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 in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
2 Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
5 The thouytis of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce; but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.
The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
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.
He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work 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.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
10 The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
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 the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
19 It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.
It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
27 The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 An hors is maad redi to the dai of batel; but the Lord schal yyue helthe.
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
