Lire here. c.
•f aliens be not
Mi sone, if thou hast bilmt for thii Mpammtrtti
ii' i * ' ls> ltePe so
ireend ; thou hast fastned thin hoond at a thi wiyc, that
straunger. Thou art boundun bi the wordis 2 Of hirl" th'yn", of thi mouth ; and thou art takun with ^£%£™ thin owne wordis1. Therfor, my sone, do 3 ne™ in thi
wiyf, nether in
thou that that Y seie, and delyuere thi children. Lire silf ; for thou hast fallunm in to the hond i thi veyne; of thi nei3bore. Renne thou aboute, haste chUdrenbonm
thou, reise thi freend ; 3yue thou not sleep 4 ofvenmafy- to thin i3en, nether thin i3eliddis nappe. § "»'* ° wom-
man of thi ymg
Be thou rauyschidff as a doo fro theo wexingeage; hond ; and as a bridde fron aspiyngisP of
the foulere. O<>! thou slowe man, go to thee vamte, ether pissemyrer; and biholde thou jjV hise weies, and lerne thou wisdom. Which* 7
most dere-
whanne* he hathu no duyk, nethir co- worthe; is maundour, netherv prince; makith redis in somer mete to hym silf, and gaderith togidere in heruest that, that he schal ous dissipie in
Goddis lawe ;
etc. Hou long schalt thou, slow man, 9 etherbian
- i i ,. .1 /• .v- hynde is vndur-
slepe ? whanne schalt thou rise tro thi stonde a feith-
sleep? A litil thou schalt slepe, a litil 10
thou schalt nappe ; a litil thou schalt ioyne that is> a fei'h-
* cleere A. y he beholdith AGH. z wickidnessis AGH. a Om. A. b it silf AH.
S hem i. h Om. i. ' and he «. k lernyng ether chastising CEFOKMNPdRsuvya9. discipline or chas- tising i. ! spechis i. m feld CHNUV. D for R. P spiyngis My. 1 A plures. r amte, etfiir npisse- mire NQUW. amte H. amte, ether the spissemire s. pismire, ether ample y. s The which emte i. l thouj i. u haue i. v ne i.
VOL. III. C
10
PROVERBS.
VI. 1 1 — 30.
n And ther shal come to thee as a weie goere, nede ; and porenesse, as a man armed. If forsothe vnslo3 thou shul be, shal come as a welle thi rip ; and nede
12 ferr shal flee fro thee. A man apostata, a man ful of strengthe vnprofitable, goth
is with peruertid mouth; he twincleth with the e3enc, he tramplith with the foot,
u with the fingir he speketh, with shreude herte he castith euel; and alle times
isstriues he sowith. To this anoon shal come his perdicioun, and sodeynli he shall be to-treden; and he shal han no mor
lemedecyn. Sixe thingis ben, that the Lord hateth ; and the seuenthe the lif of
I7hym warieth. He3e e3en, a tunge Here, hondis shedende out the innocent blod,
18 the herte castende most euel tho3tis, the
19 swifte feet to rennen in to euel, the bringende forth lesingis, the desceyuable witnesse ; and hym that sowith among
2obrether discofdis. Withhold, my sone, the hestis of thi fader ; and ne leue thou
21 the lawe of thi moder. Bind hem bisili in thin herte; and enuyroune to thi throte.
22 Whan thou shalt go, go thei with thee ; whan thou shalt slepe, kepe thei thee ;
23 and wakende speke thou with hem. For the maundernent is a lanterne, and the lawe Ii3td, and the weie of lif the snyb-
24 bing of discipline ; that thei kepe thee fro an euel womman, and fro the flater- ende tunge of the straunge womman.
25 Coueite not thin herte the fairnesse of hir ; ne be thou take6 with the beckis of
2<;hir. The price forsothe of the strumpet vnethe is of o lof ; the womman forsothe
27 taketh the precious lif of a man. Whether mai a man hide fir in his bosum, that his
28 clothis brenne not ; or gon vpon colisf,
29 and his solis ben not brent ? So he that goth in to the womman of his ne3hebore ; shal not ben clene, whan he touchith hir.
so Not gret is the blame, whan a man stelith;
toffidere thin hondis, that thou slepe. Andy n ful spouse, ether
o hosebonde.
nedynesse, as a weigoere*, schal come to ure here. c. thee ; and pouert, as an armed man. For- sothe if thou art not slow, thi ripe corn schal come as a welle ; and nedynesse schal ^-~Lire fie fer fro thee. A man apostataf, a^ man 12 tt£»4M vnprofitable, he goith with a weiward mouth; he bekeneth with i^en^, he tramp- is ith with the foot, he spekith with the fvneurfi, biz schrewid herte he ymagyneth i4ZireW£
J o 3' • i_ j. *asawei-
yuel, and in al tyme he sowith dissen- goere ; that is, ciouns. His perdicioun schal come to hym anoon, and he schal be brokun sodeynli ; and he schal no more haue medecynll.
, , _ , - . . ajens it. Lire
Sixe thingis bena,whyche the Lord hatith; Where. c. and hise soule cursith the seuenthe thing. Hi3e i3en1[, a tunge Here**, hondis sched- inge out innocent blood, an herte ymagyn-i8™Profital)1<>> ynge worsteb thou3tis, feet swifte to renne J bekeneth u-ith in to yuel, a man bringynge forth lesingis, 19 a fals witnesse ; and him that sowith dis- cordisc among britheren. Mi sone, kepe 20 the comaundementis of thi fadirff ; and for- sake not the lawe of thi modir. Bynde2i thou tho continueli in thin herte; and cum- passe'to thi throted. Whanne thou goist, 22 ?,!' go thoe with thee ; whanne thou slepist, kepe thof thee ; and thou wakynge speke with tho?. For the comaundement o
IS
is a lanterne, and the lawe is li$t, and the
blamyng of techyng'1 is the weie of lijf ;
xthat the comaundementis1 kepe thee
an yuel womman, and fro a flaterynge that is God.
tunge of a straunge womman. Thin herte as^hodi'scrip.
coueite not the fairnesse of hir; nether be ture>«*i«rhooii
sche
gur; that is,
with pride.
Lire here. CKS.
ll no mm haue fs no
^'? here- c-
If hi^e i)en ,•
that is, opyn
customable to dedly leesing.
ilr« here. c.
thou takun bi the signesk of hir. For the 20 to thi thr°'e ;
.. c , . ' f, ,.. thatis,inhold-
prys of an hoore is vnnethe of1 o loof \\ ; mgethoin
.!..]_., . mynde stide-
butm a womman takith11 the preciouse fastii, ,
soule of a man. Whether1111 a man mai 27'
hide fier in his bosum, that hise clothis ?'*;»«<,.«/<>.,• for
in slepinge in
brenne not; ethir go on colis, and hise 28 t'>e mynde of feet be not brent ? So0 he that entrith to 29 slepist in the the wijf of his nei3bore; schal not be cleene, whanne he hath touchid hir. It? is
not<i so *f'e ?/
that is, to hem
eye A. d of lijt E pr. m. e not take AE pr. m. H. f the colis AEGH.
7 And thanne i. yy is a I. * with i. a ther ben I. b ful wickid i. c discord i. d with hem i. « thei i. f thei I. S hem i. h discipline i. > that thei i. that, that is, the comaundmentis. Lire here. N sec. m. k beckis i. l the value of i. m forsothe i. ° takith a wey i. •>« Wher ceteri passim. 0 Rijt so i. P And it A. q no FS pr. m.
VI. 3i — VII. 14.
PROVERBS.
11
forsothe he steleth, that he fulfille the hun-
31 grende soule. Ca}t therewith forsothe he shal 3elde the& seuene fold ; and al the substaunce of his hous he shal take, and
32 deliueren hymself. Who1' forsothe is auou- trer ; for miseise of herte he shal lesen
33 his soule. Filthe and shenshepe he geder- eth to hymself ; and the repref of hym
34 shal not ben don awei. For the ielous- nesse and the wodnesse of the man shal
35 not sparen in the dai of veniaunce, ne assente to the pre3eeris of any man ; and he- shal not take for the a3een bi3ing manye 3iftis.
CAP. VII.
1 My sone, kep thou my woordis ; and myne hestis ley vp to thee. Sone, ho- noure thou the Lord, and thou shalt fare wel ; biside hym forsothe thou shalt not
2 dreden' an other. Kep my maundemens, and thou shalt Hue ; and my lawe as the
3 appil of thin 636. Bind it in thi fingris ;
4 wryt it in the tablis of thin herte. Sey to wisdam, My sister thou art ; and pru-
5 dence clep thou thi lemman. That it kepe thee fro a straunge womman ; and fro an alien, that hir woordis maketh sweete.
c Fro the windowe forsothe of myn hous bi the latys I beheeld the 3unge man ;
7 and I see litle childer. I beholde the sori
shertid 3unge man, that passeth thur3 the stretis, biside the corner; and ne3 the weie
oof that hous goth in derc, the dai wax- ende to euen, in the ny3tis dercnessis and
10 mystynesse. And lo ! a womman a3en cam to hym, with strumpet aray befor maad redi to the soulis to be desceyued,
11 a chaterere, and vagaunt of reste, vnpa- cient, ne mowende in the hous abide stille
12 with hir feet; now withouteforth, now in the stretys, now beside the corneresk
Ktaspiende. And the ca3te 3unge man she kisseth ; and with wowende chere she
uflatereth, seiende, Sacrifises1 of victoriem
greet synne*, whanne a man stelith ; for that synnei
he stelith to fille an hungri soule. And hesi
takun schal 3elde the seuenthe fold ; and
he schal 3yue al the catel of his hous, and •'!' a uoutreMe>
that makith hir
schal delyuere hym silf. But he that is 32 straunge fro
. 111 i . hir hosebonde.
avouter ; schal leese his soule, for ther po- Lire here. c.
uert of hertef. He gaderith filthe, and 33]^",
sclaundrith8 to* hym silf; and his schen-
schip schal not be don awei|. For
feruent loue and strong veniaunce of the
man§ schal not spare in the dai of ven- !Hs maad
iaunce, nether schal assente to the preieris 35 *£,J
of ony; nether schalv take fulw many 3iftis
for raunsum.
the soule of
man i
deyned to blis aboue kynde ; but a womman as a sustir of the detiel tak- itii it to auou- trie and damp- Lire
CAP. VII.
Mi sone, kepe thou my wordis||; andi here c
kepex myn heestis to thee. Sone, onourelT * not sreet
synne, etc. ;
thou the Lord, and thou schalt be my3ti ; that is, thefte
but outakun hym drede thou not an alien*', of aumST"'
Kepe thou myn heestis, and thou schalt 2 ^e^ere'CK- lyue ; andz my lawe as the appil of thin
t pouert of herte ; that is,
i3en a. Bynde thou it in thi fyngris** ; 3 [wanting KJ . , .. , , . /• i • i of resoun- CK-
write thou it in the tablis ot thin herte.
Seie thou to wisdom, Thou art my sistir ; 4 the"peywf of °r and clepe thou prudence thi frendesseb. outen'e^de11 That it kepe thee fro a straunee worn- 5 L ir,e here- c-
9 the man ;
manff ; and fro an alien womman, that that is, God.
makith hir wordis swete. For whi froe that is, Crist. \.
the wyndowjt of myn hous bi the latijs \n7ii{n°getho
Y bihelde ; and Y se litle children^. I bi-7 kepTn^'aTa
holde a song man coward, that passith bi » preciousere tre-
sour. Lire
the stretis, bisidisc thed corner ; and he here. c.
. , -i • . i * /*!•• * 11 ' Sone. onoure.
goith ni3 the weie of hir hous m derko etc.. tnis vers tyme, whanne the dai drawith to ni3t, in the derknessis6 and myst off the ny3t.
y «« » tuut i»j
And lo ! a womman, maad redi with our- 10 fiiie it in werk.
,. ,. Lire here. ens.
nement of an hoore to disseyue souns, ^ a straunge meetith hym, and sche is a ianglere, and goynges about, and vnpacient of reste, 11 ff" and mai not stonde in the hous with hir </««>, etc. ,- that
.is, pnuyte of
feet ; and now without forth, now in 12 consience. Lire
. * \ • .1 1, here. c.
stretis, now bisidis cornens sche aspietn". ^Hae children; And sche takith, and kissith the 3ong man ; i3tth£ ^^ and flaterith with wowynge cheer ||||, and «it. Lire here.
II || teith wowing
Sacrifise A. m victories c pr. m.
**mthifyn.
ff™* <' that is,
K Om. A. h Who so A. i holden E pr. m. k corner AH.
' Om. i. » sclaundre we. t om. c. v he schal i. " Om. i. x gadre in tresour i. J myche worth,
" leef i. e biside I. * a I. e derk-
and drede thou noon oother but him i. z and kepe i. nesse c. f in c. K a goer i. h spieth c.
C2
ije i.
12
PROVERBS.
VII. 15 — VIII. 6.
for helthe I haue gretli vouwSd ; to dai seith, Y ou5te sacrifices'* for heelthe ; to _ _^
dai Y haue 3olde mv vowis. Ihertor Y is and with out
ii I haue 3olde my vouwis. Therfore I wente out in to thin a3en comyng, desirende
16 thee to seen ; and I haue founde. I haue ara3id with cordis my litil bed, and spred
17 with peintid tapitis of Egipt ; I ha" sprengd my Hgging place with myrre,
is and aloes, and canell. Cum, and be wee inwardli drunke with tetes, and vse wee the coueitid clippingis ; to the time that
19 the dai waxe Ii3t. There is not a man in hir hous ; he 3ide awei the most ferr
2oweie. The bagge of his monee he toe with hym ; in the dai of the" fulle moone
21 he is to turne a3een in to his hous. She grenede hym with manye woordis ; and with flatering of lippis she fordn>3 hym.
22 Anoon he folewith hir, as an oxe lad to the sacrifise of victorie ; and as a lomb pleiende and vnknowende, that to bondis
23 the fool is drawe, to the time that the arwe thirle thiir3 his mawe. As if a brid hee3e to the grene ; and wot not, that of
24 the? perile of his lif me purposeth. Now thanne, sone myn^, here thou me ; and tac
2otente 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
26 hir. Manye forsothe woundid she threw doun ; and alle the strongester ben slain
27 of hir. The weies of belle the housis of hir; persende in to the innermor thingus of deth.
CAP. VIII.
1 Whether not wisdam ofte crieth; and
2 prudence 3iueth his vois ? In the he3est and he3e frountis, aboue the weie, in the
smyddel pathis, stondende biside the 3ate of the cite ; in tho 3ate doris it speketh,
4 seiende, O ! men, to 3ou I ofte crie ; and
s my vois to the sones of men. Vnder- stondeth, 366 litle childer, witnesse ; and,
«3ee vnwise men, taketh heed. Hereth, for of grete thingis I am to speke ; and my lippis shul ben opened, that euene
schame. Lire here. c.
ide. Lire here.
ofsynneand Lire
my
3edek out in to thi meetyng, and Y desiride to se thee ; and Y haue founde thee. Y i haue maad my bed with coordis, Y haue i8 in '
amendid, but
arayed1 with tapetis peyntid of Egipt ; Y 17 snmme bokis
* . , , han, Y auow-
haue bispreynt my bed with myrre, and
aloes, and canel. Come thou, be we fillid i
with tetisf, and vse we collyngis that
ben '" coueitid ; til the dai bigynne to be tetis. 'Lire
here. c.
cleer. For myn hosebonde is not in his is $ sche toond
. . f, i i TT '"'" ! that is,
hows; he is goon a ful long weie. He 20 withhelde an'd took with hym a bagge of money; he ft*^ schal turne a3en in to his hous in the dai fleisch, as in a
' f net. Lire
of ful moone. Sche boonde hym J with 21 here. c.
many wordis ; and sche drow forth hym
with flateryngis of lippis. Anoon he as
an oxe led to slayn sacrifice sueth hir,
and as a ioli lomb and vnkunnynge" ; and
the fool woot not, that he is drawun to
bondys§, til an arowe perse0 his
As if a brid hastith|| to the snare; and
woot not, that it is don of the perel of his neth '« w'the
snare of synne,
liif. Now therfor, my sone, here thou me; 24 and in to the
J, ' ,. ' ., dethofhelle,
and perseyue the wordis or my mouth, for couetise of Lest thi soule be drawun awei in the weies 25 weoman! °L« of hir ; nether be thou disseyued in the hJ?re\ c-
* ^[ scne cdstifte
pathis of hir. For sche castide'1 doun*ir 26 *"" •• fro the
staat of grace ;
many woundid men ; and alle strongeste many woundid men weren slayn of hir**. The weies of 27 wo'u'nde of* helle is hir hous; and persen in to'i ynnere thingis of deeth.
is t^"" in »
snare, for the
coueytiseofa
litil meete, so
mawe. 23 he that is Vn-
fleischli couey- tise. Lire here. c. ** strmtgeste men weren slayen of hir i as it is opyn of Adam, the niosti' man, for he was in the staat of inno- cence, and was . .-.-.... ful of kunnyng
myddis of pathis, and it stondith bisidis 3 and verm, and
., /. ., .. . ., .,, ^ • ofSampson.the
the 3ate of the citee, in thilke closyngis, and spekith, and seith, A ! 36 men, Y crie 4 ofte to 3ou ; and my vois /* to the sones of men.
CAP. VIII.
Whether wisdom crieth not ofte ; and i prudence 3yueth hisr vois? In souereyn-2 estesf f and hi3 coppis, aboue the weie, in the
5trongeste man,
ma". and °f
.i • Salamon, the
Litle children}!, vndirstonde 36 wis-5 wisesteman,
. . . . and of manv
and 3e vnwise men, perseyue wts- mo in the
,
dom ;
dom\ Here 36, for Y schal speke of grete 6
thingis ; and my lippis schulen be openyd,
n han AGH. haue E. ° this x. P Om. c. 1 Om. XGH. T strengthid A.
1 sacrifice A. k wente i. 1 araied it K. m Om. celerl. " vnknowynge i. o perishe i. P hath cast i. 1 to the i. r hir i. » souereyne A sec. m. moust souereyne i. 4 perseyueth in herte i. perseyue wisdam. Lire here. N text.
VIII. 7 — 28.
PROVERBS.
13
Tthingus thei preche. Treuthe my fhrote shal sweteli hethenke; and mylippis shul
swlate the vnpitouse. Ri3twise ben alle my sermownes ; ther is not in hem any
9 thing shreude, ne peruertid. Ri3te thei ben to vnderstondende men; and euene to
10 men findende kunnyng. Taketh my dis- cypline, and not money ; doctrine mor
11 than tresor cheseth. Betere is wisdam than alle the most precious richessis ; and al desirable thing to it mai not be corn- is parisound. I, wisdam, dwelle in coun- 13 sell; and am among to lerned tho3tis. The
drede of the Lord hateth euel ; enhaunc-
ing, and pride, and the shreude weie,
and the mouth of the twisil tunge I wlate.
14 Myn is counseil, and equite ; myn is. pru-
isdence, myn is and strengthe. By me
kingus regnen ; andmakeris of lawis ri3te
16 thingus deraen. Bi me princis comaund-
17 en ; and my3ti men deme ri3twisnesse. I men loouende me looue ; and that erli
is waken at me, shul finde me. With8 me ben richessis, and glorie; and proud plen-
loteuousnessis, and ri3twisnesse. Betere is my frut than gold, and than precious ston ; and my buriounyngis than chosen
2osiluer. In the weies of ri3twisnesse I go,
21 in1 the myddel of pathis of dom ; that I make riche men loouende me, and fulfille
22 the tresores of hem. The Lord weldide me in the begynnyng of his weies; er any thing shulde be maad, of the firste cause.
23 Of the euere lastende I am ordeyned ; and of the olde, er the erthe shulde be maad.
24 Not 3it weren the depthis of watir; and I now was conceyued. And not 3it the wellis
25 of watris hadden broken out, ne 3it the mounteynes" in heuy mykilnesse hadden
26 ben maad ; er the hillis I was born. 3it the erthe he hadde not maad ; and flodis, and the utmostv poyntys of the round-
27nesse of the erthe. Whan he greithede heuenes, I was thereat ; whan in certein lawe and cumpas he closide the depriesse
28 of watris. Whan the eir he fastnede aboue;
to preche ri3tful thingis. My throte schal 7 in pn>r«i» and
, . , , , holi doctouriit.
bitnenke treuthe ; and my hppis schulen Lire here. c.
curse a wickid man. My wordis ben hist; a drm'-'ihatis,
no schrewid thing, nether weiward isu in /^feof7't' L"e
thov. "My wordis™ ben r^tful to hem that 9
vndurstonden ; and benx euene to hem that
fynden kunnyng. Take 30 my chastisyng, 10
and not money ; chese 30 teching more
than tresour. For wisdom is betere thann
alle richessis moost preciouse ; and al de-
sirable thing mai not be comparisound
therto. Y, wisdom, dwelle in counsel*; 12 * wisdom dwe/te
_r . in councel ; for
and Y am among lernyd thoivjtis.
drede of the Lord hatith yuel ; Y curse
boost, and pride, and a schrewid weie, and wise th°u*£s
comen forth 01
a double tungid mouth. Counseil is myn, I4wi8domand
°. encreessen it.
and equyte is myrtf ; prudence is myn, Lire here. c. and strengthens mynz. Kyngis regnen biis me; and thea makeris of lawis demen iust thingis bi me. Princis comaunden bi me ; 16 and my3ti men demen ri3tfulnesse bi me. I loue hem that louen me ; and thei that 17 waken eerli to me, schulen fynde me. With is me ben rychessis, and glorie ; souereyn richessis, and ri3tfulnesse. My fruyt is 19 betere than gold, and precyouse stoon ; + the Lord and my seedis ben betere than chosun ™e/**? \etc-;
* here balamon
siluer. Y go in the weies of ristfulneSSe. 208Pekithofwi!'-
l . /. 1 • K /• 1 d"m Vnmaad,
in the myddis of pathis" of doom ; that 21 that is, of the Y make riche hem that louen me, and so^neinm. that Y fille her tresouris. The Lord weld- 22 %%$$ U idet me in the bieynnyne: of hise weies; soneofGod,
°J * with cute bi-
bifore that he made ony thing, at the gynnyngand bigynnyng. Fro with out bigynnyng Y 23 Of hise weyet ,- was ordeined ; and fro elde tymes, bifor werkls'. ° that the erthe was maad. Depthis of \va- ^c<mseyve^;- for
as a word in vs,
tris weren not 3it ; and Y was conseyued
of soule, so and
thanne. The wellis of watris hadden not in dyiiyn brokun out 3it, and hillis stoden not to- 25 wdrfTs the
gidere 5it bi sad heuynesse ; bifor litil
hillis Y was born. Bit he hadde not maad26dr!dof the
fadir.
erthe; and floodis, and thee herrisd of the <A«/WW,- that world. Whanne he made redi heuenes, 27 pal partis of the
-mr 11 • i world, that ben
i was present ; whanne he cumpasside the e^ and
the depthis of watris bi certeyn lawe and cumpas. Whanne he made stidfast the eir 28 here- c
8 To E. 'andin^GH. u hillis E pr. m. v vttermoost AGH.
11 ther is i. v hem i. " Thei i. » thei ben i. 7 Om. i. z Om. i. a Om. i. t> the pathis i. Om. ci. d erthis a.
14
PROVERBS.
VIII. 29 — IX. il.
39 and we3ede 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 heengw vp the
30 foundemens of the erthe; with hym I was, alle thingis puttende togidere. And I de- litede bi alle da3es, beforn hym alle time,
31 pleiende in to the roundnesse of erthis ; and my delicis to be with the sones of
3i- men. Now thanne, sones, hereth me ; ssblisful that kepen my weies. Hereth
discipline, and beth wise men ; and wileth 34 not casten it awei. Blisful the man that
hereth me, and that waketh at my 3ate
dores al dai ; and that waitith at the 30 postis of my dorex. Who me shal finde,
shal finde lif ; and drawen helthe of the scLord. Who forsothe in me shal synnen,
shal hurten his soule ; alle that hateden?
me, loouen deth.
CAP. IX.
i Wisdam bilde out to hym an hous ;
2heewz out seuen pileris, offride his sacri-
fises of victorie, mengde win, and sette
3 forth his bord. He sente his hand wym- men, that thei shulde clepe to the hei3te ;
4 and to the wallis of the cite. If any is a litil child; come he to me. And to vnwise
5 men hea spac, Cometh, etith my bred ; and drinketh win, that I mengde to 3ou.
e Forsaketh childbed, and liuethb; and goth 7 bi the weies of prudence. Who lerneth
a scornere, doth wrong he to hymself ;
and who vndernemeth the vnpitouse, to a hymself a wem gendrith. Wile thou not
vndernyme the scornere; lest he shul hate
thee. Vndirnym the wise man ; and he a shal looue thee. 3if to the wise man oca-
sioun ; and ther shal ben addid to hym
wisdam. Tech the ri3twis man ; and he 10 shall hee3e to take. The begynnyng of
wisdam the drede of the Lord ; and the nkuunyng of halewis prudence. Forsothe
aboue; and weiede the wellis of watris. * Wisdom,etc.;
. that is, Goddis
Whanne he cumpasside to the see ms29sone, i marke; and settide lawe to watris, that thod schulden not passe her coostis. Whanne he peiside the foundementis of which he biid-
. ide bi word
erthe; Y was making alle thingis with so and. him. And Y delitide bi alle daies, and pleiede bifore hym in al tyme, pleiede in the world ; and my delices ben to be with the sones of men. Now ther- '•
, , . , . ,7 . vii.sacramentis,
for, sones, here 36 me ; blessid ben met bi
that kepen my weies. Here 36 teching, 33 [
and be 36 wise men ; and nile 36 caste it
awei. Blessid is the man that herith me, 34 hmmif in the
cros, which is
and that wakith at my 3atis al dai ; and seid sacrifices,
'
a n r\ V 3 1 ""• P'lertsS thai
6 18,vii.3iftisof
kepith at the postis of my dore. He
fyndith me, schal fynde lijf ; and schal
drawe helthe of the Lord. But he that 36 the memorial
of this sacrifice,
synneth a3ens me, schal hurte his soule ; alle that haten me, louen deeth.
is the sacra- ment of the auter. medlid wyn } that is, jaf to vs his blood which is sacrid in wyn raed- dlid with water.
and
CAP. IX.
Wisdom* bildide an hous to him silf;i he hewide out seuene pileris, he offride 2 his slayn sacrifices, he medlide wijn, and settide forth his table. He sente hise hand- 3 maidesf, that thei schuldeu clepe to the *'"•
to the feith of
tour; and to the wallis of the citee. If ony 4 out, and to
. . tho thingis that
man is htils ; come he to me. And wisdom ben anne»d
i . /~, to the articlia
spak to vnwise men, Come 36, ete 36 mys Of the feith.
breed ; and drynke 3eh the wiyn, which1
Y haue medlid to 3ou. Forsake 36 3ong G ™v breed ; that
•> / is, my bodi
childbed, and lyue 36 ; and go 30 bi the
etc. ; that is,
tn tho f,,iti, ,Lt'
weyesk of prudence.
jouun vndur TT j.\. T--.ii- - the licnesse of
He that techith a 7 breed.
scorneref, doith wrong to him silf; and "sT^biood ' he that vndirnymmeth a wickid man, gen- v"dur the »P><*
* of wyn, wher.
drith a wem to him silf. Nile thou vndir- s yn"e water is
. medlid ; bi eld
nyme a scornere; lest he hate thee. Vndir- nyme thou a wise man ; and he schal loue thee. 3yue thou occasioun to a wise man ; 9 and wisdom schal be encreessid to hym.
scheding out
I eche thou a mst man ; and he schal haste of the blood, to take1. The bigynnyng of wisdom z^i^toiewid'men"11 them dreed of the Lord ; and prudence is rfK^H
tymecristen
men comyn-
eden in e'uer
bi me shul be multiplied thic da3es ; and the kunnyng of seyntis. For" thi
that is, vnpro-
w hangide ABGH. x dores c her A.
>' haten AH. * hewide
a sche c sec. m. b cometh E pr. m.
d thei i. e he schal i. f handmaidens i. g litil, that is, meek. Lire here. KNa. k wey i. I take it i. m Om. i. n Forsothe i.
Om. r. » that i.
IX. 12 — X.
PROVERBS.
15
12 ben added to thee the jerys of lif. If a wis man thou shul be; to thiself thou shalt be, and to thi ne3heboris. If for- sothe a gilere; alone thou shalt bern euel.
is A fool womman, and crious, and ful of euele dra3tis to delicis, and no thing
14 outerli kunnende, sat in the 3ate doris of hir hous, vpon a sete, in the he3e place
la of the cite; that she my3te clepe men passende bi the weie, and men goende in
16 ther gate. Who is a litil child ; bowe he doun to me. And to the sory hertid she
17 spac, Stoln watris ben swettere, and hid is bred more swete. And he knew not that
there ben ieauntis ; and in the depthis of helle thed 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.
CAP. X
i A wys sone gladeth thec fader ; for- sothe a sone fool, the sorewe is of his
2modir. No thing shal profiten the tre- sores of vnpitousnesse ; ri3twisnesse for-
ssothe shal deliuere fro deth. The Lord shal not tormente thur3 hungir the soule of the ri3twise ; and the spies of the vnpitous men he shal turn vpso doun.
4 Nedynesse wercheth the slowe hond ; the bond forsothe of stronge men greitheth richessis. Who forsothe vseth lesingis, this fedeth windis ; the same folewith
sfleende briddes. Who gedereth in rep, is a wis sone ; who forsothe routeth in
'isomerf, is the sone of confusioun. The blissing of God vpon the bed of the ri3t- wis ; the mouth forsothe of vnpitous men
7 wickidnesse couereth. The mynde of the ri3twise with preisingis ; and the name of vnpitous^ men shal waxe stinkinge.
8 The wise man in herte shal kepen the ahestis; the fool is beten with lippis. Who
goth simpleli, goth trostli ; who forsothe
schulen be multiplied bi me ; and jeeris of
lijf schulen be encreessid to thee.
art wijs ; thou schalt be0 to thi silf * and
, , i . . , .
to thi nei3bons. Forsothe if thou art a
, i i , ,
scornere ; tnouP aloone schalt here yuel. A fonned womman, and ful of cry, and ful of vnleueful lustis, and that kan no
etc* £ tor nc
thing outirli, sittith in the doris of hir I48tiritht°e
, . scornere to do
nous, on a seete, mi an hi3 place of the wrong to him.
•j_ i *i*i Lire here. c.
cite; to clepe men passinge bi the weie, 15 • to thinif;
fitabie ami
If thou 12/7,^ £g!s- «"«*•<>/>•«•
dence ; that is,
ofcomaunde-
mentis and
counceiisof
and men goynge in her iournei. Who is
a litil man ^ofwitr; bowe he to me. And pri.nciPaly.
aftirward to
sche spak to a coward, Watris of thefte 17 othere men.
, , . . , . afonnyd wo
ben swettere, and breed hid is swettere9. man ; that i
And wiste4 not that giauntis ben there: laSS^"
and the gestis" vof hirv ben in the depthis
of helle. Sotheli he that schal be applied,
ether fastned, to hirw; schal go doun to
hellis. For whi he that goith awei fro
hirw ; schal be saued.
CAP. X.
The parablis of Salomon. A wijs sonei
g (h Tot no
but wordis. vnleueful lustis ; for not onely it graunt- ith, but also bringith to siche lustis. kan no thing ; for so litil of truthe is there, that it is aret-
l'nd ,Vforth •
Tresouris of 2 ^rn*|.c!ie doc" wickidnessef schulen not profite ; but rist-
*• J
autorite.
brodeSweye of
makith glad thex fadir ; but a fonned sone is the sorewe of his modir.
fulnesse schal delyuere fro deth. The Lord s
schal not turmente the soule? of a iust
man with hungur ; and he schal distrie
the tresouns of vnpitouse men. A slow 4 that,!l - -
the fersnesse of
hond hath wrou3t nedynesse ; but the her coueitise. hond of stronge men makith redi rich- essis. Forsothe he that enforsith to gete *ony thing1 bia leesyngis, fedith theb wyndisj ; sotheli the same man sueth
a coward ; that is, to him that sueth lustis. of thefte; that is, fals doctryn. breed hid, etc, ; the herere of
fals doctryne.
briddis fleynffe. He that gaderith togi-a geauntis, that
. .* . .. ' , is,ofendis.
dere in heruest, is a wijs sone; but he in the depthis that slepith in sommer, is a sone of con- °£ ^ >jhtahtat fusioun. The blessing of God is ouerc thee ™Jt?'.'3t and
fillid bi sich
heed of a iust man ; but wickidnesse hilith doctryne goen the mouth of wickid men. The mynde of? peyne of heiie, a iust man schal be with preisingis ; and the name of wickid men schal wexe rotun. A wijs man schal resseyue comaunde-s
' .
mentis with herte§ ; a fool is betun with
wickidnesse;
that is,
d Om. AGH. e liis AGH. { the somer AEGH. S the vnpitous AGH.
0 be wijs r. P forsothe thou i. Q on ex. r in wit i. of wit. Lire here. N text. s esier to ete i. * I wiste ; I, the heerere of fals doctrin wiste. Lire here. N text. " gistis A. felawis i. T therof p/ures. w it plures. * his r. 1 lijf i. z ait}l i. any thing. Lire here. N text, a with i. b Om. i. c Om. cm.
16
PROVERBS.
x.
beshrewith his weies, shal be maad opene.
10 Who twinclith with e$e, shal 3iue so- rewe ; the fool with lippis shal be bete.
11 The veyne of lif the mouth of the1 ri3t- wis ; the mouth forsothe of vnpitous
12 men couereth wickidnesse. Hate rereth striues ; and alle giltis charite couereth.
13 In the lippis of the wis man is founde wisdam ; and a 3erde in the rigge of hym
u that is uedi in herte. Wise men hiden kunnyng ; the mouth forsothe of the fool
15 is next to confusioun. The substaunce of the riche man the cite of his strengthe ; the ferd of pore men the nedynesse of
16 hem. The were of the ri3twis man to lif; the frut forsothe of the vnpitous to
i;synne. The weie of lif to thek kepende discipline ; who forsothe vndernemyngis
isforsaketh, erreth. Liende lippis hiden1 hate ; who speketh"1 wrongful blarnyng,
19 is an vnwis man. In myche speche shal not lacke syrine ; who forsothe temperth
20 his lippis, is most prudent. Chosen siluer the tunge of the ri3twis ; the herte of
21 vnpitous men for no3t. The lippis of the ri3twise techen manye ; who forsothe ben vnta3t, in the nedynesse of herte shul die.
22 The blessing of the Lord maketh riche men ; ne shal be felashipid to them tor-
asmenting. As by k^hing the fool werch- ith hidous trespas ; wisdam forsothe is to
24 a man purueing. That that the vnpitouse dredeth, shal come vpon hym ; ther" de-
25 sir to ri3twis men shal be 3iue. As tem- pest passende, shal be the vnpitouse ; the ri3twise forsothe as euere durende ground.
26 As eisel to teeth, and smoke to e3en ; so the slowe to hem that senten hym in the
27 weie. The drede of the Lord leith to da3es ; and the 3eris of vnpitous men shul
28 be shortid. The biding of ri3twismen gladnesse ; the hope forsothe of vnpitous
29 men shal pershen. The strengthe of the simple the weie of the Lord ; and ferd
so to them that werken euel. The ri3twis into withoute ende shal not be moued ;
n.ii>
CKN.
liopis*. He that goith simpli, goith tristili;o getu
0 ° here.
but he that makith schrewid hise weies, schut
TT ,-, . i i ,1 -,. profile; for tho
schal be opyn. He that bekeneth with 10 ben
the i3e, schal 5yue sorewe ; a fool schal be
betun with lippis. The veyne of liif &>nifi)e1nauilce
sueth not, and
the mouth of a iust man ; but the mouth ofte of temporal
, ... , .1-1 TT deth. Lire
of vvickid men hihth wickidnesse. Ha- \2 here. c.
g, is
trede reisith6 chidingis ; and charite hilith
alle synnes. Wisdom is foundun in the is t*'aug]th his
lippis of a wise man ; and a 3erd inf the "">< *leP'"> «'»
bak of him that is nedi of herte. Wise u he that is idii '
men hidenf kunnyng ; but the mouth of
a fool is nexte to confusioun. The catel of i5
a riche man is the citee of his strensrthe ; L(re here- c-
§ herte; that
the drede of pore men is the nedynesse of is> >« obeying hem. The werk of a iust man is to lijf ; IG her™™. " but the fruyt of a wickid man is to synne. * ,"/^*f "" The weie of lijf is to him that kepith I7l°r.he.are"ith
' betingis, the
chastising** ; but he that forsakith blam-
... T-, , ,. • i • , , blamyng. Lire
yngis, ernth. b alse lippis hiden hatrede ; is here. c.
he that bringith forth dispisinge is vn- ;s, fro scorn"
wijs. Synne schal not faile in myche 19^ L"'ehere-
spekyng ; but he that mesurith hise lippis,
is moost prudent. Chosun siluer is the 20
tunge of a iust man ; the herte of wickid
men is for nou3t±. The lippis of a iust 21 + for n
man techen ful manye men ; but thei that t^'
ben vnlerned, schulen die in nedinesse of here' c-
herte. The blessing of the Lord makith 22
riche$ men ; and turment schal not be fe- f "<*«> «'c- .•
lowschipid to hem. A fool worchith wick- 23 H
idnesse as bi Iei3yng ; but Visdom is pru-
dence to ah man. That that a wickid man 24 M l^1' ric,h:
essis nan. lAre
dredith, schal come on hym ; the desire of here- c- iust men schalbe 3ouun to hem. As 325 tempeste passynge, a wickid man schal not be ; but a iust man schal be as an euer- lastynge foundement. As vynegre noiethw the teeth, and smoke noieth1 the i3en ; so a slow man noieth hem that senten hym in the weie. The drede of the Lord en- 27 creesith daies ; and the 3eeris of wickid men schulen be maad schort. Abiding of aa iust men is gladnesse ; but the hope of wickid men schal perische. The strengthe 29 of a symple man is the weie of the Lord ;
» Om. A. k Om. AGH. 1 hidith A. ^ speketh or bryngeth forth E pr, m. n his E pr, m. « reisith up i. f is founde in i. K chastisyngis E. h prudence is to a wijs i. i Om. !.
X. 3i— XI.
PROVERBS.
17
vnpitouse forsothe shul not dwelle vp on 31 erthe. The mouth of the rijtwis shal here wisdam ; the tunge of shrewis shal 32pershen. The lippis of the ri3twis be- holden plesid thingis ; and the mouth of vnpitouse peruertid thingis.
CAP. XI.
1 A treacherous we3e abominaciouri is anent God0; and an euen00 wei3t the wil
2 of hym. Wher shal be pride, there shal be wrongful blamyng ; wher forsothe is
smecnesse, and there wisdam. Simple- nesse of ri3twis men shal ri3t reule them ; and supplaunting of peruertid men shal
4 waste them. Richessis shul not profiten in the day of veniaunce; forsothe irjtwis-
5 nesse shal deliuere fro deth. Ri3twisnesse of the simple shal ri3t reulen his weie ; and the vnpitous in his vnpitousnesse
c shal falle. The ri3twisnesse of ri3t men shal deliuere them ; and wicke? men in
7 ther aspies shul be take. The vnpytous man dead, noon hope shal ben ouer ; and the abiding of bisy men shal pershe.
8 The ri3twis fro anguysh is deliuered ; and shal be take the vnpitous for hym.
9 The feynere in mouth desceyueth his frend ; ri3twis men forsothe shul ben de-
10 liuered with kunnyng. In goodis of ri3t- wis men shal ben euhauncid the cite ; and in the leesing of vnpitousPP men'J shal
11 ben preising. Thur3 the blessing of ri3t- wis men shal ben enhauncid the cite ; and bi the mouth of vnpitous men it shal
12 be turned vp so doun. Who desceyueth his frend, is nedi in herte ; the prudent
is man forsothe shal be stille. Who goth gilendeli, shewith priue thingus ; who forsothe is feithful, hilith the gilte of
u the frend. Wher is not a gouernour, the puple fallith ; helthe forsothe, wher ben
ismanye counselis. He shal be tormentid
and drede to hem that worchen yuel. A 30 * not be mouyd
iust man schal not be moued* with outen
ende ; but wickid men schulen not dwelle
on the erthef . The mouth of a iust man
schal bringe forth wisdom ; the tunge of
schrewis schal perische. The lippis of
iust man biholden pleasaunt thingis ; and
the mouth of wickid men byholdith wei-
ward thingis'.
that is, fro the stablenesse of vertu. CKM. •f not dwelle on the erthf ,• that is, on the erthtr of hem that lynen in blii.
that and
to goode men. weyward thing- is, etc. ; that is, blasfemyes ajenusOod,and wrongis a;enu> the neijbore. Lire here. c.
CAP. XI.
A gileful balaunce is abhominacioun i anentis God ; and an euene wei3te is his wille. Where pride is, there also dispis-2 ing schal be ; but where rneeknesse is, there also /* wisdom. The simplenesse of3 iust men schal dresse hem ; and the dis- seyuyng of weiward men schal destrie hem. Richessis schulen not profite in the 4 dai of veniaunce ; but ri3tfulnesse schal delyuere fro deth. The ri3tfulnesse of as simple man schal dresse his weie ; and a wickid man schal falle in his wickidnesse. The ri3tfulnesse of ri3tful men schal dely-c uere hem ; and wickid men schulen be takun in her aspiyngis. Whanne a wickid 7 man is deed, noon hope schal be fer- therj ; and abidyng of bisy menk± schal t </**«»»«»,
J " * etc. ; that is,
perische. A iust man is delyuered from 8 of hem that
. . . . , i i i_ serueden bisily
angwisch ; and a wickid man schal be a wickid man,
3ouun for hym. A feynere bi mouth dis-9
seyueth his freend ; but iust men schulen
be deliuered bi kunnyng. A citee schal 10 that is, blamed
be enhaunsid in the goodis of iust men ;
and preysyng schal be in the perdicioun
of wickid men. A citee schal be enhaunsid n
bi blessing of iust men ; and it schal be
distried bi the mouth of wickid men. He 12
that dispisith his freend, is nedi in herte ;
but a prudent man schal be stille. He that is
goith gilefuli, schewith priuetees ; but he
that is feithful, helith the priuetee of a
freend. Where a gouernour is1 not, the 14
puple schal falle ; but helthe *of the pu-
nlem ismm, where ben many counsels^. Hem etc.; that is
* J obhgacioun.
that makith feith|| for a straunger, schal CKN.
in the gospel. K.
§ many coun.
sels ; bi whiche
bothe yueis ben
0 the Lord c pr. m. °° trevve c pr. m. P wickid AGH. PP the vnpitous A. °. man A.
1 thing i. J ferther oj him i. k men in euel A sec.m. ' ther is i. "' Om. i. "°m M. Lire here. N text. VOL. III. D
18
PROVERBS.
XI. 16 XII. 2.
with euel, that doth feith for a stranger ;
who forsothe shoneth grenes, shal be si- lekir. A gracious womman shal finden glo-
rie; and stronge men shuln han richessis. 17 Wei doth to his soule the merciful man ;
who forsothe is cruel, casteth awei nee3h is men. The vnpitouse maketh were vn-
stable ; to the sowende forsothe ri3twis-
19 nesse feithfullr mede. Noble mercy shal greithe lif ; and folewing of euelis deth.
2oAbhominable a" shreude herte to the Lord ; and his wil in hem, that simply
aigon. Hond in bond, shal not ben inno- cent the euele man ; the sed forsothe of
22ri3twis men shal be saued. A goldene cercle in the nosethirlis of a souwe, a
23 fair womman and a fool. The desir of rijtwis men alle good thing is ; the abid-
24 ing of vnpitous men wodnesse. Othere men deuyden proper thingus, and ben maad richere ; othere reuen not their owne, and euermor ben in nedynesse.
25 The lif that blisseth, shal ben inwardli fattid ; and he that maketh inwardli drunken, also hymself shal ben inwardli
20 maad drunken. He that hideth whete in time, shal be cursid in puplis ; blessing
27 forsothe vp on the hed of silleris. Wei riseth erli, that secheth goodis ; who for- sothe is enserchere of euelis, of hem shal
28 be oppressid. Who trosteth in his rieh- essis, shal falle ; ri3twis men forsothe as
293 greene lef shul burioune. Who distur- bith his hous, shal han windis ; and he that is a fool, shal seruen to the wise
so man. The frut of the ri3twise the tree of lif ; and he that vndertaketh soulis, is
31 a wis man. Jf the ri3twise in the erthe resceyueth, myche more the vnpitous, and the synnere.
CAP. XII.
1 Who looueth discipline, looueth kun- nyng ; who forsothe hateth blamyngus, is
2 vnwis. Who forsothe is good, shal drawe to hym grace of the Lord ; who forsothe
be turmentid with yuel ; but he that eschewith snaris, schal be sikur. A gra- ic ciouse womman* schal fynde glorie ; and stronge men schulen haue riehessis. A 17 merciful man doith wel to his soule ; but he that is cruel, castith awei, 3he, kynnes- men. A wickid man makith vnstableis werk ; but feithful mede is to hym, that sowith ri3tfulnesse. Merci schal make in redi lijf ; and the suyng of yuelsn ' schal make redi0 deth. A schrewid herte isw abhomynable to the Lord ; and his wille is in hem, that goen symply. Thou^ bond 21 be? in thei bond, an yuel manf schal not be innocent ; but the seed of iust men schal be sauyd. A goldun 'sercle, ether* 22 ryng, in the 'nose thrillis* of a sowe, a womman fair and fool. The desir of iust 23 men is al good ; abiding of wickid men is woodnesse. Sum men departen her owne 24 thingis, and ben maad richere ; other men rauyschen thingis, that ben not hern, and benu euere in nedynesse. A soule that 25 blessith, schal be maad fatj; and he that fillithT§, schal be fillid also. He that hidith 20 wheete vin tymew, schal be cursid among the puplis ; but blessyng schal come on the heed of silleris. Wel he risith eerli,27 that sekith good thingis ; but he that is a serchere of yuels, schal be oppressid of tho. He that tristith in hise riehessis, schal 28 falle; but iust men schulen buriowne as a greene leef. He that disturblith his 29 hows, schal haue wyndis|| in possessioun ; and he that is a fool, schal serue a wijs man. The fruyt of a ri3tful man is the so tre of lijf ^f; and he that takith soulis**, is a wijs manff. If a iust man receyuethsi in erthe^, how miche more an vnfeithful man, and synnere ".
CAP. XII.
He that loueth chastisyng, loueth kun- i nyng ; but he that hatith blamyngis, is vnwijs§§. He that is good, schal drawe to 2 hym silf grace of the Lord ; but he that
* a granouse womman ; that is, onest and schamefast. c.
f thouj he worcheth no thing, but bold, eth the too hond in the tothir, thiuketh yuel. K.
£ bi fatnesse of grace. K. § his neijbore with good tech. ing. K.
|1 of wraththe and tempta- cioun. K. 5f the tre of lijf; that is, Crist in blisful sijt ; for the werk of a iust man liringith herto. c. **takilh soulis,- that is, the cure of soulis.
CK.
•f--f" is a wiys man ; that is, owith to be a wiys man ; for asGreg.seithin his Pastorals, " the craft of craftis is the gouernail of soulis. c. £J erthe ; that is, turmentis of God. Lire here. KJT. §§ is en «•;//•>' ,• for he is liyk a wood man, that eschewith heelful medi- cyn. Lire here. c.
r is feithful A. 9 is a A.
n yuel i. " Oin. i. P is A pr. m. c et plures. nese thorlis E. nose thirllis p el alii. « thei ben i.
<l Om. A sec. m. F sec. m. i. r Om. i. * nostris CN. v fulljth A. w Om. A pr. m. cu pr. m. * a synnere i. .
XII. 3 — 19-
PROVERBS.
19
trostith in his tho3tis, vnpitously doth.
3 A man shal not be strengthid of vnpi- tousnesse ; arid the roote of ri3twis men*
4 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
sconfusioun. The tho3tis of ri3twis men domes ; and counseilis of vnpitous men
Ggilesum. The woordis of vnpitous men spieu to blod ; the mouth of ri3twis
7 men shal deliuere them. Turne vnpitous men, and thei shul not be ; the housis forsothe of ri3twis men shal abide stille.
sBi his doctrine shal be knowen a man; who forsothe is veyn and herteles, shal
9 ben open to despising. Betere is a pore man, and suffisaunt to hymself, than a
10 glorious, and nedi bred. The ri3twis knew3 the liues of his helpeli bestis ; the bowelis forsothe of vnpitous men cruel.
n 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 for-
I2saketh wrongful blamyngisv. The desir of the vnpitous is the myndeful place of werst thingis ; the roote forsothe of ri3t-
iswis men shal profiten. For the synnes of lippis falling ne3heth to the euel man ; forsothe the ri3twis man shal fleen out of
u anguysh. Of the frut of his mouth echew shal be fulfild of goodis ; and after the werkis of his hondis it shal be 3olde to
ishym. The weie of the fool ri3t in the C3en of hym ; who forsothe is a wis
IB man, hereth counseilis. The fool shewith anoon his wrathe; who forsothe dissymu-
i;lith wrongus, is fel. Who that he knewj, speketh, domes man of ri3twisnesse is ; who forsothe lieth, is a gileful witnesse.
isTher is that behoteth, and as with a swerd is pungid to the conscience ; the tunge forsothe of wise men is helthe.
19 The lippe of truthe shal be fast in to withoute ende ; who forsothe is a feerli witnesse, maketh a tunge of lesing.
tristith in hise thou3tis, doith wickidli. A man schal not be maad strong by 3 wyckidnesse ; and the root of iust men schal not be moued. A diligent womman 4 is a coroun to hir hoseboud ; and rot is in the boonys of that womman, that doith thingis worth i of confusioun. Thethou3tiss of iust men ben domes; and the counselis of wickid men ben gileful. The wordise of wickid men setten tresoun to blood ; the mouth of iust men schal delyuere hem. Turne thou* wickid men, and thei schu- 7 len not bef ; but the housis of iust men schulen dwelle perfitli. A man schal be a knowun bi his teching ; but he that is veyn and hertles, schal be open to dispis- ing. Betere is a pore man, and sufficient 9 to him silf, than a gloriouse man, and nedi of breed. A iust man knowith the>' soulisz 10 of hise werk beestis^: ; but the* entrailis of wickid men ben cruel. He that worchith u his lond, schal be fillid with looues ; but he that sueth idilnesse, is moost fool. He that is sweteb, lyueth in temperaunces; and in hise monestyngis he forsakith dis- pisyngis. The desir of a wickid man is 12 the memorial of worste thingis ; but the roote of iust men schal encreesse. For the is synnes of lippis 'falling dounc uei3eth to an yuel man ; but a iust man schal scape fro angwisch. Of the fruyt of his mouth u ech man schal be fillid with goodis; and bid the werkis of hise hondis it schal be 3oldun to him. The weie of a fool /* ri3t-io ful in hise i3en ; but he that is wijs, herith counsels. A fool schewith anoon his ire;ie but he that dissymelith wrongis, is wijs. He that spekith that, that he knowith, is 17 a iuge of ri3tfulnesse ; but he that lieth, is a gileful witnesse. A man is that bi-i« hetith§, and he is prickid as with the swerd of conscience ; but the tunge of wise men is helthe. The lippe of treuthe schal 19 be stidfast with outen ende ; but he that is a sudeyn witnesse, makith redi the tunge of leesyng. Gile is in the herte of hem 20
* that is, to goodnesse. K. •f- wickid, or dampned. K.
J werk Iteestin ; that is, of hid seruaunti*. Lire hen. IKS.
§ Lilitlilli ; and payeth not. Lire here. cxa.
* Om. AGH. " Who so A. v blamyng AG pr. m. H. w ech on AEGH.
TOm. c. Mijuesi. &Om.Apr.m. b softe or esy i. swete, that is, mylde KNU. c ruyne or myschefi. daftiri.
D 2
PROVERBS.
XII. 20 XIII. 9.
aoTreccberie in the herte of men thenk- ende euelys ; who forsothe gon* in to the
21 counseilis of pes, hem folewith io3e. Shal not holli sorewen? the ri3twis man, what euere thing shal falle to hym ; vnpitous men forsothe shul be fulfildz of euel.
22 Abomynaciouri is to the Lord Hende lippis ; who forsothe feithfulli don, ple-
23 sen to hym. A man turned to deceit, hilith kunnyng ; the herte of vnwise
24 men stireth to folie. The bond of stronge men shal lordshepen ; the whiche for-
25 sothe is slo3, shal serue to tributis. Morn- yng in the herte of the ri3twis man shal meken hym ; and with a good woord he
26sharbe maad glad3. Whodispisith harm for a frend, is ri3twis ; the weie forsothe
27 of vnpitous men shal desceytie them. The gileful man shal not finde wynnyng ; and the substaunce of a man shal be the pris
28 of gold. In the path of ri3twisnesseb lif ; the going out wei forsothe ledeth to deth.
CAP. XIII.
1 The wise sone the doctrine of the fa- der ; who forsothe is a gilere, hereth not,
2 whan he is vndernomyn. Of the frut of his mouth a man shal be fild with goodis; the soule forsothe of 'the lawe brekeriV
swicke. Who kepeth his mouth, kepeth his soule ; who forsothe is vnauysid to
4 speken, shal felen euelis. The slowe wile, and wile not; the soule forsothe of werk- ende men shal ben inwardliche fattid.
5 A lesing woord the ri3twis man shal wlaten ; the vnpitous d man forsothe
eshendeth, and shal be shent. Ri3twis- nesse kepeth the weie of the innocent ; vnpitousnesse forsothe supplauntith the
7Synnere. Ther is as a riche man, whan no thing he hath; and ther is as a pore man, whan in many richesses
she is. The a3een biyng of the soule of a man his richessis ; who forsothe is a
9 pore man, blamyng suffreth not. The
*<«*/>'«<*
harm ; that is,
chargith not
Lirc
that thenken yuels ; but ioye sueth hem,
that maken counsels of pees. What euere 21
bifallith to a iust man, it schal not make
hym sori ; but wickid men schulen be fillid
with yuel. False lippis is abhominacioun22
to the Lord ; but thei that don feithfuli,
plesen him. A fele man hilith kunnyne; 23 t '*«»«*-
* ° slaunce ; that
and the herte of vnwise men stirith foli. is, !iyt. Lire
The bond of stronge men schal haue lord-
schip ; but the bond that is slow, schal
serue to tributis. Morenynge in the herte 23 Jthan gold- Lire
of a iust man schal make hym meke; and §«•<>/« «n</
he schal be maad glad bi a good word, he wole '
He that dispisith harm* for a frend, is 32
iust man ; but the weie of wickid men luffreUtheetrayl<
schal disseyue hem. A srileful man schal 27 ue| whii;h >»
axid herto, and
not fynde wynnyng; and the substauncef sohenyie
of man schal be the prijs of gold+. Lijfsa
is in the path of ri3tfulnessef ; but the
wrong weie leedith to deeth. theieshees-
chewith to putte hise feet in to the water. Lire here. c. that is, wole haue prosperite
CAP. XIII. in this world
and ioie in
A wijs sone is the teching of the fadir ; i heue"> but he
spedily; therfor
the
wole not tra-
w'e vertuousli
, . i A therfore. K.
he is repreuyd. A man schal be filhd with 2 u a man is a*
but he that is a scornere,herith not,whanne
goodis of the fruit of his mouth ; but the
soule of vnpitouse men is wickid. He that 3 W1hi'chieiah"h'
kepith his mouth, kepith his soule ; but
. .
he that is vnwar to speke, schal feel yuels. A slow man wole, and wole not$ ; but the 4 soule of hem that worchen schal be maad
tid M no"3t,
suffisith to
him sm. Lire f tbath, hut
fat. A iust man schal wlate a fals word ; 5 no° more-
i • i • i as pore, etc. ;
but a wickid man schendith, and schal be thisisanaua- schent. Ri3tfulnesse kepith the weie ofe whom'notUiv an innocent man ; but wickidnesse dis- seyueth a synnere. A man is as riche||, 7 whanne he hath no thing^f ; and a man is as pore**, whanne he is in many richessis. Redempcioun of the soule of 8 man is hise richessis ; but he that is ^er P.rosPerite-
JjtTC l\E T€, C K N8
pore, suffrith not blamyng. The Iht of 9 »'«*«A <//«rf ,-
. , , the peple, for
lustff men makith glad ; but the Ian- thei vsen wei terne of wickid men schal be quenchid.
paied, hut crieth, Bryng, Bring. K.
* gpth AGH. y serue E pr. m. z fild AGH. a gladen E pr m c vnpitouse men K pr. m. d vnri3twis A.
men AG. n^twys man //.
e fool
A sec. m. f rijtwisnesse i.
XIII. io — XIV. 2.
PROVERBS.
21
of ri3twis men maketh glad ; the lan- terne forsothe of vnpitous men shal ben
loquenchid. Among proude men euermor ben striues ; who forsothe alle thingis don with counsel!, ben gouerned with
n wisdam. Substaunce hastid shal be las- sid ; that forsothe litilmelee is gedered,
12 with hond shal be multeplied. Hope that is deferrid, tormenteth the soule ;
13 the tree of lif desir comyngeee. Who bac- biteth to any thing, he oblisheth hymself in to thef time to come ; who forsothe
14 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.
is Good doctrine shal 3yue grace ; in the i6weye of dispiseris a swolw3- A witti
man alle thingis? doth with counseil ;
who forsothe is a fool, shall opene folie. 17 The messager of the vnpitous shal falle
in to euel ; the feithful sent is helthe. laNedynesse and shenshipe to hym that
forsaketh discipline ; who forsothe as-
senteth to the vndernymere, shal ben i!) glorified. Desir, if it be fulfild, delitith
the soule ; foolis wlaten hem that flen 2oeuelis. Who with wise goth, a wis
man shal ben ; the frend of folis lie shal 21 be maad. Synneres euel pursueth ; and
to rijtwis men goode thingis shul be 223olde. A good man leueth eiris sones,
and sonys sones ; and is kept to the ri3t-
wise the substaunce of the synnere. 2sManye metis in the newidh feeldis of
fadris ; and to othere men thei ben ge- 24dered withoute dom. Who spareth to
the 3erde, hatith his sone ; who forsothe 2slooueth hym, bisili techeth. The ri3twis
eteth, and fulfillith his soule ; the wombe
forsothe of vnpitous' vnfilable.
CAP. XIV.
i The wise womman bildeth vp hir hous;
the vnwise the maad outk forsothe with 2hondis shal destro3e. The goende in
ri3t weie, and drederide God, is dispisid
Stryues ben euere a rnong proude men ; 10 but thei that don alle thingis with coun- sel, ben gouerned bi wisdom. Hastid * 1 1 •• catel ha,tid; catel schal be maad lesse ; but that that il^uy"'^!" is gaderid litil and litil with hond, schal raucy" et!T bi
vsure. icitn
be multiplied. Hope whichs is dilaied, i2A"n</- thati»>
. . . getun bi iiint
turmentith the soule ; a tre of lijf is desir ""««*. Lire comyng. He that bacbitith ony thing, is''" byndith hyrn silf in to tyme to comynge ; but he that dredithf the comaundement, t >ire,nih, tic. ; schal lyue in pees. The lawe of a wise u brcki'ng'of man is a welle of lijf ; that he bowe awei ?'Kl<il8 hee"tis-
9 Lire here. c.
fro the falling of detht. Good techineis* <!/"**<*,• that
, ° i», of synne and
schal 3yue grace ; a swolowe ts in the of h^«. Lire weie of dispiseris$. A fel man doith alle is /<%>£«»•;*,• ,,t thingis with counsel ; but he that is a fcTidlS fool, schal opene foli. The rnessaneer of i7frosyn"e.into
synnc. I .> * >
a wickid man schal falle in to yuel ; a here- c-
feithful messanger is helthe. Nedynesseis
and schenschip is to him that forsakith
techyng ; but he that assentith || to a
blamere, schal be glorified. Desir, if it is 19
fillid, delitith the soule ; foolis wlaten hem "^eiy. Lire
here. c.
that fleen yuels. He that goith with wijs 20 men^[, schal be wijs ; the freend of foolis i ««/A <«>« schal be maad lijk hem. Yuel pursueth 21 Jb! synneris ; and goodis schulen be 3oldunh to iust men. A good man schal leeue affirm him eiris, sones, and the sones of sones ; and the catel of a synnere is kept to a iust man. Many meetis ben in the new 23 tilid feeldis of fadris ; and ben gaderid to othere men with out doom**. He that 24 *' doom sparith the 3erde, hatith his sone ; but he that loueth him, techith bisili. A iust 25 man etith, and fillith his soule ; but the wombe of wickid rnen /* vnable to be
„„.,,, tt tote ///«/;
nllldjj. for tho thingis
that lien set forth suffisen not to hem, but, euere more thei seken delicat thingis. Lire here. c.
asimtuk,
that
) with out her
trauei. Lire *"*'°'
CAP. XIV.
A wijs womman bildith hir hous ; and i an unwijs womman schal distrie with hondistt an hous bildid. A man goynge2 ::««•
_ . . , . that is, with hir
in ri3tful weie, and dredinge God, is dis- yude werkis.
Lire here. CK.
« with litilmel A. ee comende c pr. m. f Om. AEGII. S thing AC. h .precious E pr. m. ' the vnri3t- wijs A. the vnpitous GH. k Om. A. vp GH.
g that i. the which a. h joue i.
22
PROVERBS.
XIV. 3 — 23.
of hym, that goth in the euel losid weie.
sin the mouth of the fool a 3erde of
pride ; the lippis of wise men keperi
4 hem. Wher ben not oxen, the cracche is voide ; wher forsothe aperen many tilthis, there is open maad the strengthe
5 of the oxe. A feithful witnesse shal not lien ; the trecherous witnesse speketh
elesing. The scornere seketh wisdam, and findeth not ; the doctrine of prudent men 7 Ii3t. Go a3en the fol1 ; and he shal not eknowe the lippis of prudence. The wis- dam of the witti man is to vnderstonde his weie ; and the'11 vnprudence of foolis 9 erring. The fool scorneth synne; among iori3twis men grace shal wone. The herte that knew the bitternesse of his soule ; ' 1036 to hym shal not be togidere
in
vn-
11 mengd a straunger. The hous of pitous men shal be don awei ; the taber- naclis of ri3twis men shal burioune.
12 Ther is forsothe a weie, that semeth to a man ri3twis; the laste thingus forsothe
13 of it bringen" doun to deth. Law3ing with sorewe shal be mengd ; and the
14 endis of io3e weiling ocupieth. With his weies shal be fulfild the fol ; and aboue
15 hym shal be a good man. The innocent trowith to eche woord ; the witti behold-
iceth his goingis. The wise man dredeth, and bowith doun fro euel ; the fol ouer-
17 lepeth, and trosteth. The vnpacient shal werche folie ; and the desseyuable man
is is hateful. Litle childer shul welde folie;
iu and witti men shul abide kunnyng. Euel men shul lyn befor good men ; and vn- pitous men befor the 3atis of ri3twis men.
20 Also to his ne3hebore the0 pore man hateful shal be; the frendis forsothe of
2iriche men manye. Who despisith his
ne3hebore, synneth ; who forsothe doth
merci to the pore man, shal be blisful.
Who leeueth in the Lord, looueth merci ;
•22thei erren, that werchen euel. Mercy
23 and treuthe greithen goodis ; in alle
good were plente shal be. Wher forsothe
pisid of hym, that goith in a' weie of yuel fame. The 3erde of pride* is in the 3 mouth of a fool ; the lippis of wijs men kepen hem. cratche is void ; but where ful many
proud
correccion. K. . , + OJcis hen not ;
Where oxisk ben noty, the 4 that is, where
cornes .1
apperen, there the strengthe of
, ther
ben fewe feith- ful men. Lire
oxe' is opyn. A feithful witnesse schal 5 here. CK.
. • i /• i t ° scornere ;
not lie ; a gileful witnesse bringitn forth a he is seid a leesing. A scornere j sekith wisdom, ande dispisUh'to»e he fyndith- not; the teching of prudent e^eje'nfa8n°df men is esy. Go thou a3ens a man a fool ; 7 i)ileueth .*»
* iynde wisdom
and he schal not knowe the lippis of pru- hi his wit, but
. p p i • ne fyndith not,
dence^. The wisdom of a fel man is to 8 for pride biynd- vndirstonde his weie ; and the vnwarnesse 5^'™' Ltre of foolis errith. A fool scorneth synne|| ; 9 ^"^'J?6 grace schal dwelle among iust men. The 10 sceyue heuenii
. . — T- p i . wisdom. K.
herte that knowith the bittirnesse^] or his n scomyth soule ; a straunger schal not be meddlid in hath? ' the ioie therof. The hous of wickid menii^ schal be don awei; the tabernaclis of iust f bitterness ,•
tliat is, for
men schulen buriowne. Sotheli a weie is, 12 contncioun of
synne passid.
that semeth iust to a man ; but the laste
thingis therof leden forth to deth. Lei3- 1;
yng schal be medlid with sorewe; and ^ fAfh'a^g'*rf"
morenynar ocupieth the laste thingis of remyssknm of
. , , . synne, and of
ioye. A fool schal be nllid with hiseHhopeofgione.
. i i 1111 leden forth to
weies ; and a good man schal be a boue deeth . tnat -a, hym. An innocent man bileueth to echeisthe weyf.<*
» Sy I lilts lllilt
word ; a felle man biholdith hise goyngis. semeth iust to a
, . synnere, ledith
A wijs man dredith, and bowith awei fro IB to deth of synne
. , , . ... j. j . . .... andofhelle.
yuel ; a fool skippith** oner, and tnstith. an innocent A man vnpacient schal worche foli; andiT^i^nyng a gileful man is odiouse. Litle men o f\& raan> that ,Han
v not deme bi
wit schulen holde foli ; and felle men twixe a good
councel and
schulen abide kunnyng. Yuel men schulen 19 yuel. Lire here. ligge bifor goode men; and vnpitouse *»a/00;swp. men bifor the 3atis of iust men. A pore 20 ff • rem»yng
* hjtly fro synne
man schal be hateful, 5he, to his nei^- in to syniie-
U I t A- C • V ^tristith;^
bore ; but many men ben frendis of riche gete foneue- men. He that dispisith his nei3bore, doith 21 ny^ete> which synne ; but he that doith merci to a pore man, schal be blessid. He that bileueth in the Lord, loueth merci ; thei erren 22 that worchen yuel. Merci and treuthe maken redi goodis ; abundaunce 'schal 23 ben in ech° good werk. Sotheli where ful
1 fol man E pr. m. m Om. AGH. D bringith A. ° a AGH. the c. k oxen Ip i oxen A tj,e oxe K m fn(j;tij # j n Qm. c. ° eueri y.
XIV. 24 — XV. ;•
PROVERBS.
ben manye woordis, there nedynesse ofte.
24 The croune of wise men the richesses of
25 hem ; the folie of foolis vnprudence. A feithfnl witnesse deliuereth soulis ; and
26speketh lesingus the peruertid. In the drede of the Lord trost of strengthe ; and
27 to the sones of hym shal ben hope. The drede of the Lord the welle of lif ; that
28 he bowe doun fro falling of deth. In the multitude of puple the dignete of the king ; and in fewenesse of folc the shen-
29shipe of the prince. Who is pacient, is gouerned with myche wisdam ; who for- sothe is vnpacient, enhaunceth hys folie.
30 The lif of flesh helthe of herte ; the
si stink of bones enuye. Who wrongfulli chalengeth the nedi, mysseith to his makere ; he honoureth hym forsothe,
32 that hath reuthe of the pore. In hys malice is put out the vnpitous ; the ri3t-
sswis forsothe hopeth in his deth. In the herte of the prudent man shal reste wis- dam ; and vntajt men also? it shal lerne.
34 Ri3twisnesse rereth vp folci ; wreccheful
ssmaketh puplis synne. Alowid is to the king an vnderstondende seruaunt ; the plente of his wrathe the vnprofitable shal suffre.
CAP. XV.
1 A nesshe answere breketh wrathe ;
2 an hard woord rereth woodnesse. The tunge of wise men enhourneth kunnyng ;
3 the mouth of foolis boilith1" out folie. In alle place the e3en of the Lord beholden8
4 goode men, and euele. A plesable* tunge the tree of lif ; whiche forsothe is vn-
stemprid, shal defoule the spirit. The fol scorneth the discipline of his fader; who forsothe kepith blamyngis, shal be more witti. In plenteeuous ri3twisnesse is most vertue ; tho3tys forsothe of vnpitous
6 men shul be pullid out bi the roote. The hous of the ri3twise myche strengthe ; and in the frutis of vnpitouse al dis-
Vturbaunce. The lippis of wise men shul
many wordis ben, there nedynesse is ofte.
The coroun of wise men is the richessi8*24 '
of hem ; the fooli of foolis is vnwarnesse. L'nd venue?
A feithful witnesse delyuereth soulis; and «» SITauSbr
a fals man bringith forth leesyneis. In 21; tliei '""' foolig>
0 Jo for thei bifor-
the drede of the Lord ts triste of strengthe • •een not thingi«
_ , i-iii to comynire.
and hope schal be to the sones of it?. The 27 Lire hire. <.-. drede of the Lord is a welle of lijf ; that it bowe awei fro the fallyng of deth. The 28 1 bomy,; that dignite of the king is in the multitude of l puple; and the schenschipe of a'" prince is en"
on tno*
in the fewnesse of puple. He that is2uAere-c-
. B t vnduralontl-
pacient, is gouerned bir myche wisdom; *"ge ; that is, but he that is vnpacient, enhaunsith his i» acceptable to
foli. Helthe of herte is the lijf of 30^"^" fleischis5; enuye is rot of boonyst. He M J™1 Prelat. s.<;;ha'
* 'be punyschid of
that falsli chalengith a nedi man, dispisith him «*arpiy.
Lire here c.
his maker ; but he that hath merci on a § ourneth kun.
• . i ,1 , t nyng ; that is,
pore man, onourith that* makere. A 32 jt bringith forth
wickid man is put out for his malice; but a iust man hopith in his deth. Wisdom 33
uuyhth out ;
restith in the herte of a wijs man; and that is, brin
. , . forth feruently
he schal teche alle vnlerned men. Ri3t- 34 and feraiy. c. fulnesse reisith a folc ; synne makith pu- plis wretchis. A mynystre"
yneel is acceptable to a kyng; a myn- and ententif to
preyer anentis
ystren vnprofitable schal suffre the wrath- God, to piese fulnesse of . him. ,-s „ 'tre of %/,-
for as bodily
n A T> VT7 liyfiscontynu-
C A P. XV. ed bi the tre of
liyf, so goostly
A soft answere brekith ire ; an hard i ''yf » eontyim-
ed bi sich a
word reisith woodnesse. I he tunge of 2 tunge. wise men ourneth v kunnyng^; the mouth toTp^eke™ of foolis buylith out foli. In ech places gJ<JJg^r the i3en of the Lord biholden good men, synne schal not
faile in myche
and yuel men. A plesaunt tunge|| is the 4 speche. Un
tre of lijf; but the tunge which"' is vn- *[fha mesurable, schal defoule the spirit. A 5
fool scorneth the techyne of his fadir ; Sll.f-
* o wis
but he that kepith blamyngis^f, schal be
.
maad wisere. Moost vertu schal be in
. « , , .1 ,1 . . in plesaunt
plenteuouse ri3trulnesse ; but the tnou3tis of wickid men schulen be drawun vp bi the roote. The hous of a iust man is 6 cmmceis.
strengthe : for
moost" strengthe; and disturbling is in the Lord schal
„,. ,. . defendeit.
the fruitis of a wickid man. The lippis? Lire here. c.
.
wisere ; m
yuelis to com-
V cche E pr. m. <\ the nedy E pr. m. r bolkith A. * beholdith A. *• pesable c.
P him i. 'i Om. CN. T with i. 9 fleish I. ' his I. u seruaunt i. v onourneth A pr. m. honourith i. onjurith u. w that i. * ful gret i.
24
PROVERBS.
XV. 8 — 27.
sowen abrod kunnyrig ; the herte of foolis avnlic shal ben. The sacrifise of victorie
of vnpitous men wlatesum to the Lord ;
the vouwis of rijtwys men plesable. s Abominacioun is to the Lord the lif of
the vnpitous ; who folewith ri3twisnesse, 10 shal be looued of hym. Etiel doctrine
to the forsakende the weie of lif; who nblamyngis hateth, shal dien. Helle and
perdicioun befor the Lord ; myche more 12 the hertis of the sonus of men. The
bacbitere looueth not hym that chastis- iseth hym; ne to wise men goth. The
io3ende herte maketh out gladsum the
face ; in mornyng of inwit shal be uthrowe doun the spirit. The herte of
the wise man shal seche doctrine ; and
the mouth of foolis is fed with vnwis-
15 dam. Alle the da3is of the pore euele ; a sikir mynde as a contynuel feste.
16 Betere is a litil with the drede of the Lord, than grete tresoris and vnfillable.
17 Betere is to be clepid to wrtis with ischarite, than to a fat calf with hate. A
man ful of wrathe stirith striues ; who
19 is pacient", swageth the vprered. The weie of slowe men as heggis of thornes ; the weie of rijtwis men withoute thing
20 of hurting. A wis sone rnaketh glad the fader ; and a fool man despisethv his
21 moder. Folie is {036 to the fool ; and a prudent man shal ri}t reulen his goingus.
22Tho3tis ben to-scatered, wher is not counseil ; wher forsothe ben manye
23 counsel leris, thei ben confermed. A man gladeth in the sentence of his mouth ;
24 and the spedful sermoun is best. The path of lif vp on the ta3t man ; that he
25bowe doun fro the last helle. The hous of proude men the Lord shal destro3e ; and stedefast he shal make the termes of
26 the widewe. Abominacioun of the Lord euele tho3tis ; a pure sermoun most fair
27 shal be fastned of hym. He al disturb- ith his hous, that folewith auarice ; who
of wise men schulen sowe abrood kun-
nyng ; the herte of foolis schal be vnlijc.
The sacrifices of wickyd men ben abho-8
mynable to the Lord ; avowis? of iust men
ben plesaunt. The lijf of thez vnpitouse*o *vnpitouse,
. ,, . * ,, T , , efc. ,• for it is
man is abhomynacioun to the Lord ; he
that sueth ri3tfulnesse, schal be loued of h°auemerey,and
the Lord. Yuel teching is of men for- 10 sakin£ea the weie of lijf ; he that hatith
nacioun of an
blamyngis, schal die. Helle and perdi-n vnpitouse man.
. 7 i •/• ,1 T i i schal die; that
cioun ben open bitor the Lord ; hou is, t,; deth of
myche moreb the hertis of sones of men.
A man ful of pestilence loueth not hymi2deth- Lire
r J here. c.
that repreueth him; and he goith not to
wyse men. A ioiful herte makith glad 13
the face ; the spirit is cast doun in thec
morenyng of soule. The herte of a wijs 14
man sekith techyng ; and the mouth of
foolis is fedf with vnkunnyng. Alle the is t fed ,- that is,
, . /. 7 , j delititb in spek-
daies of a pore man ben yuele"; a sikir ingefonned soule is ae contynuel feeste. Betere is ai6^n|j^fe. bi litil with thef drede of the Lord, than rele of I*9rne'
tor pouert is de-
many tresouris and vnfillable^. It is betere 17 faute of th>ngi»
, , ., . . , , . , nedeful to sus-
to be clepid to wortis with chante, than with hatrede to a calf maad fat. A wrath-i ful man reisith chidyngis ; he that is pa- cierit, swagith chidyngis reisidh. The weie lu more of slow men is an' hegge of thornes ; the the weye of
• r • • • j i i i • , slowe ; for a
weie of iust men is with out hirtyng. A 20 s]ow man dred. wise sone makith glad thek fadir; and a
fonned man dispisith his modir. Foli is 21'" the we7e-
Lire here. c.
ioye to a fool ; and1 a prudent man schal
dresse hise steppis. Thou3tis ben distried,22
wherem no counsel is ; but where many
counselerisj benn, tho° ben confermyd. A 23 +
man is glad in the sentence of his mouth fy;
and a couenable word is best. The path 24 '*n bro"?t to
etfect. Lire
of lijf is on a lernyd man; that he bowe *«•«•<;.
5 o/Ais mouth;
awei fro the laste helle. The Lord schal 25 that is, distrie the hows? of proude men ; and he schal make stidefast the coostis of a wi- dewe. luele thou3tis is abhomynacioun ae of the Lord ; and a cleene word moost fair schal be maad stidfast of hym. He 27 that sueth aueryce, disturblith his hous ;
u pacient forsothe c pr.m. E pr. m. v desceyueth E pr.m.
y the avowis i. * an i. a that forsaken i. b more rather i. c Om. i. d disesy i. e as a A sec. m. I Om. i. e vnprofitable i. h that tveren reisid i. > as an A sec. m. k his i. l but i. m there i. n ther hen i. o thei i. P housis i.
XV. 28 XVI. ii.
PROVERBS.
25
forsothe hatith 3iftis, shal line. Bi merci and feith ben purgyd synnes ; bi the drede forsotbe of the Lord bowith doun
aseche man fro euel. The mynde of the ri3twis sweteli thenketh wisdam ; the mouth of vnpitous men reboundeth to
29euelis. Ferr is the Lord fro vnpitous men ; and the orisounsw of ri3twis men
so he shal ful out heren. The Ii3t of e3en maketh glad the soule ; good los in-
siwardli fattith bones. The ere that her- eth blamyngus of lif, in the myddel of
32 wise men shal al abide. Who casteth awei discipline, despiseth his soule ; who forsothe assenteth to vndirnymyngis,
ssweldere is of herte. The drede of the Lord discipline of wisdam ; and mecnesse goth befor glorie.
CAP. XVI.
i Off a man is to make redy the inwit ;
and of the Lord to gouerne the tunge. 2Alle the weies of man ben opene to the
C3en of hym ; of spiritis the peisere is
3 the Lord. Shewe to the Lord thi werkis;
4 and ri3t reulid shul ben thi tho3tis. Alle thingus for hymself wro3te the Lord ;
5 also the vnpitouse to the euele dai. Abo- minacioun is of the Lord eche proud man; also if bond at hond were, he 'shal not bex innocent. The begynnyng of the good wey to do ri3twyssnesse; is^ alouwid
canentz God, more than to offre ostis. Bi
merci and treuthe wickidnesse is forbo3t;
and in drede of the Lord is bowid awei 7 fro euel. Whan shul plese to the Lord
the weies of man, the enemys forsothe a of hym he shal turne to pes. Betere is
a litil with ri3twisnesse, than manye ofrutis with wickidnesse. The herte of
man shal disposen his weie ; but of the 10 Lord is to ri3t reulen his goingis. De-
uynyng in the lippis of the king ; in udom his mouth shal not erre. Wei3te
and balaunce ben the domes of the Lord ;
the soule. *.
but he that hatith jiftis schal lyue.
Synnes ben purgid bi merci and feith;
ech man bowith awei fro yuel bi the
drede of the Lord. The soule of a iustas
man bithenkith obedience ; the mouth of
wickid men is ful of yuelis. The Lord is 29
fer fro wickid men ; and he schal here the
preyers of iust men. The Ii3t of i3enso
makith glad the soule ; good fame makith
fat* the booriys. The eere that herith si */«<,- that «,
the blamyngis of lijf, schal dwelle in the
myddis of wise men. He that castith 32
awei chastisyng, dispisith his soule ; but forvert»Pr«»'(»
cncrccsitu. LATG
he that assentith to blamyngis, isi pesible *«•«•.<:. holdere of the herte. The drede of thesaeth hu vmu^, Lord is teching of wisdom ; and mekenesse goith bifore glorie.
CAP. XVI.
It perteyneth to man to make redi the i soule ; and it perteyneth to the Lord to gouerne the tunge. Alle the weies ofa men ben opyn to the i3en of God ; the Lord is a weiere of spiritisf. Schewe this werkys to the Lord ; and thi thou5tis schulen be dressidr. The Lord wrou3te4 alle thingis for hym silf ; and he made redi a wickid man to the yuel dai. Abho-5 mynacioun of the Lord is ech proude man ; 3he, thou3 the hond isrr to the hond, he schal not be innocent. The bigynnyng of good weie is to do ri3twisnesses ; for- sothe it. is more acceptable at* God, than to offre sacrifices. Wickidnesse is a3ene boirjt bi merci and treuthe ; and me bow- ith awei fro yuel bi the" drede of the Lord. Whanne the weyes of man plesen 7 the Lord, he schal conuerte, 3he, hise ene- myes to pees. Betere is a litil with ri3t-8 fulnesse, than many fruytis with wickid- nesse. The herte of a man schal dispose 9 his weie ; but it perteyneth to the Lord to dresse hise steppis. Dyuynyng^: is inio the lippis of a king ; his mouth schal not
t that is, of
willis, gelding to
man aftir his desseruin«is- *•
that is, reding
in hooii scrfp-
ture, therfor in
jmi.c°ofDeut.
book of Goddis
daies of his liy
that he lerne
for to drede ''
scripture, and
dredith God. c.
w orisoun A. * is not E pr. m. T Om. c pr. m. z anentis E passim.
<l is a i. r dressid, into good issu. Lire here. N text. " be r. » i^tfulnesse plures. * anentis i. « Om. i.
VOL. III. E
26
PROVERBS.
XVI. 12 — 32.
and his werkis alle the stones of the
12 world. Abominable to the king, that don vnpitously ; for bi ri3twisnesse is fastned
13 the kingis dignete. The wil of the king ri3twis lippis ; that ri3t thingus speketh,
nshal be ri3t reulid. The indignacioun
of the king messageres of deth ; and a iswis man shal don aseeth to hym. In
gladnesse of the chere of the king lif ;
and the noble mercy of hym as euetidz icweder. Weld wisdam, for betere it is
than gold ; and purchase prudence, for 17 it is mor precious than siluer. The
path of ri3twis men bowith awei euelis ;
the kepere of his soule holdeth faste his isweye. Pride goth befor contricioun ;
and befor falling the spirit shal ben en- lohauncid. Betere is to be mekea with
mylde men, than to deuyde spoilis with 20proude men. • The lerned in woord shal
finde goodis ; and that hopeth in the
21 Lord is blisful. Who is wis in herte, shal be clepid prudent ; and who is sweete in fair speche, more thingis shal
22 finde. The welle of lif the lernyng of the weldere ; the doctrine of foolis folie.
23 The herte of the wise man shal lerne the mouth of hyrn ; and to the lippis of hym
24 it shal adde grace. The comb of hony wel set woordis ; swetnesse of soule is
2ohelthe of bones. Ther is a weie that semeth to a man ri3t ; and the last
20 thingis of it lederib to deth. The soule of the trauailere trauaileth to hymself ;
27 for hys mouth compellide hym. An un- wis man delueth euel ; and inc the lippis
28 of hym fyr brenneth. A man peruertid rereth striues ; and the man ful of
29 woordis seuereth princis. The wicked man flatereth his frend ; and ledeth hym
30 bi a weie not good. That with stone3id e3en thenketh shreude thingis, bitende
si hise lippis parformeth euel. The croune of dignete elde, that in the weief of n'3t-
32wisnesse shal be founde. Betere is the pacient, than a strong man ; and that
erre in doom. The domes of the Lord 11 ben wehte and a balaunce ; and hise werkis
bulaunee ; that
ben alle the stoonys of the world. Thei i2jS,Gddisdomes that don wickidli ben abhomynable to the king ; for the trone of the rewme is maad stidfast bi rhtfulnesse. The wille of i3
kingis.
kyneris is iust lippis; he that spekith ri3t- asareyn; for
J ° . T . as reyn com-
ful thingis, schal be dressid*. Indigna- u ynge iate is cioun of the kyng is messangeris of deth ; and a wijs man schal plese him. Lijf z'* thev gladnesse of the 'cheer of the
n
! king 'is good to
hem that han
nede to remys- ' "
. .
king"' ; and his merci ts as ax reyn com-
yrige late. Welde thou wisdom, for it is
betere than gold; and gete thou prudence,
for it is^ precyousere than siluer. Thei7end- Lire here.
path of iust men bowith awei yuelis ; the
kepere of his soule kepith his weie. Pride is
goith bifore sorewe ; and the spirit schal
be enhaunsid byfor fallyng. It is betere is
to be maad meke with mylde rnen, than
to departe spuylis with proude men. A 20
lerned man in word schal fynde goodis ;
and he that liopith in the Lord is blessid.
He that is wijs in herte, schal be clepid 21
pi'udent ; and he that is swete in speche, t wisdam and
wille to teche
schal fynde grettere thingis. The welle 22 Goddis pie-
of lijf is the lernyng of him that weld- j that is, sad-
itht; the techyng of foolis ig foli.
herte of a wijs man schal teche his mouth ;
and schal encreesse grace to hise lippis. kerfnginthe
erthe bi couet-
Wordis wel set togidere is a coomb of24i«e. K. hony ; helthe of boonys^ is the swetnesse forP ' of soule. A weye isz that semeth ri3tful to a man ; and the laste thingis therof "J *°. the mouth
of gloterouse
leden to deth. The soule of a manS tra- 20 laborers. K.
T Til- i, -irn f u- "(liffffithyuel;
uehnge trauehth to hym silf || ; for his that is, sekith
,, . . * . . . _ it with clili-
mouth^f compellide hym. An vnwijs man 27 gence. ^ diggith** yuelff; and fiertf brenneth in ^fS^L hise lippis. A weiward man reisith stryues 528 and of pride.
* Lire here. c.
and a man ful of wordis departith princis. tt that is, A wickid man flaterith his frend ; and 20 wiseii and out
ledith hym bi a weie not good.
that thenkith schrewid thingis with i?en and distemper-
aunce. K.
astonyed, bitith hise lippis, and parform- J§ parformeth
iirr A /• j- • 11 *""'»' &**•!*>
eth yueljjf. A coroun of dignyte is eelde, 31 ymagyneth to that schal be fouridun in the weies of ^rr^™e
2 an euetid c. • meked ^EGH. b ledith A. c Om. A. d vvickyd A. e with A. f weies AEGH. v Om. i. w kingis chere I. x Om. i. y is more i. z ther is i.
XVI. 33 — XVII. 1 6.
PROVERBS.
27
lordshipeth to his wil, than an ouer-
ascomere of cites. Lotis ben put in to
the bosum ; but of the Lord thei ben temprid.
CAP. XVII.
i Betere is a drie morsel with io3e, than
an hous ful of sacrifises of victorie with
2strif. A wis seruaunt shal lordshipen
to sones foolis ; and among bretheren
seritage he shal deuyde. As bi fyr is
proued sillier, and gold bi the chymney,
4 so hertes the Lord preueth. The euele
man obesheth to the wicke tunge ; and
the desceyuable consenteth to the liende
slippis. Who dispiseth a pore man, mys-
seyth to his inakere ; and who gladeth in
the falling of an other, shal not ben vn-
epunshid. The croune of olde men sones
of sones ; and the glorie of sones the
7fadris of hem. There semeth not the
fool faire set woordis ; ne the prince a
8 liende lippe. Most kinde iemme the
abiding of the abidere ; whider euere he
turneths hymself, prudentli he vnder-
9Stanth. Who helith the gilte, secheth
frenshipis ; who with an other sermoun
loreherceth, seuereth the federed'. Mor
profiteth correccioun anent the prudent,
than an hundrid veniauiices anent the
nfol. Euermor striues secheth the euel
man ; the cruel forsothe aungil shal be
12 sent a3en hym. It spedeth mor to a3en
come to a she here, whan hir whelpis
ben take awey, than to a fol trostende
is to hymself in his folie. Who 3eldeth
euelis for goodis, shal not go awei euel
14 fro his hous. Who leueth water, bed is of striues ; and er he suffre wrong blam-
15 yng, dom he forsaketh. And who iuste- fieth the vnpitouse, and who condemp- neth the ri3twise, abominable is either
IB anent God. What profiteth to the fol to ban richessis, whan wisdam bie he mai
ri3tfulnesse. A pacient man is betere than 32 •
a stronge man ; and he that Ms lord" of t^j^ ^
hisb soule*, is betere than an ouercomere
of citees. LottisJ ben sent into the bosum ; :a *<•
but thoc ben temperid of the Lordf
1 1mm
defmudid of iu»
} whannc God
/~i A T» -viTi-r chesith whirh
CAP. XVII. hewole. K.
Betere is a drie mussel with ioye, than i il an hous ful of sacrifices with chidyng. A wijs seruaunt schal be lord of fonned2 sones ; and he schal departe eritage among *:'"' britheren. As siluer is preued bi fier, s *'<»»< .that u, and gold is preued bi a chymnei, so the Lord preueth hertis. An yuel man obei-4 eth to a wickid tunge|| ; andd a fals man obeieth to false lippis. He that dispisith 5 ,
that he he not
a pore man, repreueth his maker ; and he
that is glad in the fallyng of another man,
schal not be vnpunyschid. The coroun c, ^le'ias'ting, f((r
of elde men /* the sones of sones ; and the "'idl • "'•*"
marchaunt
the glorie of sones is the fadris of hem. «ol(1« «i that lie
_IT . hadde, and
Wordis wel set togidere bisemen not a? boujte it. .MI. fool; and a liynge lippe bicometh not a "•"of«hver- prince. A preciouse stoon^[ moost accept- a able is the abiding** of hym that sekith ; whidur euere he turneth hym silf, he vn- durstondith prudentli. He that helith o trespas, sekith frenschipis ; he that re- hersith|||| bi an hi3 word, departith hem, that ben knyt togidere in pees. A blam-io'""-' *«'»>
drynkith oner
yng profitith more at a prudent man, than strong wyn. an hundryd woundis at a fool. Euere an 1 1 thaTrdi of yuel man sekith stryues ; forsothe a cruel %?j£%%£ auneel schal be sent a^ens hym. It sped-^*0"?- '" .'','"•
1 ing his neijhore
ith more to meete a femal here, whanne with <«it cause. thee whelpis ben rauyschid f, than a fool j» that is, he
, . . i •!/* * i_ • /* i* -rr i that letteth wa*
tnstynge to hym silf in his foil. Yuel I3terremieforthj
schal not go a wei fro the hous of hym, ^n^"."^}''"
that 3eldith yuels for goodis. He that u d«>n lijk
leeueths watirff, is heedh of stryues|f. and »
bifor that he suffrith wrong, he forsakith
dom. Bothe he that iustifieth a wickid 15
man, and he that condempneth a iust to good but to
yuel, and may
man, euer ethir is abhomynable at' God. not gete wis- dom bi tlin.
What profitithf^ it to a fool to haue ic un Here. c.
crowne of lijf. llil that nher,.
with out hist cause. Lire here. c. ft bevelh tea-
!f hes
. l federed or boundun in loue c sec. m. marg. B sec. in. marg. AGH.
g turne AEGH. h vnderstondeth
a hath power i. b his owne r. c thei i. d Om. i. « her i. f take awey i. 8 leeueth, or lat go i. k-tteth Ka. h the heed a. 5 to c.
E2
28
PROVERBS.
XVII. 17 — XVIII. 5.
not ? Who hei3 maketh his hous, sech-
eth falling; and who shoneth to lerne, i7falleth in to euelis. Alle time looueth,
that is a frend ; and a brother in an- isguysshis is preuedk. A fool man shal
for io3e flappe with hondis, whan he
19 shal behoten for his frend. Who sweteli thenketh discordis, looueth striues ; and who enhauncith his herte, secheth fall-
20 ing. Who is of peruertid herte, findeth not good ; and who turneth the tnnge,
21 shal falle in to1 euel. Born is the fool in his shenshipe ; but nem the fader" in
22 the fol shal glade. Io3ende inwit mak- eth bri3t age ; a drery spirit ful out dri-
23eth bones. 3iftis of the bosum the vn- pitous taketh, that he peruerte the pathis
24 of dom. In the face of the prudent shyneth wisdam ; the e3en of foolis in
25 the endis of erthe. The wrathe of the fader a sone fol ; the sorewe of the mo-
26 dir that gat hym. It is not good to hern in harm to the «3twis ; ne to smyte a
27 prince that ri3t demeth. Who tempreth his woordis, ta3t and prudent is ; and of
28 precious0 spirit the man lerned. The fool forsothe, if he holde his pes, wis shal ben holde ; if he threste togidere his lippis, vnderstondende.
CAP. XVIII.
1 Ocasioun secheth, that wil gon awei fro a frend ; alle time wariable he shal
2 be. A fol resceiueth not the woordis of prudence ; but tho thingis thouP shul seyn, that ben ofte turned in his herte.
3 The vnpitous, whan in to depthe of synnei shal1' come, dispiseth ; and ther folewith hym shenshipe and repreff.
4 Deep water woordis of the mouth of a man ; and a stef strem the reboundende
& welle of wisdam. To alouwen the per- sone of the vnpitouse in dom, is not good, that thou bowe awei fro the sothfast-
richessis, sithenk he mai not bie wisdom ?
He that makith his hous* 1m, sekith •ofyudgeten
good. K.
falling! ; and he that eschewith1 to lerne, t disserueth
schal falle in to yuels. He that is a frend, 17 K. In
loueth in al tyme ; and a brother is
preuyd in angwischis. A fonned man is
schal make ioie with hondis, whanne he
hath bihi3t for his frend. He that bi- 19
thenkith discordis, loueth chidingis ; and1™
he that enhaunsith t his mouth, sekith t in boosting
m and other curs-
fallyng. He that is of weiward herte, 20 ea speche. K.
schal not fynde good ; and he that turn-
eth the tunge$, schal falle in to yuel.
fool is borun in his schenschipe ; but ne-
ther the fadir schal be glad in a fool. A 22 deffam«k ">
absence of a
ioiful soule makith likinge age; a sore w- man. Lire here. ful spirit makith drie boonys. A
A 21 the atun
. t ..i • *», • p j.i i_ siouns ; that is,
man takith 3iftis fro the bosurn, to mys feyne
turne the pathis of doom. Wisdom schyn-24
eth in the face of a prudent man ; the loore and
*• amaundement.
i3en of foolis ben in the endis of erthe. A 25 xa. fonned sone is the ire of the fadir, and that Is? the " the sorewe of the modir that gendride" ™^£™ hvm. It is not good to brynge in harm26nynsandvertu>
• * conteynen deep
to a iust man ; nether to srnyte the prince sentence, to
,.,.,. TT i • i which not ech
that demeth njtrllll. He that mesunth 27 man may lijtiy
his wordis, is wijs and prudent ; and a lerud man is of preciouse spirit. Also foole, if he is stille, schal be gessid a wijs man ; and, if he pressith togidre hise lippis, Tie *schal be0 gessid an vndurstoridynge man.
CAP. XVIII.
welle the watir
He that wole go a wei fro a frend, i of wisdom ;s
. . . iii broujt out to
sekith occasiouns|| ; in al tyme he schal othere men.
be dispisable. A fool resseyueth not the 2 otheref men"
wordis of prudence ; vno butP thou seie 'Ste^dmtbie
tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte. <«»^; that
f ° naterith in pre-
A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to 3 sence, and bac- depthe of synnes, dispffeith^[; but sclaun- dre and schenschipe sueth hym. Deep 4 watir** is the wordis of the mouth of a
a strondeflow- inge oner ; in to othere men bi good teching. is the welle of wisdom, in the soule of a wise man, frowhiche
sence. of the wombe ; that is, til to the herte. drede ; this vers til thidur he that is neische, is not
welle of wisdom. It as not good to take 5 ;n Ebreu. Lire the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of
man ; and a stronde fletinge ouerff is the
k aproued E. 1 Om. A. m Om. A. n faders A. ° the precious A. PheAEpr.m. <1 synnes AGH. r he shal c pr. in.
k sith i passim. l ethchewith i passim. m Om. A pr. m. M. n baar i. o is i. p but if i.
XVIII. 6 22.
PROVERBS.
29
enesse of dom. The lippis of ther fol shul menge themself with striues ; and
7 the mouth of hym debatis stireth. The mouth of the fool Ho-treding8 of hym ; and the lippis of hym the falling of his
ssoule. The woordis of the twisil tunge as simple4; and tho thur3 comen vnto the entrailis of the wombe. The slowe drede threw3u doun ; the soulis forsothe
9 of wommanysh men shul hungren. Who is nesshe, and dissolut in his werk, bro- ther is of the man scaterende his werkes.
10 The most strong tour the name of the Lord ; to it renneth the rijtwise, and he
ushal ben enhauncid. The substaunce of the riche man the cite of his strengthe ; and as a strong wal cumpassende hym.
12 Er it be to-treden, is enhauncid the herte of a man ; and er it be glorified, it is
ismekid. Who rathere answereth than he hereth, a fool hymself to ben he shew-
u ith ; and confusioun wrthi. The spirit of the man susteneth his feblenesse ; the spirit forsothe Ii3t to wrathen, who shal
15 moun sustene ? The herte of the pru- dent shal welde kunnyng ; and the ere
10 of wise men secheth doctrine. The free 3ifte of a man spredeth abrod his weie ; and befor princis space to hym maketh.
17 The ri3twis rathere is the acusere of hymself ; ther cometh his frend, and he
18 shal enserchen hym. A3enseiyngus lot thresteth togidere ; and among my3ti
19 menv also dyuersly demeth. The brother that is holpen of the brother, as a stef cite ; and the domes as barris of cites.
20 Of the frut of the mouth of a man shal be fulfild his wombe ; and the burioun- yngis of the lippis of hym shul fulfillen
21 hym. Deth and lif in the hondis of the tunge ; who loouenw it, shuln etc the
22frutis of it. Who findeth a good worn- man, 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
* that i*, to
dom. The lippis of a fool medlen hem 8 silf with chidyngis ; and his mouth ex- citithi stryues. The mouth of a fool ^s^ defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule. The wordis of 8 a double tungid man ben as symple ; and thor comen vtil to8 the ynnere thingis of the wombe*. Drede castith doun a slowe manf ; forsothe the soulis of men turned in to wymmens condicioun schulen haue hungur. He that is neisch, and vnstid-9 ,
" . him doun to
fast1 in his werk, is the brother of a man wgynnyngof
, . , . 1 . . . good werk.
distnynge hise werkis. A strongeste" tour io<owymm«w is the name of the Lord ; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid. The catel of a riche man is the citee of 1 1 worche good.
the catel of a
his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cum- ncheman,etc.;
_,. , ,. . that is, he trist-
passmge hym. Ihe herte or manv is en- 12 ith in hise
haunsid, bifor that it be. brokun ; and it
is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
He that answerith bifore that he herith, is "> this, c
shewith hym silf to be a fool ; and worthi
of schenschipe. The spirit of a man sus-u
teyneth his feblenesse ; but who may sus-
teyne a spirit Ii3t to be wrooth ? The is
herte of a prudent man schal holde stid-
fastli kunnyng ; and the eere of wise men
sekith techyng. The 3ift of a man alarg- 1«
J ° J to God and
ith his weie ; and makith space to hym to a true frend. bifore princes. A iust man is the first 17 ^ordeynyng accuserej of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym<). Lot ceessith a3en-i8K seiyngis ; and demeth also among mi3ti wombe; that is, men. A brother that is helpid w of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee ; and domes ben as the barris of citees. A mannus|| wombe^I schal be fillid of the fruit of his thatis,detKof
synne is in the
mouth ; and the seedis of hise lippis mysvsing of the schulen fille hym. Deth and lijf ben in 21 u""^-' g^ce is" the werkis of tunge ; thei that louen it, "ri^SSof. schulen ete the fruytis therOf. He that 22 ^^r; fyndith a good womman, fyndith a good mynde, or his
* ..... desire, shal be
thing ; and of the Lord he schal drawe vp myrthe. He that puttith a wey a good womman, puttith awei a good thing; but he that holdith auowtresse, is a fool and
| a mannus
fulfilled for his vertuous word- is ; of thi word- be
xii- K-
' a AGU. s the to-treding AH. * tormentis E pr. m. u throwith A. v Om. AGII. w loueth A.
q stirith i. r thei i. " vnto i. * dissolute, ether vnstidfast CEFGHiKMNpQKSUxva?. " ful strong i. T a man i. w holpun i.
30
PROVERBS.
XVIII. 23 — XIX. 17.
asvnwis. With obsecraciouns speketh the pore man; and a riche man shal speke out
24ruggidli. A man amyable to felashipe inor a freud shal be, than a brother.
CAP. XIX.
1 Betere is a pore man, that goth in simplenes, than a riche man tormentende
2 his lippis, and vnwis. Wher is not kun- nyng of soule, is not good ; and who is
shastif, with feett stumblith. The folie of a man supplanntith hise goirigis ; and
4 a3en God boileth in his inwit. Richesses adden manye frendis ; fro the pore for- sothe and tho that he hadde, ben seuered.
5 A fals witnesse shal not ben vnpunshid; and he that lesing speketh, shal not
eascapen. Manye herienx the persone of the my3ti ; and frendis ben of the 3iuende 73iftis. The brethern of the pore man hateden hym ; ferthermor and frendis aferr wenten awei fro hym. Who onli woordis folewith, no thing shal ban ;
iiwho forsothe weldere is of the mynde, looueth his soule, and the kepere of pru-
i> dence shal finde goodis. The false wit- nesse shal not ben vnpunshid ; and that
10 speketh lesing, shal pershen. Delicis semen not the fool ; ne the seruaunt to
nlordshipen to princis. The doctrine of a man bi pacience is knowe; and the glo- rie of hym is to go biside wicke thingys.
1-2 As the gnasting of a leoun, so and^ the wrathe of the king ; and as deu vpon
iserbe, so and the gladnesse of hym. The sorewe of the fader, the sone a fol ; and rooues contynuelli thur3 droppende, a
uwomman ful of strif. Housis and rich- essis ben 3eue of the fadris ; of the Lord
is forsothe properli a prudent wif. Slouthe sendeth in slep; and a dissolut soule shal
ifihungre. Who kepeth the maundement, kepeth his soule ; who forsothe despisith
'7 his weie, shal be maad dead. He vsureth to the Lord, that hath reuthe of the pore ; and his while he shal 3elde to hym.
vnwiis. A pore man schal speke with 23 * that is, <
•> .11 heedli hise
bisechmgis ; and a riche man schal speke werkis. K.
sterneli. A man freendli to felouschipe 24 thaUs^bi vn- schal more be a frend, than a brothir. K^out in
to the blasfemye C* A TJ VTY of God. Lire
CAP. XIX. here CK
.,, . i . J not ascape ;
Betere is a pore man, that goitn in his i Goddis doom, simplenesse, than a riche man bitynge hise lippis, and vnwijs. Where is not 2 kunnyng of the soule, isx not good ; and he that is hasti*, in feet hirtith. The 3 foli of a man disseyueth hise steppis ; and he brenneth in his soule a3ens Godf . Richessis encreessen ful many freendis ; 4 forsothe also thei ben departid fro a pore man, whiche he hadde. schal not be vnpunyschid ; and he that spekith leesingis, schal not ascape:):. Manye men onouren the persoone of a my3ti man; and ben^ frendis of hym that deelith 3iftis.
myche more of a leesing. c. § u'ordis oneli ; that is, a dissiple that loueth more the fairnesse of wordis than the good sentence, reportith no
Af . . thing of truthe
fals Witnesses of the techere,
ethir thus, a techere that hath onely n-ti , . . i f _ wordis and no
The bntheren of a pore man haten hym ; 7 goode dediS; ferthermore and the freendis 3eden awei
ferz fro hym. He that suetha word is
schal gete no mede of G<xi. goodis; of grace in present tyme,
oonli§, schal haue nothing; but he thats and of giorie in holdith stabli the mynde ||, loueth his ynge. soule, and the kepere of prudence schal ^ fynde goodis. A fals witnesse schal noto Goddis venue.
Lire here. KNa.
be vnpunyschid ; and he that spekith H *no(«u» bi
. . , , . . „ ,. , . pacience; that
leesyngis, schal pensche. Deuces bicomen 10 ;», the teching
not a fool ; nether 'it bicomethb a seruaunt
to be lord of princes. The teching of
man is knowun bi patience ^[; and his thechirohe,was
. . knowun bi this,
glorie is to passe ouere wickid thingis. that they dred-
. , . . 011 i,i> den not to die
As the gnasting ot a noun, so and the irei2forjt. iopasse of thec king ; and as deewe on eerbe, so ZT^fthat and the gladnesse of the kyng. The so- is is>. V.do,n.ot .
wickid thingis,
rewe of the fadir is a formed sone ; and but more to
, , , . . suffre peyne.
roofes droppynge contynueh is a womman tire here. c. ful of chiding. Housis and richessis ben 14 suffr""^l. '" 3ouun of fadir and modir ; but a prudent ^J^8. ofa^J)Stly wiif is •s.ouun propirli of the Lord. Slouth 15 ofte of bodUy
. . i . . goodis.
bnngithd in sleep ; and a negligent soule AW weye ; that schal haue hungur**. He that kepith the 16 "f' GoddiT comaundement of God, kepith his soule ; but he that chargith not his weie, schal
0 and of helle.
be slayn. He that hath mercy on a pore 17 Lire here. c.
slayn .
* worschipen A. J Om. A. tlier is i, y thei ben i. z Om. c. a sowith a. D Om. i. <= a i. d sendith CEFHNPUY.
XIX. l8 XX. 5.
PROVERBS.
31
18 Lerne thou thi some, ne despeire thou ; to the sla3ter forsothe of hym ne poote
13 thou thi soule. Who forsothe is vripa- cyent, shal suffre harm ; and whan he shall cacche, other thing he shal putte
20 to. Here thou counsel], and vndertac discipline ; that thou be wijs in thi laste
21 thingis. Manye tho3tis in the herte of a man ; the wil forsothe of the Lord shal
22 abide stille. A man nedi is merciful ; and betere the pore man ri3twis, than a
23 man Here. The drede of the Lord to lif ; and in plenteuousnessez it shal abide stille, withoute visiting of the werste.
24 The slowe hideth hiszz hond vnder the arm pit ; ne to his mouth he leith it.
25 The 'man ful of pestilence3 scourgid, a fool the wisere shal ben. If forsothe thou chastise the wise man, he shal vnder-
26stonde discipline. Who tormentith the fader, and fleeth the modir, shenful shal
27 be, and vnblisful. Cese thou not, sone, to here doctrine ; ue vnknowe thou the
28woordis of kunnyng. The wicke wyt- nesse scorneth dom ; and the mouth of vnpitous men deuoureth wickidnesse.
29 Greithid ben to scorneres domes ; and smytende hameres to the bodies of foolis.
CAP. XX.
1 A leccherous thing win, and noiseful drunkenesse ; who so euere in these
2 thingis delitith, shal not be wis. As the roring of a leoun, so andb the ferd of the king ; who terreth hym, synneth a3en
3 his soule. Wrshipe is to the man that seuereth hym fro striues ; allec forsothe foolis shul be mengd with wrong blam-
4yngis. For cold the slowe wolde not eren ; thanne he shal begge in somer,
5 and it shal not ben 3iue to hym. As dep watir, so counseil in the herte of a
man, leeneth to the Lord; and he schal *the dred« "f
, , i . ... the Lord and
3elde his while to hym. Teche thi sone*, i8hi»iawe. «.
and dispeire thou notf ; but sette thou
not:): thi soule to the sleyng of hym. For-i
sothe he that is vnpacient, schal suffre Mhern«mi
, the bigynnyiiK,
narm ; and whanne he hath ranyschid, for ofte «chc he schal leie to anothir thing. Here thou2oVe\i£nea7n counsel, and take thou doctryn ; that thou IhlThe'iJrne be wijs in thi laste thingis. Many thou3tis2i ""^ th* '|j- bene in the herte of a man ; but the wille
/..IT , , , , ., techmge, and
of the Lord schal dwelle. A nedi man is 22 he shal
merciful ; and betere is a pore iust man,
than af man lieref The? drede of the231Kngoftechin*:
Lord ledith to lijf1 'of blis'; and he'fhttt 5 «««»«<«,•
that is, than a
dredith God^ schal dwelle in plentee, with mystiman that
outen visityng1 'of the worste"1. A alowMfroifeMbMM,
man hidith his hond vndur then armpit ;
and putteth0 it not to his mouth. Whanne
a man ful of pestilence is betun, a fool
schal be? wisere. If thou blarnist a wijs
man, he schal vndurstonde techyng.
that turmentith thei fadir, and fleeth fro
the"! modir, schal be ful of yuel fame, and £j."g'cLire
schal be cursid. Sone, ceesse thou not to 27 II deuourith ;
here techyng ; and knowe thou the wordis
in no ™aner
may neijc
thidur.
of kunnyng. A wickid witnesse scorneth 28 doom ; and the mouth of vnpitouse men deuourith|| wickidnesse. Domes ben maad 29 Lire her* redi to scorneris ; and hameris smytynge ben maad redi to the bodies of foolis^f.
Wherfor Loth,
the drynk-
CAP. XX.
Wiyn is a letcherouse thing **, and i drunkenesse /* ful of noise ; who euere delitith in these, schal not be wijs. As 2 the roryng of a lioun, so and the drede of the1' kyng ; he that territh hym to ire, synneth a3ens his owne lijf8. It is onours to a man that departith hyn> silf fro stryuyngis ; but fonned men ben medlid with dispisyngis. A slow man nolde* ere 4 for coold ; therfor he schal begge in somer, and me schal not 3yue to hym. As deep watir, so counsel is in the herte 5 nesse. c.
** iryn « le- cherouse thing ; that is, makith lecherie; wher- for .Fen MI i seith, a wombe brennynge of wyu, spueth out soone. in
of Gen. delitith in these ; that is,
vriys ; for euer either deuour- ith resoun, and cansith dul-
z the plenteousnesse AOH. c men E pr, m.
e ther ben i. f a riche i. 1 ful yuel visityng i. m Om. not i.
zz the c pr. m. a bacbitore E pr. m. man of pestilence c. b Otn. A.
e Om. i. h the lijf a. ! Om. i. ofblis. Lire here. N text. k Om. r. " his i. ° dressith i. P be the i. 1 his i. r a i. s soule i. l wolde
32
PROVERBS.
XX. 6 — 26.
man ; but a wis man shal drawe it out. <> Manye men merciful ben clepid ; a feith-
7 ful man forsothe who shal finde? The ri3twis forsothe that goth in his simple- nesse, blisful sones aftir hym shal leuen.
8 The king that sitd in the see of dom, scatereth alle euelis6 in his clere loking.
9 Who mai sey, Clene is myn herte ; pure lowithoute synne ? Peis and peis, mesure
and mesure, either is abhominablef anent
11 God. Of his* studies is the child vnder- stonde, if ri3t ben and clene the workis
12 of hym. The herende ere, and the seende laeje, the Lord made euer either. Wile
thou not looue slep, lest thee nedynesseh
opresse; opene thin e3en, and be thou ufulfild with loues. Euel it is, euel it is,
seith eche biere; and whan he goth awei, lothanne he shal glorien. Gold, and the
multitude of iemmes, and precious ves- icsel, the lippis of kunnyng. Tac the cloth
of hym, that boi'3 was of the' alien ; and
for straungeres tac awei the wed fro hyrn. 17 Swete is to a man the bred of lesing ;
and aftir shal be fulfild the mouth of is hym with a litil pibbil ston. Thetis bi
counseilis ben strengthid ; and bi go- luuernailis batailis ben to be tretid. To
hym that openeth priuetes, and goth
gilendeli, and spredeth abrod his lippis,
20 ne be thou togidere mengd. Who cursith to his fader and moder, shal be quenchid
21 his Ii3t in myddyl dercnesses. Eritage to the whiche is hee3id in the begynnyng,
22 in the laste shal lacke blissing. Ne sey thou, I shal 3elde euel for euel ; abid the
23 Lord, and he shal deliuere thee. Abo- minacioun is anent God wei3te and wei3te;
24 a treeccherous balaunce is not good. Of the Lord ben ri3t reulid the goingis of a man ; who forsothe of men mai vnder-
25 stonde his wei ? Falling is of men ofte to Vouwe tok seintis, and aftir the vouwis
2oa3een drawe. Scatereth vnpitous men a
of a man ; but a wijs man* schal drawe » a „«<, man , it out. Many men ben clepid merciful ;G but who schal fynde a feithful man? Forsothe a iust man that goith in his 7
schal drawe it out ; in axinge of him dili- gently and
simplenesse, schal leeue blessid sones attir wariy. Lire hym. A king that sittith in the seete of 8 doom, distrieth al yuel bi hislokyng. Who 9 may seie, Myn herte is clene ; Y am clene of svnne? A wei3tef and a wei3te, a me-i
• . . .
sure and a mesure, euer eithir is abhomy- nable at God. A child is vndurstondun bi hise studies, yf his werkis ben ri3tful and cleerie. An eere heringe, and an i3e se-i2f°rje™mseith
' feyned hooly-
vnere, God made euere eithir. Nyle thou is nesse ether
: ° ,1 equyte, is
loue sleep, lest nedynesse oppresse thee ; double wickid-
opene thin i3en, and be thou fillid with
looues. Ech biere seith, It is yuel, it fc
vuel ; and whanne he hath go awey, '>»•• that is,
* ° be thou wakir,
thanne he schal haue glorie. Gold, and is and diligent in
. , , , . . , « . , . thi werkis. c.
the multitude of iemmes, and a preciouse + the breed of vessel, ben the lippis of kunnyng. TakeioJJg^ *% thou awei the cloth of hym, that was i«»mg. to a
man ; here.
borewe of an othere man ; and for straun- wuhrikenyng s
. i r- i m« bi bittirnesse of
gens take thou awei a wed fro hym. The 17 penaunce, for breed of a leesingt is sweet to a man ; and aftirward his mouth schal be fillid
that is, pru-
with rikenvns:. Thou3tis ben maad strong isdence, coun-
" 8 .° eel, andexpe-
bi counsehs ; and bateils schulen be tretid rience, and not
bi gouernals. Be thou not medlid with 19
him that schewith pryuetees§, and goith *^tn<£°'
gylefulli, and alargith hise lippis. The 20 maden ^ 'he
°J . . world «»et to
Ii3t of hym that cursith his fadir and mo- hem silf bi dir, schal be quenchid in the myddis of derknessis. Eritage to which me haastith 21 in the bigynnyng, schal wante blessing in ^™'ah^nwa the laste tyme. Seie thou not, Y schal 22 with outen 3elde yuel for yuel ; abide thou the Lord, here. c.
and he schal delyuere thee. Abhomyna- 23 cioun at" God is wei3te and wei3te ; a gile- ful balaunce is not good. The steppis of 24 1
5 nesse.
manv ben dressid of the Lord ; who for- schewinge fren-
.. . , i i_ • • i schipe, whanne
sothe or men mai vndurstonde his weie t he is an enemy Falling of man is to make auow to seyntis, 25 ^"fij^Thft and aftirward to withdrawe thew vowis. is, bihetith grate
thingis, and
wis king; and he bowith in vpon hem A wijs kyng scaterith wickid men; and 20 fiiiuh litie ethir
d sitteth AEGH. e euel .
taken awei deuocioun fro E pr. m.
f abominacioun c. 8 the A. h the nedynes A. * Om. A. k to
anentis i. v a man i. w tho c.
XX. 27 — XXI.
PROVERBS.
33
27 a stonene bowe. The lanterne of the Lord the brething place of a man, that enserchith alle the priuetes of the wombe.
28 Mercy and treuthe kepen the king ; and his trone is strengthid with noble mercy.
29 The ful out io3ing of 5unge men the strengthe of hem ; and the dignete of
soolde men hornesse. The wannesse of wounde shal dense awei euelis, and woundis in the1 priuyere1" partys of the wombe.
CAP. XXI.
1 As deueseouns of watris, so the herte of the king in the hond of the Lord ; whider euere he wile, he shal bowe it.
2 Eche weie of a man ri3t to hym semeth ;
3 the Lord forsothe peiseth the hertis. To do mercy and dom, more pleseth to the
4 Lord, than sacrifises of victorie. The enhauncing of e3en is the larging of the herte ; the lanterne of vnpitous men
ssynne. The tho3tis of the strong man euermor in plente ; eche forsothe slou3n
eeuermor is in nedynesse. Who gedereth tresores with the tunge of lesing, vein and herteles is ; and he shal be 'put in0
7 to the grenes of deth. Raueynes of vn- pitous men shul drawe them doun ; for
s thei wolden not do dom. The peruertid weie of a man alien is fro God ; who for- sothe is clene, ri3t is the were of hym.
9 Betere is? to sitte in the corner of the
hous, than with the womman ful of strif,
10 and in the hous of feste. The soule of
the vnpitousei desireth euel ; he shal not
nhan merci to his ne3hebore. Punshid
the bacbitere, the wisere shal be the litle
child ; and if he folewe the wise man, he
12 shal take kunnyng. The ri3twis bethenk- ith of the hous of the vnpitous, that he
13 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.
14 3ifte hyd quencheth wrathis; and fre 3ifte
noujt.
bowith a bouwe of victorie1* ouer hem.
The lanternef of the Lord is the spirit
man, that sekith out alle the priuetees of
the wombe. Merci and treuthet kepen a 28 R1*"*™ ich*1
i j i • . luffre peyue
kyng ; and his trone is maad strong bi »ftir deth, and mekenesse. The ful out ioiyng of men is the strengthe of hem ; and the dignyte of elde men is hoornesse§. The so *^- c- wannesse of wounde schal wipe aweie 8to°" iwuwe. *.
, , ,. . ^, . t The lanterne;
yuels, and woundis in the priuyere thingis of the wombe.
CAP. XXI.
for kindly li-,t of resoun is sum preenting of Goddis II'H. of the wombe; that is, herte. Lire here. c.
As departyngis of watris, so the herte i * M^<v of the kyng is in the power of the Lord ; whidur euer he wole, he schal bowe it.
treuthe ; for merci without ri;tfulnesse, is cowardise, and
Ech weye of a man semeth ristful to 2 ^"J,"^^, hym silf ; but the Lord peisith the hertis. »crueite, for '
* tho distnen a
To do merci and doom||, plesith more thes king and Lord, than sacrifices doeri*. Enhaunsyng4 here. c.
with 1
of the heed.
The wannesse
of i3en is alargyng of the herte; the Ian- that «, the dd, terne of wickid men is synne. The thomtis 5 nesse and ?"?•
• nesse of wittis,
of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce;
but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.
He that gaderith tresours bi the tunge of 6
a leesingz^[, is veyne, and with outen herte;
and he schal be hurtlidzz to the snaris of yerki»- £««
here. c.
deth. The raueyns of vnpitouse men 7 ll mercy and schulen drawe hem doun ; for thei nolden* the werkis at
do doom. The weiward weie of a mans
is alien fro God ; but the werk of hym '''tfilin*'8 °f
that is cleeneb, is ri3tful. It is betere to 9 d0011 to "»»
oppressid, plese
sitte in the corner of an hous with oute more God than roof, than with a womman ful of chydyng, foTcristTn wi' and in a comyn hous. The soule of an 10 ™^™bt"8tb^h vnpitouse man desirith yuel ; he schal not werkig, as he
f * seith in XXT.
haue merci on his nei3bore. Whanne a iic°. of Math.
... .... i* synne ; that
man ful of pestilence is punyschid, a mil is, thei kunnen
man of wit schal be the wisere ; and if he
sueth a wijs man, he schal take kunnyng.
A iust man of the hous of a wickid maniaJeremye
thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro
yuel. He that stoppith his eere at the
cry of a pore man, schal crye also, andc
schal not be herd. A 3ift hid quenchith
in mi. c .
strongman.
1 Om. AGH. m priuye H. n slowe man A. ° inwardly saitid E pr. m. P it is AEGH. 1 vnpitous
man A.
* a victorie a. y Om. i. z leesing makcre i. " hurlid i. » \roJdcn not i. b cleene of
synne c sec. m. c and he i.
VOL. III. f
PROVERBS.
XXI. 15 XXII. 3.
is in the bosum most iudignacioun. loye to the ri3twis is to don dom ; and ferd to
Hi nii-ii werkende wickidnesse. The man that erreth fro the weie of doctrine, in
17 the felashipe of ieauntis shal wone. Whor looueth deynte metis, in nedynesse shall be ; who looueth win and fatte thingus,
is shall not be maad riche. For the ri3twise shal ben 30110 the vnpitouse ; and for the
igri3t man the wicke. Betere is to dwelle in desert lond, than with a ianglende
20 womman, and wratheful. Desyrable tre- sor and oile in the dwelling place of the njtwis ; and the vnprudent man shal
aiscateren it. Who folewith ri3twisnesse and mercy, shal finde lif and ri3twisnesse
22 and glorie. The cite of stronge men the wise man ste3ede vp, and destro3ide the
23 strengthe of the trost of it. Who kepeth his mouth arid his tunge, kepeth his soule
24 fro anguysshis. The proud man and the" enhaunsende hymself is clepid vnta3t, the
25whiche in wrathe wercheth pride. De- sires slen the slowe ; wolden not forsothe the hondis of hym any thing werchen5.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desireth ; who forsothe is ri3twis, shal 3elde, and not
27 cese. The ostis of vnpitous men abomi-
28 nable, that ben offrid of hidous gilte. A witnesse Here shal pershe ; the obeisaunt
29 man shall speke victorie. The vnpitous man wowendeli stablith his chere ; who
so forsothe is ri3t, mendeth his weie. Ther is not wisdarn, ther is not prudence,
31 ther is not counseil a3en the Lord. An hors is maad redi to the dai of bataile ; the Lord forsothe helthe shal 3eelden.
CAP. XXII.
1 Betere is a good name, than manye richessis; ouer siluer forsothe and gold
2 good grace. The riche man and the pore metten togidere ; the werkere of euer
3 either is the Lord. The felle man seeth euel, and hideth hymself ; and the inno-
chidyngis; and a 3ift in bosum quenchith leesmg; as
. , j .... . Ti • • flatereris of
the" moost mdignacioun. It is loye to ai5rjchemenau<i iust man to make doome* ; and it is drede f^vocatis to hem that worchen wickidnesse. A man 16 vev* •' «hat is>
voide of vertu.
that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal and with maen
,,..., ,, . ,. , TT herte;{orhe
dwelle in the cumpariy or giauntisy. Hei7suffrithdefaute
that loueth metis:]:, schal be in nedynesse; jf he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, °/
* synne, and of
schal not be maad riche. An vnpitouse is iieiie. £«»</<>«»»,•
, . L tohelle. nolden
man schal be 3ouun tor a iust man(j ; and eforfoom.-thatis,
. , . , 777 p • if i ly"e iustli with
a wickid man schal be ^ouun for a rytful tue neisbore. man. It is betere to dwelle in a desert ID *'tr0e^rkee c' lond, than with a womman ful of chidyner, *>om>' that is,
to parforme
and wrathful. Desirable^ tresoure and oile 20 Hjtfuinesse.
.,,,,. , he • drede ; for thei
is in the dwelling places" or a iust man ; dreden enere to and an vnprudent man schal distrie it. tnne^t He that sueth ri3tfulnesse and mercy, schal 21 fvnde liif and glorie. A wiis man sti
./ . J, is,gooddoctryn.
in to1 the citee or stronge men, and di- Lire here. c.
, .-.,1 .1 i* L • t ii i* TT 1" yintintis; that
striede the strengthe of tnst therof. Heaau.ofmenyueie that kepith his mouth and his tunge, ^^ of kepith his soule from angwischis. A 24 + metisi that is>
vnmesurably.
proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, Lirehere.cKxn.
., , .,, .... -r» • • i Sforaiiist
that worchith pride in ire. Desms sleen 25 »,«»,- that is,
a slow man; for hise hondis noldenk worche pTyne^oon °' ony thing. Al dai he coueitith and de- 20 to a lust man>
-1 an vnpitouse
sirith ; but he that is a iust man, schal »»<«», that aide
,11 rr, . . that 5'uel) SChal
3yue, and1 schal not ceesse. The offnngis 27 ie 3o««» to of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas||, ben abhomynable. A fals
nesse schal perische ; a man obedient schal of raueyn, ether
of thefte. Lire
speke victorie^[. A wickid man makith 20 here. c. sad his cheer vnscharnefastli ; but he that he^akith'the* is ri3tful, amendith his weie. No wis- so ^Sun, dom ism, no prudence is1", no counsel isra and thls. is ^e
moste victorie.
a3ens the Lord. An hors is maad redi to 3i amendith his the dai of batel ; but the Lord schal 3yue ofiitie defautis
i ,,, whiche he doith
neltne. inthisliyf,thouj
CAP. XXII. he be ful iust.
Lire here. c.
Betere is a good name, than manyi ** A riche man,
J etc. ; God mak-
richessis ; for good grace ts aboue siluer uu a pore man,
j , , A • i jtjt. i *Qat he haue
and gold. A riche man** and a pore man 2 merit of Pa- metten hem silf ; the Lord is worchere of
euer eithir. A felle man seeth yuel, and 3 man> that. h«
* haue merit of
hidith him silf ; and an innocent man mersy, in heip-
ingeaporeman. Lire here. c.
r Who so A. rr Om. c pr. m. s Om. A.
d Om. i. 1 and he i.
e iust doom i. m ther is i.
*toi. e Desiderable ca. h place A sec. m. i. ' vnto i. k wolden not i.
XXII. 4 -I
PROVERBS.
35
cent passede, and is tormentid with harm.
4 The ende of manernesse the dred of the
5 Lord; richessis, and glorie, and lif. Armes and swerdis in the weie of the proud ; the kepere forsothe of his soule ferr goth
6 awei fro hem. A prouerbe is, A 3ung ful waxen man aftyr his weie, and whan he
yeldeth, shal not gon awei fro it. The riche man to pore men comaundeth ; and he that taketh borewing, seruaunt is of
s the vsurer. Who sowith wickidnesse*, shal repen euelis ; and the 3erde of his wrathe
ushal be ful endid. Who redi is to mercy, shal be blissid ; of his loues forsothe he jaf to the pore. Victorie and worshipe shal purchace, that 3eueth 3iftis; for- sothe he taketh awei the soule of the
loresceyueres. Cast awey the scornere, and with hym shal gon out strif ; and causis
iishul cese, and wrong blamyngis. Who looueth clemiesse of herte, for the grace of his lippis shal ban the king frend.
12 The e3en of the Lord kepe kunnyng ; and supplauntyd ben the woordis of the
13 wicke. The slowe shal seyen, A leoun is withoute ; in the myddel of the stretes
14 1 am to be slain. A dep dich the mouth
of the alien womman ; to whom the Lord is is wroth, shal falle in to hir. Folie is
bounde togidere in the herte of the child;
and the 3erde off discipline shal driuen IG awei it. Who wrong chalengeth the pore,
that he eeche his richessis, he shal 3yue 17 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. IH The whiche fair shal be to thee, whan
thou kepist it in thi wombe, and shal lorebouride in thi lippis. That in the Lord
be thyn trost ; wherfore and I shal shewe
20 to thee it to dai. Lo ! I haue discriued it thre wise, in tho3tus and kunnyng,
21 that I shulde shewe to thee stedefast- nesse ; and faire spechis of treuthe thou shuldest answere of these thingis to them
passid", and he was turmentid bi° harm.
The ende of temperaunce is the drede of 4
the Lord; richessis, and elorye, and liif * '««'nge rich.
A -3 ,. i . e««is, glorie of
Armuris and swerdis ben in the weie of as «eynti», and
weiward man ; but the kepere of his soule
goith awey fer fro tho. It is a prouerbe, o
A 3ong wexynge man bisidis? his weie,
and whanne he hath wexei elde, he schal /ro lh" ••
. ,, .. i», fro royming
not go awei fro it. A riche man co-7 of tho.
maundith to pore men ; and he that takith borewyng, is ther seruaunt of the leenere. He that sowith wickidnes t, 8 t'0"''* «"'<*-
taneme ; that
schal repe yuels ; and the 3erde of his yre '»• r*1* ««»>•
i_ i i j-j TT ii t • 1- ing, diwen-
schal be endid. He that is redi8 to merci,9 cioun, and schal be blessid ; for of his looues he 3af to a pore man. He that 3yueth 3iftist,
schal eete victorie and oriour; forsothe he ire; *•""».
B the power bi
takith awei the soule of the takeris. Caste 10 which he dide thou out a scornere, and strijf schal go Tere'c. ' out with hym; and causis and dispisyngis ly^'^i, ; schulen ceesse. He that loueth the clen-uth!*verV'
thiimr, Laste
nesse of herte, schal haue the kyrig a thou out, etc.,
. ° is not in Ebreu.
freend, for' theu grace of hise lippis. The 12 Lire here. c. i3en of the Lord kepen kunnyng^; and the wordis of a wickid man ben disseyued.
A slow man schal seie, A lioun is without- is ^hi^h]i» of ,
the helthe of
forth ; Y schal be slayn in the myddis of soule. Lire the stretis. The mouth of an alien || wom-14 ,| ne mouth of man is av deep diche; he to whom the °s" oVfTis dot' Lord is wrooth, schal falle in to it. Foli is g£>hf£ *e is boundun togidere in the herte of a depthe of heiie.
wrooth ; for hi
child ; and a 3erde of chastisyng schal ir
ti i < /*ii* i i '.ii,,,. man. he with
dryue it awey. He that falsli chalengithiodrawithfro a pore man, to encreesse hise owne rich- essis, schal 3yue to a richere man, andw
J* in to synne,
schal be nedi. My sone, bowe doun thin '7 and ofte into
, ..... fals doctryn
eere, and here thou the wordis ot wise
men; but sette thou the* herte to my techyng. That schal be fair to thee, whanne thou hast kept it in thin herte, oftheEide
. . m* Testament,
and it schal flowe a3en in thi lippis. i hat ii>that ben the thi trist be in the Lord ; wherfor and Y
haue schewid it to thee to dai. Lo ! Y haue 20 j^** discryued it in thre maneres^[, in thou3tis jjjj*,1'^*' and kunnyng, that Y schulde schewe to2i«od,etherhe
* " spekith this in
wickenesse E.
n passid, bi a perdous place. Lire here. N text. ° with i. P aftir A sec. m. marg. i text. 1 vvoxen i. 1 Om. I. 8 enclinaunt, ether redi CEOHKMNpQBauxva. enclynaunt, or boivith i. v the c. w and he i. x Om. A sec. m.
F 2
36
PROVERBS.
XXII. 22 XXIII. 10.
22 that senten thee. Do thou not violence to the pore, for he is pore ; ne to-trede
23 thou the nedy in the 3ate. For the Lord shal deme the cause of hym, and he shal stike them, that stekeden the lif of hym.
24 Wile thou not be frend to a man ful of wrathe, ne go thou with a wood man ;
25 lest parauenture thou lerne the pathis of hym, and take sclaunder to thi soule.
26 Wile thou not be with them that ficche doun ther hondis, and that borewis offren
27 hemself for dettis ; if forsothe thou hast wherof thou restore, what of cause is, that" thou take coueryng frov thi bed ?
28 Ne ouerpasse thou olde terrnes, the 29whiche thi fadris setteden. Hast thou
seen a swift man in his were ? befor kingis he shal stonde, ne he shal ben beforn vn noble men.
CAP. XXIII.
1 Whan thou shal sitte, that thou ete with a prince, besili tac heede that ben
2 set befor thi face, and set a culter in thi throte. If 'ner the laterevv thou haue
3 power in to thi soule, ne desire thou of the metis of hym, in the whiche is the
4 bred of lesing. Wile thou not trauailen that thou be riche, but to thi prudence
5 put marier. Ne rere thou thin e3en to richessis, that thou maist not han ; for thei make to them federis, as of an egle,
cand thei shul flee in to heuerie. Ne ete thou with an enuyous man, and ne de-
7 sire thou the metisw of hym ; for in lic- nesse 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
a of hym is not with thee. The metes that thou hast eten, thou shalt spewen out ;
uand thou shalt leesen thi faire wrdis. In the eres of vnwise men speke thou not ; for thei shul dispisen the doctrine of thi
lospeche. Ne ateyne thou the termes of
a"d y«el> and
what is leueful
and vnieuefui.
thee the sadnesse and spechis of trewthe ; his ow"e J?er-
• soone of his
to answere of these thingis to hem, that thre bokis,
-r-. . Prouerbis, Ec-
senten thee. Do thou not violence to a 22 desiastes, and pore man, for he is pore ; nethir defoule thou a nedi man in the 3ate. For the Lord schal deme his cause, and he schal tur- mente hem, that turmentiden his soule. Nyle thou be freend to a wrathful ma nether go thou with a wood man; lest 25^ perauenture thou lerne hise weies, and and thus the
sentence is
take sclaundir to thi soule. Nyle thou be 20 pieyn. c. with hem that oblischeny her hondis, and that proferen hem silf z borewis for dettis; for if he hath not wherof he schal restore, 27 what of cause isa, that thou take awei hilyngb froc thi bed? Go thou not ouer28 the elde markisd, whiche thi faders han set. Thou hast seyn a man smert in his 2» werk ; he schal stonde bifore kyngis, and he schal not be bifor vnnoble men.
CAP. XXIII.
Whanne thou sittist, to ete with the i prince, perseyue thou diligentli what thingis ben set bifore thi face, and sette2 thou a withholding6 in thi throte. If ne- theles thou hast power on thi soule, desires thou not of his metis, in whom is the breed of 'a leesingf*. Nyle thou trauele4 to be maad riche, but sette thou mesure to thi prudence. ReiseS not thin i3en to a richessis, whiche thou maist not haue ; for tho schulen make to hem silf pennes, as of an egle, and thoh schulen flee in to heuene. Ete thou not with an enuyouse e man, and desire thou not hise metis; for 7 at the licnesse of a fals dyuynour and of a coniecteref, he gessith that, that he knowith not. He schal seie to thee, Ete thou and drinke ; and his soule is not with theej. Thou schalt brake1 out thes metisk, whiche thou hast ete ; and thou schalt leese thi faire wordis. Speke thou 9 not in the eeris of vnwise men ; for thei schulen dispise the teching of thi speche.
* breed of a leesing ; that is, getun hi a leesing. riche ; oner dwe mesure. mesure ; of iust resoun. to thi pru- dence ; that is, sutilte ether felnesse in geting. Lire here. c.
+ coniectere ; that is, ex- pownere of dremes. Lire here. ex.
J with thee ; that is, he sekith not thi profiyt. Lire here. c.
u if A. v for A. TV neuerthelater A et alii. w meet AGH.
y fastnen, ether oblischen CEFGHKMNPQRsuxya. fastnen, or bynden i. z silf to be i. a ther is i. hilyng i. c of i. d termes, ether markis CEFGHiKMNPQRSuxva. e cultre, or a withholding i. f liyng s Reise thou i. t> thei i. i spue CEGHKMNpQRsuxva. caste F pr. m. i. k mete P.
the e i.
XXIII. II 2t>
PROVERBS.
37
litlex childer ; and the feeld of moderles uchilder go^ thou not in. The nee3h for-
sothe of them is strong, and he shal i2demen 33611 thee the causes of hem. Go
in to doctrine thin herte, and thin eris
13 to the wrdis of kunnyng. Wile thou not withdrawe fro a child discipline ; if for- sothe thou smytez hym with 3erdea, he
14 shal not die. Thou with a 3erde shalt smite hym, and the soule of hym fro
is helle thou shalt deliueren. My sone, if
wijs were thin inwit, mynb herte shal i6io5en with thee ; and ful out shuln io3en
myc reenes, whan thi lippis shul speke i7ri3t. Ne enuyed thin herte synneres ;
but in the drede of the Lord be thou al is dai. For thou shalt han hope in the
laste, and thin abiding shal not ben taken
19 awei. Heere, my sone, and be thou wijs;, and rrjt reule in the weie thin inwit.
20 Wile thou not ben in the festis of drink- eris, ne in the meteshipis of hem, that
21 flesh to eten bringen. For thei tendende to drinkis, and 3iuende scot, shul ben wastid, and napping shal be clad" with
22clothis. Heere thou thi fader, that gat thee ; and ne dispise thou, vwhan shal
23eelden thi moderf. Bie treuthe, and wile thou not selle wisdam, and doctrine, and
24 vnderstonding. Ful out io3eth with io3e the fader of the ri3twise ; that a wis man
25 gat, shal gladen in hym. 1036 thi fader and thi moder, andff ful out io3e, that gat
20 thee. 3i£ sone myn, thin herte to me,
27 and thin e3en my weies kepe thei. A dep dich forsothe is£ a strumpet, and a streit
28 pit an alien womman. She waiteth in the weie, as a thef; and whom vnslei3
29 she seeth, she shal slen. To whom wo? to whos fader wo? to whom strif? to
Tout-he thou not the termes of litle dren ; and entre thou not in to the feeld of fadirles and modirles children. For the n i"
7* ^* "**«W t ••
nei3bore of hem is strong, and he schal toout«nnere
, , goudii) that ben
deme her cause a3ens thee. Thin herte 12 «I*;'<M <» entre to techyng, and thin eeris'ie redi} to the wordis of kunnyng. Nile thou i withdrawe chastisyng fro a child ; for ^1'>t " "da thorn thou srayte"1 hym with a ?erde, he «"<*<*/A;«;
11 i • mi i tllat '•' witn
schal not die. Thou schalt smyte hymuviieciothi»;
with a 3erde, and thou schalt delyuere his
soule fro helle. Mi sone, if thi soule is i
wijs, myn herte schal haue ioye with thee; 5° 'Jj'"8 1*hal
• • dtvelle to thee
and my reynes* schulen make ful out le*^",1^ <*"? ioye, whanne thi lippis speken ri3tful thing. Thin herte sue not synneris ; but be thou in then drede of the Lord al dai.
For0 thou schalt haue hope at the laste, IB thou "lle '"'•
dom and tfch-
and thin abidyng schal not be don awei. «»*,• for it
M, . . . . . owith to be
sone, here thou, and be thou? wijs, i93ouunfreiy,
and dresse thi soule in the weie. Nyle20plIJMithrjprivs thou be in the feestis of drinkeris, nether °/ money> "*•
theles a techere
in the ofte etyngis of hem, that bryngen of wisdom may
/. e ' ° takeliyflode
togidere fleischis to ete. For men 3yuynge 21 and clothing tent to drinkis, and 3yuyng mussels togi- ,he, iib dere, schulen be waastidf, and napping ^, schal be clothid with clothis. Here thi 22 £e. P"**'5 of
Egipt, that
fadir, that gendridei thee ; and dispise not studieden in
,, . i- i i • 11 -n- XL filosofie, weren
thi modir, whanne sche is eld. Bie thou23«usteynedof
treuthe, and nyle thou sille wisdom, andr
doctryn, andr vndurstonding. The fadir 24 **]£• cjkerte .
of a iust man ioieth ful out with ioie ; he *» then,k.e on
my techmg.
that gendrides a wijs man, schal be glad m« weyes ; in in hym. Thi fadir and thi modir haue 25 t ioye, and he that gendride8 thee, make ful out ioye. My sone, 3yue thin herte J
me, and thin i?en kepe my weyes. For an 27 man may go
j i- i j v outtherof.
hoore is a deep diche, and an alien worn- vnutar, that
.. ., <-, , , , • , i • • kunnen not
man is a streit pit. Sche settith aspie in 28 deme bit the weie, as a theef ; and sche schal sle
cause hem, whiche sche schal se vnwar. To 29 *£*?>££ [al ^ of whom is wo§? to whos fadir is wo? tlmmm*
whom dichis? to whom withoute woundis? to whom Christine out^
of helle; in
Ebreu it is, schal adde displserin in men ; that is, schal multiplie dispiseris of God among men. Also this lettre mai be expowned of a bodili hoore, which is seid a deep dich, for many songe men and elde fallen in to it ; also sche is seid a streit pit ; for a man goith not out of the synne of lecchene, no but with hardnesse. And sche settith aspies, in drawinge vnchast men bi flatteringis and cossis. c. § is wo ; that is, cursing and myshap. rficAi*,- that is, prisouns vndur the erthe. without cause; that is, not maad bi swerd, but bi her owne falling, putting out ; that is, feblmg and derkmg of the isen. Lire here. c.
1 thi litle c. y ne go G sec. m. z smytyst ^IEGH. a a jeerde A. b thyn AE pr. m. H. c thy E pr. m. d orfolotve c sec. m. marg. E sec. m. marg. enuye orfoletve AGH. e clothid AEGH. { thi moder, whanne she shal eelde A. K Om. c pr. m. B Om. c pr. m. es stiflyng E pr. m.
9 gaat i.
i. m smytist CFOKMNQRUXY. n Ora. i. ° And thanne i. P Om. i. q gaat i.
r ne i.
38
PROVERBS.
XXIII. 30 — XXIV. II.
3oe3en? Whether not to them, that dwellen in win, and studien to chalices to ben
31 drunken vp ? Ne beholde thou the win, whan it floureth, whan shal shine in the
saverr the colour of it. It shal gon in softe, but inh the laste it shal bite as a shadewe eddere, and as a kokatrice ve-
ssnymys shal heelden abrod. Thin e3en shul beholde straunge wymen, and thin
34herte shal speke peruertid thingus. And thou shalt ben as slepende in the myddil se, and as the steris man al forslept, the
35 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 ?
CAP. XXIV.
1 Ne enuye' thou euele men, ne desire
2 thou to ben with them. For raueynes sweteli thenketh the mynde of hem, and
3giles the lippis of hem speken. Bi wis-
dam shal thek hous ben bild, and bi pru- 4dence it shul be strengthid. In doctrine
shul be fulfild1 the celeris, with alle pre- 5 cious substaunce and most fair. A wis
man is strong, and a ta3t man is stal- es wrthe and my3ti. For with disposicioun
me goth in to bataile; and helthe shal ben, 7 wher ben many counseilis. Ful hee3 to
the fool wisdam ; in"1 the 3ate he shal snot openen his mouth. Who thenketh iieuelis to don, a fool shal ben clepid. The
thenking of the fool is synne ; and abho- lominacioun of men the bacbitere. If slyden
thou despeire, in the dai of anguysh" n'shal benn vmaadlitil° thi strengthe. Deli-
uere hem, that ben lad to deth ; and that
ben drawen to diyng, to deliuere ne cese
drunkun ouere myche. as an addre, etc. ; for it wastith tem-
kynde, and
goodis of grace,
foritindusith
to vices, and
most of l
to whom ben chidingis ? to whom ben
'
dichis ? tO Whom ben WOUlldlS With OUt ~ •. . rt . -i
cause ? to whom ts puttyng out or i3en ? Whether not to hem, that dwellen wyn*, and studien to drynke al of cuppis?
* * _
Biholde thou not wyn, whanne it spar-
,. , ,
clith, whanne the colour therof schyneth
in a ver. It entrith swetli, but at the laste 32
it schal bite as an eddre doitW, and as a thecouetiseof
lecnene bynd-
cocatrice it schal schede abrood venyms. »th the resoun
and wit. of the
Thin i3en schuleri se straunge wymmenf, 33 see ,- that is, of and thi herte schal speke weiwerd thingis. it' And thou schalt be as a man slepinge in 34 the myddis of the see, and as a gouernour and of vices-
a gouernour
aslepid, whanne the steere11:): is lost. And 35 aslepid ; the thou schalt seie, Thei beeten me, but Y
schip, the soule is the gouern- our; the smile is seid aslepid, whanne it is boundun with sleep ether with lust of lecche- rie. Lire here. c.
hadde not sorewe ; thei drowen me, and Y feelide not ; whanne schal Y wake out, andv Y schal fynde wynes eft ?
CAP. XXIV.
Sue thou not yuele men, desire thou not i to be with hem. For the soule of hem bi-2 is> hooris and
auoutressis.
thenkith raueyns, and her lippis speken Lire here. c. fraudis. An hous schal be bildid bi wis- 3 & dom, andw schal be maad strong bi pru- dence^. Celeris schulen be fillid in tech- 4 fhe s.leeP e*er
lust is passid.
ing, al" riches preciouse and ful fair. A 5 thei beeten me,
. etc. ; for as a
wijs man is strong, and a lerned man is man stalworth and mi3ti. For whi batel is bi-c gunnun with ordenaunce, and helthe schal
be, where many counsels ben. Wisdom ^s^ thanne, thous
he is smytun
1113 to a fool ; in the 3ate he schal not ether drawun, opene his mouth. He that thenkith to do 8 hoidun with yuels, schal be clepid a fool. The thou3tea SJe'rfe'per- of a fool is synne ; and a bacbitere is sey"eth not
* thanne the
abhomynacioun of men. If thou that>" hast 10 y«eis of synne
TJ , j- • • 4.11 • xu j • f • T. andofpeyne,
slide', dispeirista|| in the dai of angwisch, intowhichehe thi strengthe schal be maad lesse. Dely- 1 1 y^waA-ej etc. ,- uere thou hem, that ben led to deth ; and ceesse thou not to delyuere hem, that ben
goith ajeu to
drawun to deth^[. If thou seist,