Proverbs 20

Matthew^{(i) 1} Wine is a volupteous thynge, & dronckennes causeth sedicion: who so deliteth therin, shal neuer be wyse. ² The kyng oughte to be feared as the roarynge of a Lyon, who so prouoketh hym vnto anger, offendeth agaynst hys owne soule. ³ It is a mans honour to kepe him selfe from stryfe, but they that haue pleasure in braulinge, are fooles euery one. ⁴ A slouthfull body will not go to plowe for colde, therefore shall he go a beggynge in Sommer, and haue nothynge. ⁵ Wyse counsayll in the herte of man is lyke a water in the depe of the earth, but he that hathe vnderstanding, bringeth it forth. ⁶ Many there be that are called good doers, but whereshal one fynde a true faythful man? ⁷ Who so leadeth a godly and an innocent lyfe, happy shal his chyldren be whome he leaueth behynde hym. ⁸ A kynge that sitteth in iudgement, and loketh well aboute hym, dryueth awaye all euell. ⁹ Who can saye: my herte is cleane, I am innocent from sinne? ¹⁰ To vse two maner of weyghtes, or twoo maner of measures, both these are abhominable vnto the Lorde. ¹¹ A chylde is knowen by hys conuersacion, whether hys workes be pure & right. ¹² As for the hearing of the eare & the sight of the eye, the Lord hath made them both. ¹³ Delyte not thou in slepe, lest thou come vnto pouerte: but open thyne eyes, and thou shalt haue bread ynough. ¹⁴ It is naught, It is naught (say men) when they haue it, but when it is gone, they geue it a good woorde. ¹⁵ A mouth of vnderstanding is more worth then gold, many precious stones, & costly iewels. ¹⁶ Take his garment that is suerty for a straunger, & take a pledge of him for the vnknowen mans sake. ¹⁷ Euery man liketh the bread that is gotten with disceate, but at the laste hys mouth shalbe filled with grauell. ¹⁸ Thorow counsayl the thynges that men deuise go forward: and with discrecion ought warres to be taken in hande. ¹⁹ Medle not with hym that bewrayeth secretes, and is a sclaunderer, and disceaueth with hys lippes. ²⁰ Whoso curseth hys father and mother, hys lyght shalbe put outin the myddest of darcknesse. ²¹ The herytage that commeth to hastely at the fyrste, shall not be praised at the ende. ²² Saye not thou: I wyll recompence euel, but put thy truste in the Lorde, and he shall defende the. ²³ The Lorde, abhorreth two maner of weyghtes, and a false balaunce is an euell thinge. ²⁴ The Lorde ordreth euery mans goinges, for what is he that vnderstandeth his owne wayes? ²⁵ It is a snare for a man to to blaspheme that which is holy, and then to go aboute wyth vowes. ²⁶ A wyse kynge destroyeth the vngodly, & bringeth the whele ouer them. ²⁷ The lanterne of the Lord is the breath of man, and goeth thorow al the inward partes of the body. ²⁸ Mercy and faithfulnes preserue the kynge, and wyth louyng kyndnes his seate is holden vp. ²⁹ The strength of yong men is their worship, and a gray head, is an honour vnto the aged. ³⁰ Woundes dryue away euel, and so do strips the inward partes of the body.