Proverbs 10
Wycliffe's Bible
1The parables of Solomon. A wise son maketh glad his father; but a fond son is the sorrow of his mother. (The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh his father happy; but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.)

2Treasures of wickedness shall not profit; but rightfulness shall deliver from death. (Treasures gotten by wickedness shall not profit thee; but uprightness shall deliver thee from death.)

3The Lord shall not torment the soul of a just man with hunger; and he shall destroy the treasons of unpious men. (The Lord shall not torment the righteous with hunger; but he shall destroy the desires of the wicked.)

4A slow hand hath wrought neediness; but the hand of strong men maketh ready riches. Forsooth he that enforceth to get anything by leasings, feedeth the winds; soothly the same man followeth birds flying. (Lazy hands create neediness; but strong hands create riches. He who endeavoureth to get anything by lying, feedeth the wind; yea, that person runneth after birds in flight.)

5He that gathereth together in harvest, is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in summer, is a son of confusion. (He who gathereth together at harvest time, is wise; but he who sleepeth in summer, is a disgrace.)

6The blessing of God is over the head of a just man; but wickedness covereth the mouth of wicked men. (The blessing of God is upon the heads of the righteous; but wickedness covereth the mouths of the wicked.)

7The mind of a just man shall be with praisings; and the name of wicked men shall wax rotten. (The righteous shall be remembered with praise/The memory of the righteous is blessed; but the names of the wicked shall grow rotten.)

8A wise man shall receive commandments with heart (A wise person shall take commandments to heart); a fool is beaten with (his own) lips.

9He that goeth simply, goeth trustily; but he that maketh shrewd his ways, shall be [made] open. (He who goeth with honesty, or with integrity, goeth with security; but he who maketh his ways depraved, shall be exposed.)

10He that beckoneth with the eye, shall give sorrow; a fool shall be beaten with (his own) lips.

11The vein of life is the mouth of a just man; but the mouth of wicked men covereth wickedness. (The words of the righteous be a fountain of life; but wickedness covereth the mouths of the wicked.)

12Hatred raiseth up chidings; and charity covereth all sins. (Hatred raiseth up arguments, or strife; but love covereth all sins.)

13Wisdom is found in the lips of a wise man; and a rod in the back of him that is needy of heart. (Wisdom is found on the lips of the wise; and a rod on the back of him who is foolish.)

14Wise men hide knowing (The wise store up knowledge); but the mouth of a fool is next to confusion.

15The chattel of a rich man is the city of his strength; the dread of poor men is the neediness of them. (The substance of a rich man is his strong city; the fear of the poor is their own neediness.)

16The work of a just man is to life; but the fruit of a wicked man is to sin. (The work of a good person serveth unto life; but the fruit of the wicked is sin.)

17The way of life is to him that keepeth chastising; but he that forsaketh blamings, erreth. (The way of life is for him who receiveth discipline; but he who forsaketh rebukes, erreth.)

18False lips hide hatred; he that bringeth forth despising is unwise.

19Sin shall not fail in much speaking; but he that measureth his lips, is most prudent. (Sin shall abound with much speaking; but he who ruleth his lips, is most prudent.)

20Chosen silver is the tongue of a just man; the heart of wicked men is for nought. (Like chosen silver is the tongue of a righteous person; but the hearts of the wicked be worth nothing.)

21The lips of a just man teach full many men; but they that be unlearned shall die in neediness of heart. (The lips of the righteous teach a great many people; but they who be ignorant, shall die without any understanding.)

22The blessing of the Lord maketh rich men (The blessing of the Lord maketh people rich); and torment shall not be fellowshipped to them.

23A fool worketh wickedness as by laughing; but wisdom is prudence to a man/but prudence is to a wise man. (A fool worketh wickedness with laughter; but wisdom is a delight to those with understanding.)

24That that a wicked man dreadeth, shall come [up]on him; the desire of just men shall be given to them. (That which the wicked fear, shall come upon them; and the desire of the righteous shall be given to them.)

25As a tempest passing, a wicked man shall not be; but a just man shall be as an everlasting foundament. (Like a tempest passing by, a wicked person shall soon not be; but the foundations of the righteous be everlasting.)

26As vinegar harmeth the teeth, and smoke harmeth the eyes; so a slow man harmeth them that sent him in the way. (Like vinegar harmeth the teeth, and smoke harmeth the eyes; so a lazy man harmeth those who sent him on the way.)

27The dread of the Lord increaseth days; and the years of wicked men shall be made short. (The fear of the Lord/Reverence for the Lord increaseth days; and the years of the wicked shall be made short.)

28Abiding of just men is gladness; but the hope of wicked men shall perish. (Hopeful waiting by the righteous shall lead to gladness; but all the hopes of the wicked shall perish.)

29The strength of a simple man is the way of the Lord; and dread to them that work evil. (The way of the Lord giveth strength to an honest person; but fear to those who work evil.)

30A just man shall not be moved [into] without end; but wicked men shall not dwell on the earth. (The righteous shall not be moved forever; but the wicked shall not remain on the earth, or in the land.)

31The mouth of a just man shall bring forth wisdom; the tongue of shrews shall perish. (The mouths of the righteous shall bring forth wisdom; and the tongues of the depraved shall be stopped.)

32The lips of a just man behold pleasant things; and the mouth of wicked men beholdeth wayward things. (The lips of the righteous always know what is kind, or pleasant, to say; but the mouths of the wicked speak forth only hurtful things.)

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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