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.
Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.
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 weighs hearts.
3 To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 The thouytis of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce; but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually 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.
Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: 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 sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
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 pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
14 A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in 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 live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 An hors is maad redi to the dai of batel; but the Lord schal yyue helthe.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
