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[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.
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