Proverbs 18 WYC
Summary: This chapter warns that "whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment" (v. 1), and observes that a fool's lips walk him into strife while his mouth invites a beating. It contains the memorable teaching that "death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits" (v. 21), and describes "the name of the LORD" as "a strong tower" where the righteous run and are safe (v. 10). The chapter also cautions that the one who states his case first seems right "until his neighbor comes and examines him" (v. 17), and closes praising a true friend who "sticks closer than a brother" (v. 24).
1He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
2A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
3A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
4Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom.
5It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom.
6The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
7The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
8The 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.
9He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
10A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
11The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
12The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
13He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
14The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?
15The herte of a prudent man schal holde stidfastli kunnyng; and the eere of wise men sekith techyng.
16The yift of a man alargith his weie; and makith space to hym bifore princes.
17A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
18Lot ceessith ayenseiyngis; and demeth also among miyti men.
19A brother that is helpid of a brothir, is as a stidfast citee; and domes ben as the barris of citees.
20A mannus wombe schal be fillid of the fruit of his mouth; and the seedis of hise lippis schulen fille hym.
21Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.
22He 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.
23A pore man schal speke with bisechingis; and a riche man schal speke sterneli.
24A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
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