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.
As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
2 Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 The thouytis of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce; but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.
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 that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
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 dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
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 an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
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 help is of the Lord.
