1 WYC He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable. BSB BSB: He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 WYC A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte. BSB BSB: A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 WYC A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym. BSB BSB: With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 WYC Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom. BSB BSB: The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 WYC It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom. BSB BSB: Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 WYC The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues. BSB BSB: A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 WYC The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule. BSB BSB: A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 WYC The wordis of a double tungid man ben as symple; and tho comen `til to the ynnere thingis of the wombe. Drede castith doun a slowe man; forsothe the soulis of men turned in to wymmens condicioun schulen haue hungur. BSB BSB: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 WYC He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis. BSB BSB: Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 WYC A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid. BSB BSB: The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 WYC The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym. BSB BSB: A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 WYC The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified. BSB BSB: Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 WYC He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe. BSB BSB: He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 WYC The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth? BSB BSB: The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 WYC The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng. BSB BSB: The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 WYC The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes. BSB BSB: A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17 WYC A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym. BSB BSB: The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 WYC Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men. BSB BSB: Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 WYC A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees. BSB BSB: An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 WYC A mannus wombe schal be fillid of the fruit of his mouth; and the seedis of hise lippis schulen fille hym. BSB BSB: From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 WYC Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof. BSB BSB: Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 WYC He that fyndith a good womman, fyndith a good 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 vnwijs. BSB BSB: He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 WYC A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli. BSB BSB: The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 WYC A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir. BSB BSB: A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.