Proverbs 26:1-19 ▼

1 Like as snowe is not mete in sommer, ner rayne in haruest: euen so is worshipe vnsemely for a foole.

2 Like as ye byrde and the swalowe take their flight and fle here and there, so the curse that is geuen in vayne, shal not light vpon a man.

3 Vnto the horse belongeth a whyppe, to the Asse a brydle, and a rodde to the fooles backe.

4 Geue not the foole an answere after his foolishnesse, lest thou become like vnto him:

5 but make ye foole an answere to his foolishnesse, lest he be wyse in his owne coceate.

6 He is lame of his fete, yee droncken is he in vanite, that comitteth eny thinge to a foole.

7 Like as it is an vnsemely thige to haue legges & yet to halte, eue so is a parable in ye fooles mouth.

8 He yt setteth a foole in hye dignite, yt is eue as yf a man dyd cast a precious stone vpo ye galous.

9 A parable in a fooles mouth, is like a thorne yt pricketh a droncken man in ye hande.

10 A man of experience discerneth all thinges well, but whoso hyreth a foole, hyreth soch one as wyl take no hede.

11 Like as the dogg turneth agayne to his vomite, euen so a foole begynneth his foolishnesse agayne afresh.

12 Yf thou seyest a man yt is wyse in his owne conceate, there is more hope in a foole then in hi.

13 The slouthfull sayeth: there is a leoparde in ye waye, and a lyon in ye myddest of the stretes.

14 Like as the dore turneth aboute vpon the tresholde, euen so doth the slouthfull welter himself in his bedd.

15 The slouthfull body thrusteth his hode in to his bosome, and it greueth him to put it agayne to his mouth.

16 The slogarde thinketh him self wyser, then vij. men that sytt and teach.

17 Who so goeth by and medleth with other mens strife, he is like one yt taketh a dogg by ye eares.

18 Like as one shuteth deadly arowes and dartes out of a preuy place, euen so doth a dyssembler with his neghboure,

19 And then sayeth he: I dyd it but in sporte.