Proverbs 21

¹As departyngis of watris, so the herte of the kyng is in the power of the Lord; whidur euer he wole, he schal bowe it.

²Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.

³To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.

⁴Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.

⁵The thouytis of a stronge man ben euere in abundaunce; but ech slow man is euere in nedynesse.

⁶He 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.

⁷The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.

⁸The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.

⁹It 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.

¹⁰The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.

¹¹Whanne 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.

¹²A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.

¹³He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.

¹⁴A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.

¹⁵It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.

¹⁶A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.

¹⁷He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.

¹⁸An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.

¹⁹It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.

²⁰Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.

²¹He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.

²²A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.

²³He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.

²⁴A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.

²⁵Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.

²⁶Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.

²⁷The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.

²⁸A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.

²⁹A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.

³⁰No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.

³¹An hors is maad redi to the dai of batel; but the Lord schal yyue helthe.

Proverbs 21

¹The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

³To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

⁵The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

⁷The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

⁸The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

⁹It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

¹⁰The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

¹¹When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

¹²The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

¹³Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

¹⁴A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

¹⁵It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

¹⁷He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

¹⁸The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

¹⁹It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

²⁰There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

²¹He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

²²A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

²³Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

²⁴Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

²⁵The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

²⁶He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

²⁸A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

²⁹A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

³¹The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.