< Proverbs 11 >

1 A gileful balaunce is abhominacioun anentis God; and an euene weiyte is his wille.
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
2 Where pride is, there also dispising schal be; but where meeknesse is, there also is wisdom.
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The simplenesse of iust men schal dresse hem; and the disseyuyng of weiward men schal destrie hem.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
4 Richessis schulen not profite in the dai of veniaunce; but riytfulnesse schal delyuere fro deth.
Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
5 The riytfulnesse of a simple man schal dresse his weie; and a wickid man schal falle in his wickidnesse.
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The riytfulnesse of riytful men schal delyuere hem; and wickid men schulen be takun in her aspiyngis.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
7 Whanne a wickid man is deed, noon hope schal be ferther; and abidyng of bisy men schal perische.
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
8 A iust man is delyuered from angwisch; and a wickid man schal be youun for hym.
The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
9 A feynere bi mouth disseyueth his freend; but iust men schulen be deliuered bi kunnyng.
With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
10 A citee schal be enhaunsid in the goodis of iust men; and preysyng schal be in the perdicioun of wickid men.
When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 A citee schal be enhaunsid bi blessing of iust men; and it schal be distried bi the mouth of wickid men.
By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He that dispisith his freend, is nedi in herte; but a prudent man schal be stille.
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 He that goith gilefuli, schewith priuetees; but he that is feithful, helith the priuetee of a freend.
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Where a gouernour is not, the puple schal falle; but helthe `of the puple is, where ben many counsels.
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
15 He that makith feith for a straunger, schal be turmentid with yuel; but he that eschewith snaris, schal be sikur.
He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
16 A graciouse womman schal fynde glorie; and stronge men schulen haue richessis.
A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 A merciful man doith wel to his soule; but he that is cruel, castith awei, yhe, kynnesmen.
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18 A wickid man makith vnstable werk; but feithful mede is to hym, that sowith riytfulnesse.
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Merci schal make redi lijf; and the suyng of yuels `schal make redi deth.
Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 A schrewid herte is abhomynable to the Lord; and his wille is in hem, that goen symply.
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21 Thouy hond be in the hond, an yuel man schal not be innocent; but the seed of iust men schal be sauyd.
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22 A goldun `sercle, ether ryng, in the `nose thrillis of a sowe, a womman fair and fool.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desir of iust men is al good; abiding of wickid men is woodnesse.
The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
24 Sum men departen her owne thingis, and ben maad richere; other men rauyschen thingis, that ben not hern, and ben euere in nedynesse.
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
25 A soule that blessith, schal be maad fat; and he that fillith, schal be fillid also.
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 He that hidith wheete `in tyme, schal be cursid among the puplis; but blessyng schal come on the heed of silleris.
The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
27 Wel he risith eerli, that sekith good thingis; but he that is a serchere of yuels, schal be oppressid of tho.
He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
28 He that tristith in hise richessis, schal falle; but iust men schulen buriowne as a greene leef.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
29 He that disturblith his hows, schal haue wyndis in possessioun; and he that is a fool, schal serue a wijs man.
He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruyt of a riytful man is the tre of lijf; and he that takith soulis, is a wijs man.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If a iust man receyueth in erthe, how miche more an vnfeithful man, and synnere.
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

< Proverbs 11 >