Proverbs 11
1 A gileful balaunce is abhominacioun anentis God; and an euene weiyte is his wille.
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 Where pride is, there also dispising schal be; but where meeknesse is, there also is wisdom.
When pride comes, then comes shame, 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 shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Richessis schulen not profite in the dai of veniaunce; but riytfulnesse schal delyuere fro deth.
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers 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 will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his 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 shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 Whanne a wickid man is deed, noon hope schal be ferther; and abidyng of bisy men schal perische.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 A iust man is delyuered from angwisch; and a wickid man schal be youun for hym.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9 A feynere bi mouth disseyueth his freend; but iust men schulen be deliuered bi kunnyng.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbour, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 A citee schal be enhaunsid in the goodis of iust men; and preysyng schal be in the perdicioun of wickid men.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
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, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that dispisith his freend, is nedi in herte; but a prudent man schal be stille.
One who despises his neighbour is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 He that goith gilefuli, schewith priuetees; but he that is feithful, helith the priuetee of a freend.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
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, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counsellors there is victory.
15 He that makith feith for a straunger, schal be turmentid with yuel; but he that eschewith snaris, schal be sikur.
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 A graciouse womman schal fynde glorie; and stronge men schulen haue richessis.
A gracious woman obtains honour, but violent men obtain riches.
17 A merciful man doith wel to his soule; but he that is cruel, castith awei, yhe, kynnesmen.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 A wickid man makith vnstable werk; but feithful mede is to hym, that sowith riytfulnesse.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Merci schal make redi lijf; and the suyng of yuels `schal make redi deth.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 A schrewid herte is abhomynable to the Lord; and his wille is in hem, that goen symply.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those whose ways are blameless 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.
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
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 is only good. The expectation of the wicked is 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.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 A soule that blessith, schal be maad fat; and he that fillith, schal be fillid also.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 He that hidith wheete `in tyme, schal be cursid among the puplis; but blessyng schal come on the heed of silleris.
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him 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 diligently seeks good seeks favour, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
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 shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 He that disturblith his hows, schal haue wyndis in possessioun; and he that is a fool, schal serue a wijs man.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall 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. He who is wise wins souls.
31 If a iust man receyueth in erthe, how miche more an vnfeithful man, and synnere.
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
