Ecclesiastes 1

¹ The thouyte of a fool is synne; and a bacbitere is abhomynacioun of men. ² If thou that hast slide, dispeirist in the dai of angwisch, thi strengthe schal be maad lesse. ³ Delyuere thou hem, that ben led to deth; and ceesse thou not to delyuere hem, that ben drawun to deth. ⁴ If thou seist, Strengthis suffisen not; he that is biholdere of the herte, vndirstondith, and no thing disseyueth the kepere of thi soule, and he schal yelde to a man bi hise werkis. ⁵ Mi sone, ete thou hony, for it is good; and an honycomb ful swete to thi throte. ⁶ So and the techyng of wisdom is good to thi soule; and whanne thou hast founde it, thou schalt haue hope in the laste thingis, and thin hope schal not perische. 7 Aspie thou not, and seke not wickidnesse in the hous of a iust man, nether waste thou his reste. 8 For a iust man schal falle seuene sithis in the dai, and schal rise ayen; but wickid men schulen falle in to yuele. 9 Whanne thin enemye fallith, haue thou not ioye; and thin herte haue not ful out ioiyng in his fal; 10 lest perauenture the Lord se, and it displese hym, and he take awei his ire fro hym. 11 Stryue thou not with the worste men, nether sue thou wickid men. ¹² For whi yuele men han not hope of thingis to comynge, and the lanterne of wickid men schal be quenchid. ¹³ My sone, drede thou God, and the kyng; and be thou not medlid with bacbiteris. ¹⁴ For her perdicioun schal rise togidere sudenli, and who knowith the fal of euer either? ¹⁵ Also these thingis that suen ben to wise men. It is not good to knowe a persoone in doom. ¹⁶ Puplis schulen curse hem, that seien to a wickid man, Thou art iust; and lynagis schulen holde hem abhomynable. ¹⁷ Thei that repreuen iustli synners, schulen be preisid; and blessing schal come on hem. ¹⁸ He that answerith riytful wordis, schal kisse lippis.