Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
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.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the hearts.
Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, [even] the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
5 The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness: but every one that is hasty [hasteth] only to want.
The thouytis of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce; but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapour driven to and fro; they [that seek them] seek death.
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.
7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away; because they refuse to do judgment.
The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
8 The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked: but as for the pure, his work is right.
The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
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.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
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.
12 The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked; [how] the wicked are overthrown to [their] ruin.
A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a present in the bosom strong wrath.
A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do judgment; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall rest in the congregation of the dead.
A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; and the treacherous [cometh] in the stead of the upright.
An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
24 The proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, he worketh in the arrogance of pride.
A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!
The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth shall speak unchallenged.
A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he ordereth his ways.
A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but victory is of the LORD,
An hors is maad redi to the dai of batel; but the Lord schal yyue helthe.
