Chapter 20

20. There is a reproof that is not timely, and there is one that holds his tongue and is wise, and how good it is when you are reproved to shew repentance, for thereby shall you escape a willful fault; some man holds his tongue because he has no answer, and some man holds his tongue, knowing the time, for a wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity, but a babbler and a fool will regard no time, and he that uses many words shall be abhorred, and he that takes to himself authority therein shall be hated. There is an iniquity by reason of some that slip, and there is a man that swears and finds himself to be innocent, but there is a judge that cannot be saved, and there is a wicked man that hangs down his head sadly, but inwardly he is full of deceit, and another that humbles himself greatly and is full of craft, and a man may offend unknowingly and not be angry, though an ungodly man by an angry countenance does wickedly. One that is poor, if he have ability, is held in scorn, and a rich man, if he have little wit, is had in praise, and he that lies in wait for blood is despised, and an unworthy old man that is full of folly shall be greatly abhorred; there is that slips in his speech, but not from his heart, and who can cure him that would be his own master? Ask not counsel of him that observes the time, but rather of him that is upright in all things, for the ability of a man is according to his mind, and a fool will say, I have no friend. It is a shame for a rich man to lie, and most fitting for a poor man to tell the truth; an ungodly man is angry when he is reproved, but he that stands by will make a noise, and a gift is as a stone in the eyes of him that receives it, and whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth, but the talk of a fool is in the world, and his going is the way to destruction. There is a gift that shall not profit you, and there is a gift whose recompense is double; there is an honour that brings shame, and there is a shame that brings honour, and there is that humbles himself for envy, and there is that lifts up his head, and his face is full of sadness, and there is that buys much for a small price, and repays it sevenfold. There is a man that with a word may profit many, and there is one that by talking is undone, and there is that waxes rich by his wariness, and if he is despised when he has enough, he will turn himself again to his craft, but whoso is called a man of few words, he is wise.