1 A deceitful scale is an abomination to Jehovah, but a perfect weight stone is His delight.2 Pride comes, then comes shame; but with the lowly is wisdom.3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of traitors shall destroy them.4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.5 The righteousness of the perfect shall make his way right, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but traitors shall be taken in their lust.7 In the death of a wicked man, his expectation shall perish, and the hope of the wicked shall perish.8 The righteous is delivered from distress, and the wicked goes in instead of him.9 The hypocrite destroys his neighbor with his mouth, but the just is delivered through knowledge.10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.11 A city is exalted by the blessing of the upright, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.12 One who despises his neighbor is without heart, but a man of understanding keeps quiet.13 One who goes around with slander reveals secrets, but the faithful spirit keeps the matter covered.14 In the absence of counsel the people fall, but there is safety in the abundance of counselors.15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, but he who hates striking of hands is secure.16 A gracious woman holds on to honor, and ruthless men hold on to riches.17 A merciful man does good to his own soul, but the cruel troubles his own flesh.18 The wicked does deceitful work, but one sowing righteousness receives honest wages.19 As righteousness leads to life, so the one pursuing evil does so to his own death.20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to Jehovah, but the perfect in their way are His delight.21 Though hand join to hand, the wicked shall not be held innocent, but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.22 As a ring of gold in a swines snout, so is a beautiful woman who has turned aside from discretion.23 The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; but the one who withholds more than is right, tends to poverty.25 The blessed soul will be made fat; he who waters shall also be watered himself.26 He who holds back grain, the people curse him; but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor; but he who inquires after evil, it shall come to him.28 He who trusts in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall sprout like foliage.29 He who troubles his own house inherits the wind; and the fool is servant to the wise of heart.30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he who leads souls is wise.31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed on the earth; much more the wicked and the sinner.
1 A gileful balaunce is abhominacioun anentis God; and an euene weiyte is his wille.2 Where pride is, there also dispising schal be; but where meeknesse is, there also is wisdom.3 The simplenesse of iust men schal dresse hem; and the disseyuyng of weiward men schal destrie hem.4 Richessis schulen not profite in the dai of veniaunce; but riytfulnesse schal delyuere fro deth.5 The riytfulnesse of a simple man schal dresse his weie; and a wickid man schal falle in his wickidnesse.6 The riytfulnesse of riytful men schal delyuere hem; and wickid men schulen be takun in her aspiyngis.7 Whanne a wickid man is deed, noon hope schal be ferther; and abidyng of bisy men schal perische.8 A iust man is delyuered from angwisch; and a wickid man schal be youun for hym.9 A feynere bi mouth disseyueth his freend; but iust men schulen be deliuered bi kunnyng.10 A citee schal be enhaunsid in the goodis of iust men; and preysyng schal be in the perdicioun of wickid men.11 A citee schal be enhaunsid bi blessing of iust men; and it schal be distried bi the mouth of wickid men.12 He that dispisith his freend, is nedi in herte; but a prudent man schal be stille.13 He that goith gilefuli, schewith priuetees; but he that is feithful, helith the priuetee of a freend.14 Where a gouernour is not, the puple schal falle; but helthe `of the puple is, where ben many counsels.15 He that makith feith for a straunger, schal be turmentid with yuel; but he that eschewith snaris, schal be sikur.16 A graciouse womman schal fynde glorie; and stronge men schulen haue richessis.17 A merciful man doith wel to his soule; but he that is cruel, castith awei, yhe, kynnesmen.18 A wickid man makith vnstable werk; but feithful mede is to hym, that sowith riytfulnesse.19 Merci schal make redi lijf; and the suyng of yuels `schal make redi deth.20 A schrewid herte is abhomynable to the Lord; and his wille is in hem, that goen symply.21 Thouy hond be in the hond, an yuel man schal not be innocent; but the seed of iust men schal be sauyd.22 A goldun `sercle, ether ryng, in the `nose thrillis of a sowe, a womman fair and fool.23 The desir of iust men is al good; abiding of wickid men is woodnesse.24 Sum men departen her owne thingis, and ben maad richere; other men rauyschen thingis, that ben not hern, and ben euere in nedynesse.25 A soule that blessith, schal be maad fat; and he that fillith, schal be fillid also.26 He that hidith wheete `in tyme, schal be cursid among the puplis; but blessyng schal come on the heed of silleris.27 Wel he risith eerli, that sekith good thingis; but he that is a serchere of yuels, schal be oppressid of tho.28 He that tristith in hise richessis, schal falle; but iust men schulen buriowne as a greene leef.29 He that disturblith his hows, schal haue wyndis in possessioun; and he that is a fool, schal serue a wijs man.30 The fruyt of a riytful man is the tre of lijf; and he that takith soulis, is a wijs man.31 If a iust man receyueth in erthe, how miche more an vnfeithful man, and synnere.