Proverbs 28

¹A wickid man fleeth, whanne no man pursueth; but a iust man as a lioun tristynge schal be with out ferdfulnesse.

²For 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.

³A pore man falsli calengynge pore men, is lijk a grete reyn, wherynne hungur is maad redi.

⁴Thei that forsaken the lawe, preisen a wickid man; thei that kepen `the lawe, ben kyndlid ayens hym.

⁵Wickid men thenken not doom; but thei that seken the Lord, perseyuen alle thingis.

⁶Betere is a pore man goynge in his sympilnesse, than a riche man in schrewid weies.

⁷He that kepith the lawe, is a wijs sone; but he that fedith glotouns, schendith his fadir.

⁸He that gaderith togidere richessis bi vsuris, and fre encrees, gaderith tho togidere ayens pore men.

⁹His preyer schal be maad cursid, that bowith awei his eere; that he here not the lawe.

¹⁰He that disseyueth iust men in an yuel weye, schal falle in his perisching; and iuste men schulen welde hise goodis.

¹¹A ryche man semeth wijs to him silf; but a pore man prudent schal serche him.

¹²In enhaunsing of iust men is miche glorie; whanne wickid men regnen, fallyngis of men ben.

¹³He that hidith hise grete trespassis, schal not be maad riytful; but he that knoulechith and forsakith tho, schal gete merci.

¹⁴Blessid is the man, which is euere dredeful; but he that is `harde of soule, schal falle in to yuel.

¹⁵A rorynge lioun, and an hungry bere, is a wickid prince on a pore puple.

¹⁶A duyk nedi of prudence schal oppresse many men bi fals chalenge; but the daies of hym that hatith aueryce, schulen be maad longe.

¹⁷No man susteyneth a man that falsly chalengith the blood of a man, if he fleeth `til to the lake.

¹⁸He that goith simpli, schal be saaf; he that goith bi weiward weies, schal falle doun onys.

¹⁹He that worchith his lond, schal be fillid with looues; he that sueth ydelnesse, schal be fillid with nedynesse.

²⁰A feithful man schal be preisid myche; but he that hastith to be maad riche, schal not be innocent.

²¹He that knowith a face in doom, doith not wel; this man forsakith treuthe, yhe, for a mussel of breed.

²²A man that hastith to be maad riche, and hath enuye to othere men; woot not that nedinesse schal come on hym.

²³He that repreueth a man, schal fynde grace aftirward at hym; more than he that disseyueth bi flateryngis of tunge.

²⁴He that withdrawith ony thing fro his fadir and fro his modir, and seith that this is no synne, is parcener of a manquellere.

²⁵He that auauntith hym silf, and alargith, reisith stryues; but he that hopith in the Lord, schal be sauyd.

²⁶He that tristith in his herte, is a fool; but he that goith wiseli,

²⁷schal be preysid. He that yyueth to a pore man, schal not be nedi; he that dispisith `a pore man bisechynge, schal suffre nedynesse.

²⁸Whanne vnpitouse men risen, men schulen be hid; whanne tho `vnpitouse men han perischid, iust men schulen be multiplied.

Proverbs 28

¹The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

²For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

³A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

⁴They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

⁵Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.

⁶Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

⁸He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

⁹He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

¹⁰Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

¹²When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

¹³He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

¹⁴Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

¹⁵As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

¹⁶The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

¹⁷A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

¹⁸Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

¹⁹He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

²⁰A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

²¹To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

²²He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

²³He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

²⁴Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

²⁵He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

²⁶He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

²⁷He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.