Proverbs 12
Wycliffe's Bible
1He that loveth chastising, loveth knowing; but he that hateth blamings, is unwise. (He who loveth discipline, loveth knowledge; but he who hateth rebukes, is unwise.)

2He that is good, shall draw to himself (the) grace of the Lord (He who is good, shall draw favour to himself from the Lord); but he that trusteth in his (own) thoughts, doeth wickedly.

3A man shall not be made strong by wickedness; and the root of just men shall not be moved. (No one is made strong by wickedness; but the roots of the righteous shall not be uprooted.)

4A diligent woman is a crown to her husband; and rot is in the bones of that woman, that doeth things worthy of confusion. (A diligent woman is a crown to her husband; but rot is in the bones of her, who doeth shameful things.)

5The thoughts of just men be dooms; and the counsels of wicked men be guileful. (The thoughts of the righteous be lawful; and the plans of the wicked be deceitful/and the advice of the wicked is deceptive.)

6The words of wicked men set treason to blood; the mouth of just men shall deliver them. (The words of the wicked set ambush for blood; the words of the righteous shall save them.)

7(Over)Turn thou wicked men, and they shall not be; but the houses of just men shall dwell perfectly. (Overturn thou, or bring thou down, the wicked, and they shall not be; but the families of the righteous shall continue.)

8A man shall be known by his teaching; but he that is vain and heartless, shall be open to despising.

9Better is a poor man, and sufficient (un)to himself, than (to be) a (self-)glorious man, and needy of bread.

10A just man knoweth the lives of his work beasts; but the entrails of wicked men be cruel. (A righteous person careth for the lives of his work beasts; but the hearts of the wicked be cruel.)

11He that worketh his land, shall be filled with loaves; but he that followeth idleness, is most fool(ish). He that is sweet, that is mild, liveth in temperances; and in his admonishings he forsaketh despisings (He who is humble, liveth temperately; and he forsaketh despisings in all of his admonishings).

12The desire of a wicked man is the memorial of worst things; but the root of just men shall increase. (The desires of the wicked be a memorial of the worst things; but the roots of the righteous shall increase, or shall go deeper.)

13For the sins of (his) lips, falling down nigheth to an evil man; but a just man shall escape from anguish (but the righteous shall escape from anguish).

14Of the fruit of his mouth each man shall be [ful]filled with goods (A person shall be fulfilled with good things by the fruit of his mouth); and by the works of his hands it shall be yielded to him.

15The way of a fool is rightful in his eyes; but he that is wise, heareth counsels (but he who is wise, listeneth to good advice).

16A fool showeth anon his ire; but he that dissembleth wrongs, is wise. (A fool showeth his anger at once; but he who overlooketh wrongs, is wise.)

17He that speaketh that, that he knoweth, is a judge of rightfulness; but he that lieth, is a guileful witness. (He who speaketh what he knoweth, is a just judge/is a judge of righteousness; but he who lieth, is a deceitful witness.)

18A man is that promiseth, and he is pricked as with the sword of conscience; but the tongue of wise men is health. (There is a person who speaketh, and his words cut like a sword; but the tongues of the wise give health.)

19The lip of truth shall be steadfast [into] without end; but he that is a sudden witness, maketh ready the tongue of leasing (but he who speaketh a ready answer, often haveth a lying tongue).

20Guile is in the heart of them that think evils; but joy followeth them that make counsels of peace.

21Whatever befalleth to a just man, it shall not make him sorry; but wicked men shall be filled with evil. (Whatever befalleth to the righteous, shall not bring them sorrow, or grief; but the wicked shall be filled with evil.)

22False lips is abomination to the Lord; but they that do faithfully, please him.

23A fell man covereth knowing; and the heart of unwise men stirreth folly. (A clever person concealeth his knowledge; but the unwise tell out their foolishness.)

24The hand of strong men shall have lordship; but the hand that is slow, shall serve to tributes. (The hand of the strong shall rule; but those who be lazy, shall become slaves.)

25Mourning in the heart of a just man shall make him meek; and he shall be made glad by a good word. (Mourning in the heart of a righteous person shall make him weak; but he shall be made happy by a good, or by a kind, word.)

26He that despiseth harm for a friend, is a just man; but the way of wicked men shall deceive them. (He who despiseth harm to a friend, is a righteous person; but the way of the wicked shall deceive them.)

27A guileful man shall not find winning; and the substance of (a diligent) man shall be (equal to) the price of gold, that is, preciouser than gold. (A deceitful, or a lazy, person shall not find winning; but the substance, or the reward, of a diligent person shall be equal to the price of gold, that is, shall be more precious than gold.)

28Life is in the path of rightwiseness (Life is on the path of righteousness); but the wrong way leadeth to death.

WYCLIFFE’S BIBLE

Comprising of
Wycliffe’s Old Testament

and

Wycliffe’s New Testament
(Revised Edition)


Translated by

JOHN WYCLIFFE
and JOHN PURVEY


A modern-spelling edition of their
14TH century Middle English translation,
the first complete English vernacular version,
with an Introduction by

TERENCE P. NOBLE

Used by Permission

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