Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as streams of water. He turns it wherever he will.
Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Jehovah weighs the hearts.
Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 A high look, and a proud heart, even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 The thoughts of a diligent man lead only to abundance, but everyone who is hasty, only to want.
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to and fro by those who seek death.
Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, because they refuse to do justice.
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 The way of him who is laden with guilt is exceedingly crooked, but as for a pure man, his work is right.
The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 The soul of a wicked man desires evil. His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
11 When a scoffer is punished, a simple man is made wise, and when a wise man is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 A righteous man considers the house of the wicked: the wicked are overthrown to ruin.
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 He who stops his ears at the cry of a poor man, he also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 A wicked man is a ransom for a righteous man, and the treacherous dealer for the upright.
The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of a wise man, but a foolish man swallows it up.
There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of the confidence of it.
The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name. He works in the arrogance of pride.
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 There is he who covets greedily all the day long, but the righteous gives and does not withhold.
He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination. How much more when he brings it with a wicked mind!
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 A false witness shall perish, but the man who hears shall speak so as to endure.
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but as for an upright man, he establishes his ways.
The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Jehovah.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but victory is from Jehovah.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
