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 king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—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 lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
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.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
8 The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is 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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor 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 mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
12 A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
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 the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
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 kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
28 A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against 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 the victory belongs to Yahweh.
