Proverbs 19

¹Betere is a pore man, that goith in his simplenesse, than a riche man bitynge hise lippis, and vnwijs.

²Where is not kunnyng of the soule, is not good; and he that is hasti, in feet hirtith.

³The foli of a man disseyueth hise steppis; and he brenneth in his soule ayens God.

⁴Richessis encreessen ful many freendis; forsothe also thei ben departid fro a pore man, whiche he hadde.

⁵A fals witnesse schal not be vnpunyschid; and he that spekith leesingis, schal not ascape.

⁶Many men onouren the persoone of a myyti man; and ben frendis of hym that deelith yiftis.

⁷The britheren of a pore man haten hym; ferthermore and the freendis yeden awei fer fro hym. He that sueth wordis oonli, schal haue no thing;

⁸but he that holdith stabli the mynde, loueth his soule, and the kepere of prudence schal fynde goodis.

⁹A fals witnesse schal not be vnpunyschid; and he that spekith leesyngis, schal perische.

¹⁰Delices bicomen not a fool; nether `it bicometh a seruaunt to be lord of princes.

¹¹The teching of a man is knowun bi pacience; and his glorie is to passe ouere wickid thingis.

¹²As the gnasting of a lioun, so and the ire of the king; and as deewe on eerbe, so and the gladnesse of the kyng.

¹³The sorewe of the fadir is a fonned sone; and roofes droppynge contynueli is a womman ful of chiding.

¹⁴Housis and richessis ben youun of fadir and modir; but a prudent wijf is youun propirli of the Lord.

¹⁵Slouth bringith in sleep; and a negligent soule schal haue hungur.

¹⁶He that kepith the comaundement of God, kepith his soule; but he that chargith not his weie, schal be slayn.

¹⁷He that hath mercy on a pore man, leeneth to the Lord; and he schal yelde his while to hym.

¹⁸Teche thi sone, and dispeire thou not; but sette thou not thi soule to the sleyng of hym.

¹⁹Forsothe he that is vnpacient, schal suffre harm; and whanne he hath rauyschid, he schal leie to anothir thing.

²⁰Here thou counsel, and take thou doctryn; that thou be wijs in thi laste thingis.

²¹Many thouytis ben in the herte of a man; but the wille of the Lord schal dwelle.

²²A nedi man is merciful; and betere is a pore iust man, than a man liere.

²³The drede of the Lord ledith to lijf `of blis; and he `that dredith God schal dwelle in plentee, with outen visityng `of the worste.

²⁴A slow man hidith his hond vndur the armpit; and putteth it not to his mouth.

²⁵Whanne a man ful of pestilence is betun, a fool schal be wisere. If thou blamist a wijs man, he schal vndurstonde techyng.

²⁶He that turmentith the fadir, and fleeth fro the modir, schal be ful of yuel fame, and schal be cursid.

²⁷Sone, ceesse thou not to here techyng; and knowe thou the wordis of kunnyng.

²⁸A wickid witnesse scorneth doom; and the mouth of vnpitouse men deuourith wickidnesse.

²⁹Domes ben maad redi to scorneris; and hameris smytynge ben maad redi to the bodies of foolis.

Proverbs 19

¹Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

²Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

³The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

⁴Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

⁵A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

⁶Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

⁷All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

⁸He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

⁹A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

¹⁰Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

¹¹The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

¹²The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

¹³A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

¹⁴House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

¹⁵Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

¹⁶He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

¹⁷He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

¹⁸Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

¹⁹A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

²⁰Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

²¹There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

²²The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

²³The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

²⁴A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

²⁶He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

²⁷Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

²⁸An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

²⁹Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.