1Chide thou not with a miyti man, leste thou falle in to hise hondis.stylus2Stryue thou not with a riche man, lest perauenture he make ple ayenward to thee.stylus3For whi gold and siluer hath lost many men; and it stretchith forth til to the herte of kyngis, and turneth.stylus4Chide thou not with a man, a ianglere, and leie thou not trees in to his fier.stylus5Comyne thou not with an vntauyt man, lest he speke yuele of thi kynrede.stylus6Dispise thou not a man turnynge awei hym silf fro synne, nether vpbreide thou hym; haue thou mynde, that alle we ben in corrupcioun.stylus7Dispise thou not a man in his eelde; for whi of vs men wexen eld.stylus8Nyle thou make ioye of thin enemy deed, witynge that alle we dien, and wolen not come in to ioie of oure enemys.stylus9Dispise thou not the tellyng of wise preestes, and be thou conuersaunt in the prouerbis of hem;stylus10for of hem thou schalt lerne wisdom, and techyng of vndurstondyng, and to serue without pleynt to grete men.stylus11The tellyng of eldere men passe not thee; for thei han lerned of her fadris.stylus12For of hem thou schalt lerne vndurstondyng; and in the tyme of nede thou schalt yyue answere.stylus13Kyndle thou not the coolis of synneris, and repreue hem; and be thou not brent with the flawme of fier of her synnes.stylus14Stonde thou not ayens the face of a man ful of dispisyng; lest he sitte as a spiere to thi mouth.stylus15Nyle thou leene to a man strongere than thou; that if thou hast lent, haue thou it as lost.stylus16Biheete thou not aboue thi power; that if thou hast bihiyt, bithenke thou as yeldynge.stylus17Deme thou not ayens a iuge; for he demeth vp that, that is iust.stylus18Go thou not in the weie with an hardi man, lest perauenture he agregge hise yuels in thee; for he goith aftir his wille, and thou schalt perische togidere with his foli.stylus19Make thou not chidyng with a wrathful man, and go thou not in to desert with an hardi man; for whi blood is as nouyt bifore hym, and where noon help is, he schal hurtle thee doun.stylus20Haue thou not councel with foolis; for thei moun not loue, no but tho thingis that plesen hem.stylus21Make thou not a counsel bifore a straunger; for thou noost, what he schal bringe forth. Make not thin herte knowun to ech man; lest perauenture he brynge to thee fals grace, and dispise thee.stylus
