Ecclesiastes 3

¹ and leesith his mentil in the dai of coold. Vynegre in a vessel of salt is he, that singith songis to the worste herte. As a mouyte noieth a cloth, and a worm noieth a tree, so the sorewe of a man noieth the herte. ² If thin enemy hungrith, feede thou him; if he thirstith, yyue thou watir to hym to drinke; ³ for thou schalt gadere togidere coolis on his heed; and the Lord schal yelde to thee. ⁴ The north wind scatereth reynes; and a sorewful face distrieth a tunge bacbitinge. ⁵ It is betere to sitte in the corner of an hous without roof, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and in a comyn hous. ⁶ Coold watir to a thirsti man; and a good messanger fro a fer lond. ⁷ A welle disturblid with foot, and a veyne brokun, a iust man fallinge bifore a wickid man. ⁸ As it is not good to hym that etith myche hony; so he that is a serchere of maieste, schal be put doun fro glorie. ⁹ As a citee opyn, and with out cumpas of wallis; so is a man that mai not refreyne his spirit in speking. ¹¹ As snow in somer, and reyn in heruest; so glorie is vnsemeli to a fool. ¹² For whi as a brid fliynge ouer to hiy thingis, and a sparowe goynge in to vncerteyn; so cursing brouyt forth with out resonable cause schal come aboue in to sum man. ¹³ Beting to an hors, and a bernacle to an asse; and a yerde in the bak of vnprudent men. ¹⁴ Answere thou not to a fool bi his foli, lest thou be maad lijk hym. ¹⁵ Answere thou a fool bi his fooli, lest he seme to him silf to be wijs. ¹⁶ An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger. ¹⁷ As an haltinge man hath faire leggis in veyn; so a parable is vnsemeli in the mouth of foolis. ¹⁸ As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man. ¹⁹ As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis. ²⁰ Doom determyneth causis; and he that settith silence to a fool, swagith iris. ²¹ As a dogge that turneth ayen to his spuyng; so is an vnprudent man, that rehersith his fooli. ²² Thou hast seyn a man seme wijs to hym silf; an vnkunnyng man schal haue hope more than he.