Ecclesiastes 8

¹ If a wijs man stryueth with a fool; whether he be wrooth, `ether he leiyith, he schal not fynde reste. ² Menquelleris haten a simple man; but iust men seken his soule. ³ A fool bringith forth al his spirit; a wise man dilaieth, and reserueth in to tyme comynge afterward. ⁴ A prince that herith wilfuli the wordis of a leesyng; schal haue alle mynystris vnfeithful. ⁵ A pore man and a leenere metten hem silf; the Lord is liytnere of euer ethir. ⁶ If a kyng demeth pore men in treuthe; his trone schal be maad stidfast with outen ende. ⁷ A yerde and chastisyng schal yyue wisdom; but a child, which is left to his wille, schendith his modir. ⁸ Grete trespassis schulen be multiplied in the multipliyng of wickid men; and iust men schulen se the fallyngis of hem. ⁹ Teche thi sone, and he schal coumforte thee; and he schal yyue delicis to thi soule. ¹⁰ Whanne prophesie faylith, the puple schal be distried; but he that kepith the lawe, is blessid. ¹¹ A seruaunt mai not be tauyt bi wordis; for he vndirstondith that that thou seist, and dispisith for to answere. ¹² Thou hast seyn a man swift to speke; foli schal be hopid more than his amendyng. ¹³ He that nurschith his seruaunt delicatli fro childhod; schal fynde hym rebel aftirward. ¹⁴ A wrathful man territh chidingis; and he that is liyt to haue indignacioun, schal be more enclynaunt to synnes. ¹⁵ Lownesse sueth a proude man; and glorie schal vp take a meke man of spirit. ¹⁶ He that takith part with a theef, hatith his soule; he herith a man chargynge greetli, and schewith not. ¹⁷ He that dredith a man, schal falle soon; he that hopith in the Lord, shal be reisid.