1 A soft answere brekith ire; an hard word reisith woodnesse.2 The tunge of wise men ourneth kunnyng; the mouth of foolis buylith out foli.3 In ech place the iyen of the Lord biholden good men, and yuel men.4 A plesaunt tunge is the tre of lijf; but the tunge which is vnmesurable, schal defoule the spirit.5 A fool scorneth the techyng of his fadir; but he that kepith blamyngis, schal be maad wisere. Moost vertu schal be in plenteuouse riytfulnesse; but the thouytis of wickid men schulen be drawun vp bi the roote.6 The hous of a iust man is moost strengthe; and disturbling is in the fruitis of a wickid man.7 The lippis of wise men schulen sowe abrood kunnyng; the herte of foolis schal be vnlijc.8 The sacrifices of wickyd men ben abhomynable to the Lord; avowis of iust men ben plesaunt.9 The lijf of the vnpitouse man is abhomynacioun to the Lord; he that sueth riytfulnesse, schal be loued of the Lord.10 Yuel teching is of men forsakinge the weie of lijf; he that hatith blamyngis, schal die.11 Helle and perdicioun ben open bifor the Lord; hou myche more the hertis of sones of men.12 A man ful of pestilence loueth not hym that repreueth him; and he goith not to wyse men.13 A ioiful herte makith glad the face; the spirit is cast doun in the morenyng of soule.14 The herte of a wijs man sekith techyng; and the mouth of foolis is fed with vnkunnyng.15 Alle the daies of a pore man ben yuele; a sikir soule is a contynuel feeste.16 Betere is a litil with the drede of the Lord, than many tresouris and vnfillable.17 It is betere to be clepid to wortis with charite, than with hatrede to a calf maad fat.18 A wrathful man reisith chidyngis; he that is pacient, swagith chidyngis reisid.19 The weie of slow men is an hegge of thornes; the weie of iust men is with out hirtyng.20 A wise sone makith glad the fadir; and a fonned man dispisith his modir.21 Foli is ioye to a fool; and a prudent man schal dresse hise steppis.22 Thouytis ben distried, where no counsel is; but where many counseleris ben, tho ben confermyd.23 A man is glad in the sentence of his mouth; and a couenable word is best.24 The path of lijf is on a lernyd man; that he bowe awei fro the laste helle.25 The Lord schal distrie the hows of proude men; and he schal make stidefast the coostis of a widewe.26 Iuele thouytis is abhomynacioun of the Lord; and a cleene word moost fair schal be maad stidfast of hym.27 He that sueth aueryce, disturblith his hous; but he that hatith yiftis schal lyue. Synnes ben purgid bi merci and feith; ech man bowith awei fro yuel bi the drede of the Lord.28 The soule of a iust man bithenkith obedience; the mouth of wickid men is ful of yuelis.29 The Lord is fer fro wickid men; and he schal here the preyers of iust men.30 The liyt of iyen makith glad the soule; good fame makith fat the boonys.31 The eere that herith the blamyngis of lijf, schal dwelle in the myddis of wise men.32 He that castith awei chastisyng, dispisith his soule; but he that assentith to blamyngis, is pesible holdere of the herte.33 The drede of the Lord is teching of wisdom; and mekenesse goith bifore glorie.