Ecclesiastes 4

¹ As a dore is turned in his hengis; so a slow man in his bed. ² A slow man hidith hise hondis vndur his armpit; and he trauelith, if he turneth tho to his mouth. ³ A slow man semeth wysere to hym silf, than seuene men spekynge sentensis. ⁴ As he that takith a dogge bi the eeris; so he that passith, and is vnpacient, and is meddlid with the chiding of anothir man. ⁵ As he is gilti, that sendith speris and arowis in to deth; ⁶ so a man that anoieth gilefuli his frend, and whanne he is takun, he schal seie, Y dide pleiynge. ⁷ Whanne trees failen, the fier schal be quenchid; and whanne a priuy bacbitere is withdrawun, stryues resten. ⁸ As deed coolis at quic coolis, and trees at the fier; so a wrathful man reisith chidyngis. ⁹ The wordis of a pryuei bacbitere ben as symple; and tho comen til to the ynneste thingis of the herte. ¹⁰ As if thou wolt ourne a vessel of erthe with foul siluer; so ben bolnynge lippis felouschipid with the werste herte. 11 An enemy is vndirstondun bi hise lippis, whanne he tretith giles in the herte. 12 Whanne he makith low his vois, bileue thou not to hym; for seuene wickidnessis ben in his herte. ¹³ The malice of hym that hilith hatrede gilefuli, schal be schewid in a counsel. ¹⁴ He that delueth a diche, schal falle in to it; and if a man walewith a stoon, it schal turne ayen to hym. ¹⁵ A fals tunge loueth not treuth; and a slidir mouth worchith fallyngis.