Proverbs 21
1 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.
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5 The thouytis of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce; but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 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.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 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.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 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.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12 A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 An hors is maad redi to the dai of batel; but the Lord schal yyue helthe.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
