The Book of Chess

And thus a path original: "banne"; can refer to a path, a proclamation, or a state of being set apart.
of the origin of wickedness boßheit
was given into the hands of two,
and therein one should notice
how backbiting hinder rede original: "hinder rede"; literally "behind-talk," referring to slander or speaking ill of someone behind their back. exists in those two sins.
Between evil and good,
so it is in my mind—
note that I have read it—
rare things may also fall into decay.
The distorters vskerer original: "vskerer"; those who "turn things out" or twist the meaning of words and actions. cannot let things be
until they have found some perceived wrong.
If any purity has occurred,
they bring [a report of] it out in a short time;
but before the truth is even manifest,
they spread their rumors far and wide.
Whatever good anyone does,
they will not allow it to be called good,
or they speak of it in such a way
as to suggest it was done with evil intent.
By this pit, one should recognize
that evil people are nearby.
I can see how they lurk,
those who, day and night,
watch those who live in goodness,
so that they might [ruin] their good works
through anger and by quenching them,
making the light of their good deeds a dim lamp
while making the light of evil burn bright.
If they see a story of someone’s goodness,
it is like death to them.
Their heart is so impure
that whatever they hear or see,
they twist and rake it into something evil.

If they see someone living a joyful, beautiful life,
then they are quick to spread the word
that he is entirely dissolute.
But if there is someone [devout] nearby,
they call that person a hypocrite.
Thus they find a tale
for everything that anyone does.
If one has a diligent mind,
they say that he is a fool
who lives long in poverty.
They say he is full of pride hoffart
if a man has his fill of food or clothing;
they say immediately that he is a glutton froß.
If one holds fast to what is right and law-abiding,
they say that he is ignoble vnhedelich.
If he lives with patience,
they say he only does so out of fear.
If he is peaceful and cautious,
then they call him a miser gyssen.
If one is inclined toward the
spiritual, they call him a "sanctimonious beggar" original: "nöttig god"; likely a derogatory term for someone who acts piously but is seen as a nuisance or a fake..
If one practices true generosity,
then they call him a spendthrift.
If someone, out of devotion,
stays awake in his prayers,
[they say] he has completely lost his way
and claim he wishes to ruin himself.
If anyone offers a honest rebuke,
it does not seem good to them;
[they think] he only does it out of a foul mood.
If he is old, and preaches...