Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart in the hand of Jehovah is [as] brooks of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
As departyngis of watris, so the herte of the kyng is in the power of the Lord; whidur euer he wole, he schal bowe it.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
3 To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
4 Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
5 The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty, only to want.
The thouytis of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce; but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting breath of them that seek death.
He that gaderith tresours bi the tunge of a leesing, is veyne, and with outen herte; and he schal be hurtlid to the snaris of deth.
7 The devastation of the wicked sweepeth them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
8 Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.
The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
It is betere to sitte in the corner of an hous with oute roof, than with a womman ful of chydyng, and in a comyn hous.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Whanne a man ful of pestilence is punyschid, a litil man of wit schal be the wisere; and if he sueth a wijs man, he schal take kunnyng.
12 One that is righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: he overthroweth the wicked to [their] ruin.
A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.
He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.
A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
15 It is joy to a righteous [man] to do what is right; but it is ruin for the workers of iniquity.
It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom shall abide in the congregation of the dead.
A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
17 He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous [man] in the stead of the upright.
An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land. than with a contentious and irritable woman.
It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.
20 There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
22 A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
24 Proud, arrogant, scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.
A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work:
Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!
The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
28 A lying witness shall perish; and a man that heareth shall speak constantly.
A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he establisheth his way.
A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Jehovah.
No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is of Jehovah.
An hors is maad redi to the dai of batel; but the Lord schal yyue helthe.
