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CAP 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.
2 Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
3 To do merci and doom plesith more the Lord, than sacrifices doen.
4 Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
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.
7 The raueyns of vnpitouse men schulen drawe hem doun; for thei nolden do doom.
8 The weiward weie of a man is alien fro God; but the werk of hym that is cleene, is riytful.
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.
10 The soule of an vnpitouse man desirith yuel; he schal not haue merci on his neiybore.
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.
12 A iust man of the hous of a wickid man thenkith, to withdrawe wickid men fro yuel.
13 He that stoppith his eere at the cry of a pore man, schal crye also, and schal not be herd.
14 A yift hid quenchith chidyngis; and a yift in bosum quenchith the moost indignacioun.
15 It is ioye to a iust man to make doom; and it is drede to hem that worchen wickidnesse.
16 A man that errith fro the weie of doctryn, schal dwelle in the cumpany of giauntis.
17 He that loueth metis, schal be in nedynesse; he that loueth wiyn and fatte thingis, schal not be maad riche.
18 An vnpitouse man schal be youun for a iust man; and a wickid man schal be youun for a riytful man.
19 It is betere to dwelle in a desert lond, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and wrathful.
20 Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
21 He that sueth riytfulnesse and mercy, schal fynde lijf and glorie.
22 A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
23 He that kepith his mouth and his tunge, kepith his soule from angwischis.
24 A proude man and boosteere is clepid a fool, that worchith pride in ire.
25 Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.
26 Al dai he coueitith and desirith; but he that is a iust man, schal yyue, and schal not ceesse.
27 The offringis of wickid men, that ben offrid of greet trespas, ben abhomynable.
28 A fals witnesse schal perische; a man obedient schal speke victorie.
29 A wickid man makith sad his cheer vnschamefastli; but he that is riytful, amendith his weie.
30 No wisdom is, no prudence is, no counsel is ayens the Lord.
31 An hors is maad redi to the dai of batel; but the Lord schal yyue helthe.