Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as streams of water. He turns it wherever he will.
[Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Jehovah weighs the hearts.
Every way of a man, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 A high look, and a proud heart, even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, are sin.
5 The thoughts of a diligent man lead only to abundance, but everyone who is hasty, only to want.
The plans of the diligent, tend only to abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to and fro by those who seek death.
The gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek death,
7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, because they refuse to do justice.
The violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.
8 The way of him who is laden with guilt is exceedingly crooked, but as for a pure man, his work is right.
Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
10 The soul of a wicked man desires evil. His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The soul of the lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 When a scoffer is punished, a simple man is made wise, and when a wise man is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 A righteous man considers the house of the wicked: the wicked are overthrown to ruin.
The Righteous One observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.
13 He who stops his ears at the cry of a poor man, he also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
A gift in secret, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
It is a joy, to a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
The man who wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.
17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become rich.
18 A wicked man is a ransom for a righteous man, and the treacherous dealer for the upright.
A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of a wise man, but a foolish man swallows it up.
Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of the confidence of it.
A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
23 He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.
24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name. He works in the arrogance of pride.
A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport of pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
The craving of the sluggard, killeth him, for his hands have refused to work.
26 There is he who covets greedily all the day long, but the righteous gives and does not withhold.
All the day, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination. How much more when he brings it with a wicked mind!
The sacrifice of the lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!
28 A false witness shall perish, but the man who hears shall speak so as to endure.
A false witness, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but as for an upright man, he establishes his ways.
A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Jehovah.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.
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, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.
