< Proverbs 28 >

1 The wicked run away even when no one is chasing them, but the good have the trusting boldness of lions.
A wickid man fleeth, whanne no man pursueth; but a iust man as a lioun tristynge schal be with out ferdfulnesse.
2 When a country is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but a ruler who is wise and knowledgeable provides strength and continuity.
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 When someone poor oppresses the poor, it's like heavy rain that beats down the crops.
A pore man falsli calengynge pore men, is lijk a grete reyn, wherynne hungur is maad redi.
4 People who reject the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law fight against them.
Thei that forsaken the lawe, preisen a wickid man; thei that kepen `the lawe, ben kyndlid ayens hym.
5 Evil people understand nothing about justice, but those who follow the Lord understand it completely.
Wickid men thenken not doom; but thei that seken the Lord, perseyuen alle thingis.
6 Better to be poor and have integrity than to be devious and rich.
Betere is a pore man goynge in his sympilnesse, than a riche man in schrewid weies.
7 If you keep the law, you're a wise son, but if you keep bad company you shame your father.
He that kepith the lawe, is a wijs sone; but he that fedith glotouns, schendith his fadir.
8 Anyone who gets rich through charging interest and profiteering is only storing it up for someone who is kind to the poor.
He that gaderith togidere richessis bi vsuris, and fre encrees, gaderith tho togidere ayens pore men.
9 God hates the prayers of people who disregard the law.
His preyer schal be maad cursid, that bowith awei his eere; that he here not the lawe.
10 Those who lead good people astray into evil ways will fall into their own traps, but the innocent will receive a good reward.
He that disseyueth iust men in an yuel weye, schal falle in his perisching; and iuste men schulen welde hise goodis.
11 The rich see themselves as wise, but poor people with insight see right through them.
A ryche man semeth wijs to him silf; but a pore man prudent schal serche him.
12 When good people win, everyone celebrates, but when the wicked come to power, people hide.
In enhaunsing of iust men is miche glorie; whanne wickid men regnen, fallyngis of men ben.
13 People who hide their sins won't succeed, but those who confess and renounce their sins will be shown kindness.
He that hidith hise grete trespassis, schal not be maad riytful; but he that knoulechith and forsakith tho, schal gete merci.
14 Blessed are those who always respect the Lord, but those who are stubborn end up in a lot of trouble.
Blessid is the man, which is euere dredeful; but he that is `harde of soule, schal falle in to yuel.
15 A wicked ruler lording it over poor people is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.
A rorynge lioun, and an hungry bere, is a wickid prince on a pore puple.
16 An unwise ruler thoroughly extorts his people, but one who refuses to profit illegally will live long.
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 Someone guilty of murder will go on running away from it until they die. Don't try and stop them.
No man susteyneth a man that falsly chalengith the blood of a man, if he fleeth `til to the lake.
18 If you have integrity, you'll be kept safe, but if you live deviously, you'll fall.
He that goith simpli, schal be saaf; he that goith bi weiward weies, schal falle doun onys.
19 If you cultivate the land you'll have plenty of food, but if you chase fantasies you'll end up with nothing.
He that worchith his lond, schal be fillid with looues; he that sueth ydelnesse, schal be fillid with nedynesse.
20 If you're trustworthy, you'll be richly rewarded; but if you try to get rich quick, you won't go unpunished.
A feithful man schal be preisid myche; but he that hastith to be maad riche, schal not be innocent.
21 Showing favoritism isn't good, but some people will do wrong just 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 Envious people are in a rush to get rich; they don't realize they'll end up poor.
A man that hastith to be maad riche, and hath enuye to othere men; woot not that nedinesse schal come on hym.
23 Honest criticism is appreciated later far more than flattery.
He that repreueth a man, schal fynde grace aftirward at hym; more than he that disseyueth bi flateryngis of tunge.
24 A man who robs his father and mother, and says, “It's not a crime,” is one step away from becoming 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 Greedy people stir up trouble, but those who trust in the Lord will be successful.
He that auauntith hym silf, and alargith, reisith stryues; but he that hopith in the Lord, schal be sauyd.
26 People who trust their own minds are foolish, but those who follow wise ways will be kept safe.
He that tristith in his herte, is a fool; but he that goith wiseli,
27 If you give to the poor, you won't be in need; but if you look the other way, you'll have many curses.
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 come to power, people hide; but when they fall, the good do well.
Whanne vnpitouse men risen, men schulen be hid; whanne tho `vnpitouse men han perischid, iust men schulen be multiplied.

< Proverbs 28 >