1 WYC As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool. BSB BSB: Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 WYC 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. BSB BSB: Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 WYC Beting to an hors, and a bernacle to an asse; and a yerde in the bak of vnprudent men. BSB BSB: A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
5 WYC Answere thou a fool bi his fooli, lest he seme to him silf to be wijs. BSB BSB: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 WYC An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger. BSB BSB: Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 WYC As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis. BSB BSB: Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 WYC As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man. BSB BSB: Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 WYC As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis. BSB BSB: Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 WYC Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris. BSB BSB: Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 WYC As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli. BSB BSB: As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 WYC Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he. BSB BSB: Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 WYC A slow man seith, A lioun is in the weie, a liounnesse is in the foot pathis. BSB BSB: The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 WYC As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed. BSB BSB: As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 WYC A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth. BSB BSB: The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 WYC A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis. BSB BSB: The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 WYC 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. BSB BSB: Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 WYC As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth; BSB BSB: Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 WYC so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge. BSB BSB: so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 WYC Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten. BSB BSB: Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 WYC As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis. BSB BSB: Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 WYC The wordis of a pryuei bacbitere ben as symple; and tho comen til to the ynneste thingis of the herte. BSB BSB: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 WYC As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with `the werste herte. BSB BSB: Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 WYC An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte. BSB BSB: A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 WYC Whanne he `makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte. BSB BSB: When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 WYC The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel. BSB BSB: Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 WYC He that delueth a diche, schal falle in to it; and if a man walewith a stoon, it schal turne ayen to hym. BSB BSB: He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 WYC A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis. BSB BSB: A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.