Wycliffe - Sirach - 5

5:1  Nile thou take heed to wickid possessiouns, and seie thou not, Sufficient lijf is to me; for it schal no thing profite in the tyme of veniaunce, and of failynge, ether deth.

5:2  Sue thou not the coueitise of thin herte in thi strengthe,

5:3  and seie thou not, As Y myyte, ether who schal make me suget for my dedis? For whi God vengynge schal venge.

5:4  Seie thou not, Y haue synned, and what sorewful thing bifelle to me? For the hiyeste is a pacient yeldere.

5:5  Of the foryyuenesse of synnes, nyle thou be without drede, nether heepe thou synne on synne.

5:6  And seie thou not, The merciful doyng of God is greet; he schal haue merci on the multitude of my synnes.

5:7  For whi merci and ire neiyeth soone fro hym, and his ire biholdith on synneris.

5:8  Tarie thou not to be conuertid to the Lord, and dilaie thou not fro dai in to dai.

5:9  For whi his ire schal come sodeynli, and he schal leese thee in the time of veniaunce.

5:10  Nyle thou be angwischid in vniust richessis; for tho schulen not profite in the dai of failing, ether of deth, and of veniaunce.

5:11  Wyndewe thee not in to ech wynd, and go thou not in to ech weie; for so a synnere is preued in double tunge.

5:12  Be thou stidfast in the weie of the Lord, and in treuthe and kunnyng of thi wit; and the word of pees and riytfulnesse sue thee perfitli.

5:13  Be thou mylde to here the word of God, that thou vndurstonde, and with wisdom brynge thou forth a trewe answere.

5:14  If thou hast vndirstondyng, answere thi neiybore; ellis thin hond be on thi mouth, lest thou be takun in a word vnwiseli tauyt, and be aschamed.

5:15  Onour and glorie is in the word of a wijs man; but the tunge of an vnprudent man is his distriyng.

5:16  Be thou not clepid a preuy yuel spekere in thi lijf, and be thou not takun in thi tunge, and be aschamed.

5:17  Schame and penaunce is on a theef, and worst schenschip is on a man of double tunge. Forsothe hatrede and enemytee and dispisyng is to a preuy bacbitere.

5:18  Iustifie thou a litil man and a greet man in lijk maner.