Proverbs 11
1 A gileful balaunce is abhominacioun anentis God; and an euene weiyte is his wille.
Balances of deceit are an abomination of the Lord; but a full weight [obtaineth] his favor.
2 Where pride is, there also dispising schal be; but where meeknesse is, there also is wisdom.
When pride cometh, then cometh disgrace; but with the modest there is wisdom.
3 The simplenesse of iust men schal dresse hem; and the disseyuyng of weiward men schal destrie hem.
The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the cunning of the treacherous destroyeth them.
4 Richessis schulen not profite in the dai of veniaunce; but riytfulnesse schal delyuere fro deth.
Wealth cannot profit on the day of wrath; but righteousness deliver 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 perfect maketh even his way; but by his own wickedness will the wicked fall.
6 The riytfulnesse of riytful men schal delyuere hem; and wickid men schulen be takun in her aspiyngis.
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them; but through their own sinful desires are the treacherous caught.
7 Whanne a wickid man is deed, noon hope schal be ferther; and abidyng of bisy men schal perische.
When a wicked man dieth, [his] hope vanisheth; and the expectation of his children is lost.
8 A iust man is delyuered from angwisch; and a wickid man schal be youun for hym.
The righteous is delivered out of distress, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 A feynere bi mouth disseyueth his freend; but iust men schulen be deliuered bi kunnyng.
With his mouth doth the hypocrite destroy his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
10 A citee schal be enhaunsid in the goodis of iust men; and preysyng schal be in the perdicioun of wickid men.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the town rejoiceth loudly: and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 A citee schal be enhaunsid bi blessing of iust men; and it schal be distried bi the mouth of wickid men.
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but through the mouth of the wicked it is pulled down.
12 He that dispisith his freend, is nedi in herte; but a prudent man schal be stille.
He that despiseth his neighbor is void of sense; but a man of understanding maintaineth silence.
13 He that goith gilefuli, schewith priuetees; but he that is feithful, helith the priuetee of a freend.
He that walketh about as talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where a gouernour is not, the puple schal falle; but helthe `of the puple is, where ben many counsels.
Where there is no wise guidance, a people must fall: but [it will obtain] help through the multitude of counsellors.
15 He that makith feith for a straunger, schal be turmentid with yuel; but he that eschewith snaris, schal be sikur.
With evil will he be overwhelmed that is surety for a stranger: but he that hateth giving the hand as pledge is safe.
16 A graciouse womman schal fynde glorie; and stronge men schulen haue richessis.
A woman endowed with grace will surely obtain honor; and the powerful will obtain riches.
17 A merciful man doith wel to his soule; but he that is cruel, castith awei, yhe, kynnesmen.
The man of kindness doth good to his own soul; but he that troubleth his own flesh is cruel.
18 A wickid man makith vnstable werk; but feithful mede is to hym, that sowith riytfulnesse.
The wicked practiseth a work of falsehood; but he that soweth righteousness [obtaineth] the reward of truth.
19 Merci schal make redi lijf; and the suyng of yuels `schal make redi deth.
He who is firm in righteousness attaineth to life: and he that pursueth evil [doth it] to his own death.
20 A schrewid herte is abhomynable to the Lord; and his wille is in hem, that goen symply.
An abomination of the Lord are those of a perverse heart; but his favor is for those who are unblemished in their way.
21 Thouy hond be in the hond, an yuel man schal not be innocent; but the seed of iust men schal be sauyd.
The hand [of God] being against [his] hand, the bad man shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
22 A goldun `sercle, ether ryng, in the `nose thrillis of a sowe, a womman fair and fool.
As a golden ring in a swine's snout, so is a handsome woman that hath thrown off discretion.
23 The desir of iust men is al good; abiding of wickid men is woodnesse.
The desire of the righteous is only good: but the hope of the wicked is the wrath [of God].
24 Sum men departen her owne thingis, and ben maad richere; other men rauyschen thingis, that ben not hern, and ben euere in nedynesse.
There is a man that scattereth gifts, and yet his wealth is increased: and there is one that withholdeth more than is proper, and still cometh only to want.
25 A soule that blessith, schal be maad fat; and he that fillith, schal be fillid also.
A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified; and he that refresheth [others] will be also refreshed himself.
26 He that hidith wheete `in tyme, schal be cursid among the puplis; but blessyng schal come on the heed of silleris.
Him that withholdeth corn, the people will denounce; but blessing will be heaped upon the head of the one that selleth it.
27 Wel he risith eerli, that sekith good thingis; but he that is a serchere of yuels, schal be oppressid of tho.
He that diligently searcheth after good seeketh favor; but if one inquireth after evil, it will come unto him.
28 He that tristith in hise richessis, schal falle; but iust men schulen buriowne as a greene leef.
He that trusteth in his riches will surely fall; but the righteous shall grow like the leaves [of a tree].
29 He that disturblith his hows, schal haue wyndis in possessioun; and he that is a fool, schal serue a wijs man.
He that troubleth his own house will inherit the wind; and the fool will become the 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 of the tree of life, and the wise draweth souls to himself.
31 If a iust man receyueth in erthe, how miche more an vnfeithful man, and synnere.
Behold, the righteous is recompensed on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner.
