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.
[Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
2 Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
Every way of a man, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.
3 To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, 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, tend only to abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, only to want.
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.
The gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek death,
7 The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
The violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.
8 The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.
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 dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
10 The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
The soul of the lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour 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 the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
The Righteous One observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.
13 He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be answered.
14 A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
A gift in secret, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.
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 a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, 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 wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.
17 He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become rich.
18 An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.
19 It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.
Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.
20 Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
21 He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.
22 A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
23 He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.
24 A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport of pride.
25 Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
The craving of the sluggard, killeth him, for his hands have refused to work.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
All the day, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.
27 The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
The sacrifice of the lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!
28 A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
A false witness, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.
29 A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.
30 No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.
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, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.
