Proverbs 28
1 The impious flees, though no one pursues. But the just, like a confident lion, shall be without dread.
A wickid man fleeth, whanne no man pursueth; but a iust man as a lioun tristynge schal be with out ferdfulnesse.
2 Because of the sins of the land, it has many princes. And because of the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the leader 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 poor man slandering the poor is like a violent rainstorm in advance of a famine.
A pore man falsli calengynge pore men, is lijk a grete reyn, wherynne hungur is maad redi.
4 Those who abandon the law praise the impious. Those who guard it are inflamed against him.
Thei that forsaken the lawe, preisen a wickid man; thei that kepen `the lawe, ben kyndlid ayens hym.
5 Evil men do not intend judgment. But those who inquire after the Lord turn their souls toward all things.
Wickid men thenken not doom; but thei that seken the Lord, perseyuen alle thingis.
6 Better is the pauper walking in his simplicity, than the rich walking in ways of depravity.
Betere is a pore man goynge in his sympilnesse, than a riche man in schrewid weies.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son. But whoever feeds gluttons brings shame to his father.
He that kepith the lawe, is a wijs sone; but he that fedith glotouns, schendith his fadir.
8 Whoever piles up riches by usury and profit gathers them for him who will give freely to the poor.
He that gaderith togidere richessis bi vsuris, and fre encrees, gaderith tho togidere ayens pore men.
9 Whoever turns away his ears from listening to the law: his prayer will be detestable.
His preyer schal be maad cursid, that bowith awei his eere; that he here not the lawe.
10 Whoever deceives the just in a malicious way will fall into his own perdition. And the simple shall possess his goods.
He that disseyueth iust men in an yuel weye, schal falle in his perisching; and iuste men schulen welde hise goodis.
11 The rich one seems wise to himself. But the poor one, being prudent, shall evaluate him.
A ryche man semeth wijs to him silf; but a pore man prudent schal serche him.
12 In the exultation of the just, there is great glory. When the impious reign, men are brought to ruin.
In enhaunsing of iust men is miche glorie; whanne wickid men regnen, fallyngis of men ben.
13 Whoever hides his crimes will not be guided. But whoever will have confessed and abandoned them shall overtake mercy.
He that hidith hise grete trespassis, schal not be maad riytful; but he that knoulechith and forsakith tho, schal gete merci.
14 Blessed is the man who is ever fearful. Yet truly, whoever is hardened in mind will fall into evil.
Blessid is the man, which is euere dredeful; but he that is `harde of soule, schal falle in to yuel.
15 An impious leader over a poor people is like a roaring lion and a hungry bear.
A rorynge lioun, and an hungry bere, is a wickid prince on a pore puple.
16 A leader destitute of prudence will oppress many through false accusations. But whoever hates avarice 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 who slanders the blood of a life, even if he flees to the pit, no one will tolerate him.
No man susteyneth a man that falsly chalengith the blood of a man, if he fleeth `til to the lake.
18 Whoever walks simply shall be saved. Whoever is perverse in his steps will fall all at once.
He that goith simpli, schal be saaf; he that goith bi weiward weies, schal falle doun onys.
19 Whoever works his land shall be satisfied with bread. But whoever pursues leisure will be filled with need.
He that worchith his lond, schal be fillid with looues; he that sueth ydelnesse, schal be fillid with nedynesse.
20 A faithful man shall be greatly praised. But whoever rushes to become rich will not be innocent.
A feithful man schal be preisid myche; but he that hastith to be maad riche, schal not be innocent.
21 Whoever shows favoritism in judgment does not do well; even if it is for a morsel of bread, he forsakes the truth.
He that knowith a face in doom, doith not wel; this man forsakith treuthe, yhe, for a mussel of breed.
22 A man who hurries to become rich, and who envies others, does not know that destitution will overwhelm him.
A man that hastith to be maad riche, and hath enuye to othere men; woot not that nedinesse schal come on hym.
23 Whoever corrects a man, afterward he shall find favor with him, more so than he who deceives him with a flattering tongue.
He that repreueth a man, schal fynde grace aftirward at hym; more than he that disseyueth bi flateryngis of tunge.
24 Whoever takes away anything from his father or mother, and who says, “This is not a sin,” is the associate of a murderer.
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 Whoever boasts and enlarges himself stirs up conflicts. Yet truly, whoever trusts in the Lord will be healed.
He that auauntith hym silf, and alargith, reisith stryues; but he that hopith in the Lord, schal be sauyd.
26 Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool. But whoever treads wisely, the same shall be saved.
He that tristith in his herte, is a fool; but he that goith wiseli,
27 Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity.
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 impious rise up, men will hide themselves. When they perish, the just shall be multiplied.
Whanne vnpitouse men risen, men schulen be hid; whanne tho `vnpitouse men han perischid, iust men schulen be multiplied.
