< Proverbs 28 >

1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
A wickid man fleeth, whanne no man pursueth; but a iust man as a lioun tristynge schal be with out ferdfulnesse.
2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by men of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.
For the synnes of the lond ben many princis therof; and for the wisdom of a man, and for the kunnyng of these thingis that ben seid, the lijf of the duyk schal be lengere.
3 A needy man that oppresseth the poor is [like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
A pore man falsli calengynge pore men, is lijk a grete reyn, wherynne hungur is maad redi.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Thei that forsaken the lawe, preisen a wickid man; thei that kepen `the lawe, ben kyndlid ayens hym.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
Wickid men thenken not doom; but thei that seken the Lord, perseyuen alle thingis.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in [his] ways, though he be rich.
Betere is a pore man goynge in his sympilnesse, than a riche man in schrewid weies.
7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of gluttonous men shameth his father.
He that kepith the lawe, is a wijs sone; but he that fedith glotouns, schendith his fadir.
8 He that augmenteth his substance by usury and increase, gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
He that gaderith togidere richessis bi vsuris, and fre encrees, gaderith tho togidere ayens pore men.
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
His preyer schal be maad cursid, that bowith awei his eere; that he here not the lawe.
10 Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the perfect shall inherit good.
He that disseyueth iust men in an yuel weye, schal falle in his perisching; and iuste men schulen welde hise goodis.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
A ryche man semeth wijs to him silf; but a pore man prudent schal serche him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
In enhaunsing of iust men is miche glorie; whanne wickid men regnen, fallyngis of men ben.
13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.
He that hidith hise grete trespassis, schal not be maad riytful; but he that knoulechith and forsakith tho, schal gete merci.
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Blessid is the man, which is euere dredeful; but he that is `harde of soule, schal falle in to yuel.
15 [As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; [so is] a wicked ruler over a poor people.
A rorynge lioun, and an hungry bere, is a wickid prince on a pore puple.
16 The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor: [but] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
A duyk nedi of prudence schal oppresse many men bi fals chalenge; but the daies of hym that hatith aueryce, schulen be maad longe.
17 A man that is laden with the blood of any person shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.
No man susteyneth a man that falsly chalengith the blood of a man, if he fleeth `til to the lake.
18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered: but he that is perverse in [his] ways shall fall at once.
He that goith simpli, schal be saaf; he that goith bi weiward weies, schal falle doun onys.
19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.
He that worchith his lond, schal be fillid with looues; he that sueth ydelnesse, schal be fillid with nedynesse.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
A feithful man schal be preisid myche; but he that hastith to be maad riche, schal not be innocent.
21 To have respect of persons is not good: neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.
He that knowith a face in doom, doith not wel; this man forsakith treuthe, yhe, for a mussel of breed.
22 He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, and knoweth not that want shall come upon him.
A man that hastith to be maad riche, and hath enuye to othere men; woot not that nedinesse schal come on hym.
23 He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
He that repreueth a man, schal fynde grace aftirward at hym; more than he that disseyueth bi flateryngis of tunge.
24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
He that withdrawith ony thing fro his fadir and fro his modir, and seith that this is no synne, is parcener of a manquellere.
25 He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
He that auauntith hym silf, and alargith, reisith stryues; but he that hopith in the Lord, schal be sauyd.
26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
He that tristith in his herte, is a fool; but he that goith wiseli,
27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
schal be preysid. He that yyueth to a pore man, schal not be nedi; he that dispisith `a pore man bisechynge, schal suffre nedynesse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
Whanne vnpitouse men risen, men schulen be hid; whanne tho `vnpitouse men han perischid, iust men schulen be multiplied.

< Proverbs 28 >