CHAPTER 20
1 There is false reproving in the ire of a man full of despising [or There is lying correction in wrath of the wrongful]; and there is doom which is not proved to be good; and there is a still man, and he is prudent.
2 It is full good to reprove, more than to be wroth, and to forbid not a man acknowledging in prayer.
3 The covetousness [or lust] of a gelding hath defouled [or deflowered] the maidenhood of a young woman, so he that maketh wicked doom by violence [or so he that doeth by force wicked doom].
4 It is full good, that a man that is reproved, show openly penance [or How good it is, the chastised to show penance]; for so thou shalt escape willful sin.
5 There is a still man, which is found wise; and he that is hateful, which is fool-hardy [or greedy] to speak.
6 Soothly there is a still man, not having wit of speech; and there is a still man, knowing the season of covenable time.
7 A wise man shall be still till to the right time; but a jolly man [or the reckless, or wild] and an unprudent man shall not keep time.
8 He that useth many words, hurteth his soul; and he that taketh power to himself unjustly [or wrong-fully], shall be hated.
9 There is going forth in evils to a man unlearned [or undisciplined]; and there is finding into impairing [or into harm].
10 There is a gift, which is not profit-able; and there is a gift, whose yielding is double.
11 There is making less for glory; and there is a man, which shall raise the head from meekness.
12 There is a man, that again-buyeth many sins[or things] for little price, and restoreth those [or them] in sevenfold.
13 A wise man in words maketh himself amiable [or lovable]; but the graces of fools shall be shed [or poured] out.
14 The gift of an unwise man shall not be profitable to thee; for his eyes be sevenfold, that is, his intent is manyfold and diverse.
15 He shall give little things [or Few things he shall give], and he shall upbraid many things; and the opening of his mouth is enflaming. Today a man lendeth, and tomorrow he asketh for[it]; and such a man is hateful.
16 A friend shall not be to a fool, and grace shall not be to his goods. For they that eat his bread, be of false tongue, that is, flatterers praising his follies;
17 how often, and how many men shall scorn him? For he parteth [or dealed] not by even wit that, that was worthy to be had; in like manner and that, that was not worthy to be had.
18 The falling [or sliding] of a false tongue is as he that falleth in the pavement; so the falls of evil men shall come hastily.
19 A man without grace is as a vain fable; and it shall be customable in the mouth of unlearned men. [An unkind man as a vain fable; and it shall be often in the mouth of the undisciplined.]
20 A parable, that is, a true sentence and great, shall be reproved when it cometh out of the mouth of a fool; for he saith not it [or he saith it not] in his time.
21 There is a man, that is forbidden to do sin, for poverty; and he shall not be pricked in his rest.
22 There is a man, that shall lose his soul for shame; and for the un-prudence of a person he shall lose it. Forsooth he shall lose himself for the taking or favouring of a person.
23 There is a man, that for shame promiseth to a friend; and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause.
24 Leasing is a wicked shame in a man; and it shall be customably [or busily] in the mouth of unlearned men [or the undisciplined].
25 Better, that is, less evil, is a thief than the customableness of a man, a leasing-monger [or a liar]; forsooth both they shall inherit perdition.
26 The manners of men leasing-mongers [or liars]be without honour; and their shame is with them without ceasing.
27 A wise man in words shall bring forth himself; and a prudent man shall please great men.
28 He that worketh his land, shall make high the heap of fruits; and he that worketh rightfulness [or right-wiseness], shall be enhanced. Soothly he that pleaseth great men, shall escape wickedness.
29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges; and as one dumb in the mouth it [or he] turneth away the chastisings of them.
30 Wisdom hid, and treasure unseen, what profit is in ever either?
31 He is better, that hideth his unwisdom, than a man that hideth his wisdom.
32 (This verse is omitted in the original text.)