1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.2 Also for the soul to be without knowledge is not good, and he who hurries with his feet sins.3 The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart frets against Jehovah.4 Wealth makes many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbor.5 A false witness shall not go unpunished, and he who utters lies shall not escape.6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and everyone is friends with him who gives gifts.7 All the brothers of the poor man hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him? He pursues them with words, yet they are nowhere to be found.8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding shall find good.9 A false witness shall not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.10 Luxury is not befitting a fool; much less for a servant to rule over princes.11 The prudence of a man puts off his anger; and it is his glory to sweep aside a transgression.12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion; but his favor is like dew on the grass.13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, and the contentions of a wife, a continual dripping.14 Houses and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Jehovah.15 Laziness causes one to fall into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.16 He who keeps the Commandment keeps his own soul; he who despises His ways shall die.17 He who has pity upon the poor lends to Jehovah, and He will make compensation for what he has given.18 Chasten your son while there is hope, and let not your soul hold back, lest he be put to death.19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.20 Give heed to counsel, and receive instruction, so that you may be wise in your latter days.21 There are many plans in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of Jehovah shall stand.22 What is desired of a man is his kindness; and a poor man is better than a liar.23 The fear of Jehovah tends to life, and he rests satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.24 A sluggard puts his hand in a dish, and he will not even return it to his mouth.25 Strike a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove one who has understanding, and he will understand knowledge.26 He who assaults his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.27 My son, cease to hear correction, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.28 A worthless witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the backs of fools.

1 Betere is a pore man, that goith in his simplenesse, than a riche man bitynge hise lippis, and vnwijs.2 Where is not kunnyng of the soule, is not good; and he that is hasti, in feet hirtith.3 The foli of a man disseyueth hise steppis; and he brenneth in his soule ayens God.4 Richessis encreessen ful many freendis; forsothe also thei ben departid fro a pore man, whiche he hadde.5 A fals witnesse schal not be vnpunyschid; and he that spekith leesingis, schal not ascape.6 Many men onouren the persoone of a myyti man; and ben frendis of hym that deelith yiftis.7 The britheren of a pore man haten hym; ferthermore and the freendis yeden awei fer fro hym. He that sueth wordis oonli, schal haue no thing;8 but he that holdith stabli the mynde, loueth his soule, and the kepere of prudence schal fynde goodis.9 A fals witnesse schal not be vnpunyschid; and he that spekith leesyngis, schal perische.10 Delices bicomen not a fool; nether `it bicometh a seruaunt to be lord of princes.11 The teching of a man is knowun bi pacience; and his glorie is to passe ouere wickid thingis.12 As the gnasting of a lioun, so and the ire of the king; and as deewe on eerbe, so and the gladnesse of the kyng.13 The sorewe of the fadir is a fonned sone; and roofes droppynge contynueli is a womman ful of chiding.14 Housis and richessis ben youun of fadir and modir; but a prudent wijf is youun propirli of the Lord.15 Slouth bringith in sleep; and a negligent soule schal haue hungur.16 He that kepith the comaundement of God, kepith his soule; but he that chargith not his weie, schal be slayn.17 He that hath mercy on a pore man, leeneth to the Lord; and he schal yelde his while to hym.18 Teche thi sone, and dispeire thou not; but sette thou not thi soule to the sleyng of hym.19 Forsothe he that is vnpacient, schal suffre harm; and whanne he hath rauyschid, he schal leie to anothir thing.20 Here thou counsel, and take thou doctryn; that thou be wijs in thi laste thingis.21 Many thouytis ben in the herte of a man; but the wille of the Lord schal dwelle.22 A nedi man is merciful; and betere is a pore iust man, than a man liere.23 The drede of the Lord ledith to lijf `of blis; and he `that dredith God schal dwelle in plentee, with outen visityng `of the worste.24 A slow man hidith his hond vndur the armpit; and putteth it not to his mouth.25 Whanne a man ful of pestilence is betun, a fool schal be wisere. If thou blamist a wijs man, he schal vndurstonde techyng.26 He that turmentith the fadir, and fleeth fro the modir, schal be ful of yuel fame, and schal be cursid.27 Sone, ceesse thou not to here techyng; and knowe thou the wordis of kunnyng.28 A wickid witnesse scorneth doom; and the mouth of vnpitouse men deuourith wickidnesse.29 Domes ben maad redi to scorneris; and hameris smytynge ben maad redi to the bodies of foolis.