6 O! thou slowe man, go to the amte, ether pissemyre; and biholde thou hise weies, and lerne thou wisdom.

7 Which whanne he hath no duyk, nethir comaundour, nether prince;

8 makith redi in somer mete to hym silf, and gaderith togidere in heruest that, that he schal ete.

9 Hou long schalt thou, slow man, slepe? whanne schalt thou rise fro thi sleep?

10 A litil thou schalt slepe, a litil thou schalt nappe; a litil thou schalt ioyne togidere thin hondis, that thou slepe.

11 And nedynesse, as a weigoere, schal come to thee; and pouert, as an armed man. Forsothe if thou art not slow, thi ripe corn schal come as a welle; and nedynesse schal fle fer fro thee.