Wycliffe's English Translation (1388)
Wycliffe
Translated from the Latin in the 14th century
[1]As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool. [2]For whi as a brid fliynge ouer to hiy thingis, and a sparowe goynge in to vncerteyn; so cursing brouyt forth with out resonable cause schal come aboue in to sum man. [3]Beting to an hors, and a bernacle to an asse; and a yerde in the bak of vnprudent men. [4]Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym. [5]Answere thou a fool bi his fooli, lest he seme to him silf to be wijs. [6]An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger. [7]As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis. [8]As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man. [9]As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis. [10]Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris. [11]As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli. [12]Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he. [13]A slow man seith, A lioun is in the weie, a liounnesse is in the foot pathis. [14]As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed. [15]A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth. [16]A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis. [17]As he that takith a dogge bi the eeris; so he that passith, and is vnpacient, and is meddlid with the chiding of anothir man. [18]As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth; [19]so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge. [20]Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten. [21]As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis. [22]The wordis of a pryuei bacbitere ben as symple; and tho comen til to the ynneste thingis of the herte. [23]As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte. [24]An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte. [25]Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte. [26]The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel. [27]He that delueth a diche, schal falle in to it; and if a man walewith a stoon, it schal turne ayen to hym. [28]A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.
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Author: John Wycliffe (1328 – 1384)
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