1 He that wole go a wei fro a frend, sekith occasiouns; in al tyme he schal be dispisable.
2 A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.
3 A wickid man, whanne he cometh in to depthe of synnes, dispisith; but sclaundre and schenschipe sueth hym.
4 Deep watir is the wordis of the mouth of a man; and a stronde fletinge ouer is the welle of wisdom.
5 It is not good to take the persoone of a wickid man in doom, that thou bowe awei fro the treuthe of dom.
6 The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.
7 The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule.
8 The 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.
9 He that is neisch, and vnstidfast in his werk, is the brother of a man distriynge hise werkis.
10 A strongeste tour is the name of the Lord; a iust man renneth to hym, and schal be enhaunsid.
11 The catel of a riche man is the citee of his strengthe; and as a stronge wal cumpassinge hym.
12 The herte of man is enhaunsid, bifor that it be brokun; and it is maad meke, bifore that it be glorified.
13 He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
14 The spirit of a man susteyneth his feblenesse; but who may susteyne a spirit liyt to be wrooth?