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CHAPTER 20
1 There is false reproving in the ire of a man full of despising [or There is lying correction in (the) 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 [or How good (it) is to reprove], more than to be wroth, and to forbid not a man acknowledging in prayer.
3 The covetousness of a gelding hath defouled the maidenhood of a young woman, so (or is as) he that maketh wicked doom by violence. [The lust of the gelding deflowered the young woman, or (made her) bereft of her maidenhood, so he that doeth by force wicked doom.]
4 It is full good, that a man that is reproved, show openly penance; for so thou shalt escape willful sin. [How good (it) is, the chastised to show penance; so forsooth thou shalt flee away (from) willful sin.]
5 There is a still man, which is found wise; and he (that) is hateful, which is foolhardy to speak.
6 Soothly there is a still man, not having wit of speech; and there is a still man, knowing the season of coven-able, (or of suitable, or opportune) time.
7 A wise man shall be still till to (the right) time; but a jolly, [or reck-less, or wild] man and (an) unprudent man shall not keep time.
8 He that useth many words, hurteth his (own) soul; and he that taketh power to himself unjustly [or wrongfully], shall be hated.
9 There is going forth in evils to a man unlearned [or undisciplined]; and there is finding into (im)pairing [or into harm].
10 There is a gift, which is not profitable; 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 for (a) 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 up-braid many things; and the opening of his mouth is enflaming. Today a man lendeth, and tomorrow he asketh (for)[it](again); 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 he 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 (or on) 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 (or its) time.
21 There is a man, that is forbidden to do sin, for (or because of) poverty; and he shall (not) be pricked in his rest.
22 There is a man, that shall lose (or destroy) his (own) soul for shame; and for the unprudence of a person he shall lose it. Forsooth he shall lose (or destroy) himself for the taking (or the favouring) of a person.
23 There is a man, that for shame promiseth to a friend; and (then) he hath gotten [or won] him(self)(an) enemy without cause, [or willfully, (or willingly)].
24 Leasing (or Lying)is a wicked shame in a man; and it shall be cus-tomably [or busily] in the mouth of unlearned men [or the undisciplined].
25 Better, or less evil, is a thief than the customableness of a man, a leas-ing-monger, that is, a man accustomed to lying, [or a liar]; forsooth both they (or both of them) 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, shall be enhanced (or exalted). 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.)

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© 2001,2010,2011,2012,2013,2015 Terry Noble