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 Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 The thouytis of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce; but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
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.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
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's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
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, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever 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 pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 An hors is maad redi to the dai of batel; but the Lord schal yyue helthe.
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
