Wycliffe's English Translation (1388)
Wycliffe
Translated from the Latin in the 14th century
[1]Sodeyn perischyng schal come on that man, that with hard nol dispisith a blamere; and helth schal not sue hym. [2]The comynalte schal be glad in the multipliyng of iust men; whanne wickid men han take prinshod, the puple schal weyle. [3]A man that loueth wisdom, makith glad his fadir; but he that nurschith `an hoore, schal leese catel. [4]A iust king reisith the lond; an auerouse man schal distrie it. [5]A man that spekith bi flaterynge and feyned wordis to his frend; spredith abrood a net to hise steppis. [6]A snare schal wlappe a wickid man doynge synne; and a iust man schal preise, and schal make ioye. [7]A iust man knowith the cause of pore men; an vnpitouse man knowith not kunnyng. [8]Men ful of pestilence distryen a citee; but wise men turnen awei woodnesse. [9]If a wijs man stryueth with a fool; whether he be wrooth, `ether he leiyith, he schal not fynde reste. [10]Menquelleris haten a simple man; but iust men seken his soule. [11]A fool bringith forth al his spirit; a wise man dilaieth, and reserueth in to tyme comynge afterward. [12]A prince that herith wilfuli the wordis of a leesyng; schal haue alle mynystris vnfeithful. [13]A pore man and a leenere metten hem silf; the Lord is liytnere of euer ethir. [14]If a kyng demeth pore men in treuthe; his trone schal be maad stidfast with outen ende. [15]A yerde and chastisyng schal yyue wisdom; but a child, which is left to his wille, schendith his modir. [16]Grete trespassis schulen be multiplied in the multipliyng of wickid men; and iust men schulen se the fallyngis of hem. [17]Teche thi sone, and he schal coumforte thee; and he schal yyue delicis to thi soule. [18]Whanne prophesie faylith, the puple schal be distried; but he that kepith the lawe, is blessid. [19]A seruaunt mai not be tauyt bi wordis; for he vndirstondith that that thou seist, and dispisith for to answere. [20]Thou hast seyn a man swift to speke; foli schal be hopid more than his amendyng. [21]He that nurschith his seruaunt delicatli fro childhod; schal fynde hym rebel aftirward. [22]A wrathful man territh chidingis; and he that is liyt to haue indignacioun, schal be more enclynaunt to synnes. [23]Lownesse sueth a proude man; and glorie schal vp take a meke man of spirit. [24]He that takith part with a theef, hatith his soule; he herith a man chargynge greetli, and schewith not. [25]He that dredith a man, schal falle soon; he that hopith in the Lord, shal be reisid. [26]Many men seken the face of the prince; and the doom of alle men schal go forth of the Lord. [27]Iust men han abhomynacioun of a wickid man; and wickid men han abhomynacioun of hem, that ben in a riytful weye. A sone kepynge a word, schal be out of perdicioun.
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Author: John Wycliffe (1328 – 1384)
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