1 WYC Wiyn is a letcherouse thing and drunkenesse is ful of noise; who euere delitith in these, schal not be wijs. BSB BSB: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 WYC As the roryng of a lioun, so and the drede of the kyng; he that territh hym to ire, synneth ayens his owne lijf. BSB BSB: The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
3 WYC It is onour to a man that departith hym silf fro stryuyngis; but fonned men ben medlid with dispisyngis. BSB BSB: It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4 WYC A slow man nolde ere for coold; therfor he schal begge in somer, and me schal not yyue to hym. BSB BSB: The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5 WYC As deep watir, so counsel is in the herte of a man; but a wijs man schal drawe it out. BSB BSB: The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 WYC Many men ben clepid merciful; but who schal fynde a feithful man? BSB BSB: Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7 WYC Forsothe a iust man that goith in his simplenesse, schal leeue blessid sones aftir hym. BSB BSB: The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 WYC A king that sittith in the seete of doom, distrieth al yuel bi his lokyng. BSB BSB: A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9 WYC Who may seie, Myn herte is clene; Y am clene of synne? BSB BSB: Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10 WYC A weiyte and a weiyte, a mesure and a mesure, euer eithir is abhomynable at God. BSB BSB: Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD.
11 WYC A child is vndurstondun bi hise studies, yf his werkis ben riytful and cleene. BSB BSB: Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 WYC An eere heringe, and an iye seynge, God made euere eithir. BSB BSB: Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.
13 WYC Nyle thou loue sleep, lest nedynesse oppresse thee; opene thin iyen, and be thou fillid with looues. BSB BSB: Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14 WYC Ech biere seith, It is yuel, it is yuel; and whanne he hath go awey, thanne he schal haue glorie. BSB BSB: “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15 WYC Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and a preciouse vessel, ben the lippis of kunnyng. BSB BSB: There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16 WYC Take thou awei the cloth of hym, that was borewe of an othere man; and for straungeris take thou awei a wed fro hym. BSB BSB: Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
17 WYC The breed of a leesing is sweet to a man; and aftirward his mouth schal be fillid with rikenyng. BSB BSB: Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
18 WYC Thouytis ben maad strong bi counselis; and bateils schulen be tretid bi gouernals. BSB BSB: Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
19 WYC Be thou not medlid with him that schewith pryuetees, and goith gylefulli, and alargith hise lippis. BSB BSB: He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20 WYC The liyt of hym that cursith his fadir and modir, schal be quenchid in the myddis of derknessis. BSB BSB: Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21 WYC Eritage to which me haastith in the bigynnyng, schal wante blessing in the laste tyme. BSB BSB: An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22 WYC Seie thou not, Y schal yelde yuel for yuel; abide thou the Lord, and he schal delyuere thee. BSB BSB: Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23 WYC Abhomynacioun at God is weiyte and weiyte; a gileful balaunce is not good. BSB BSB: Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 WYC The steppis of man ben dressid of the Lord; who forsothe of men mai vndurstonde his weie? BSB BSB: A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 WYC Falling of man is to make auow to seyntis, and aftirward to withdrawe the vowis. BSB BSB: It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
26 WYC A wijs kyng scaterith wickid men; and bowith a bouwe of victorie ouer hem. BSB BSB: A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 WYC The lanterne of the Lord is the spirit of man, that sekith out alle the priuetees of the wombe. BSB BSB: The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28 WYC Merci and treuthe kepen a kyng; and his trone is maad strong bi mekenesse. BSB BSB: Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
29 WYC The ful out ioiyng of yonge men is the strengthe of hem; and the dignyte of elde men is hoornesse. BSB BSB: The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30 WYC The wannesse of wounde schal wipe aweie yuels, and woundis in the priuyere thingis of the wombe. BSB BSB: Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.