Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will he shall turn it.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims.
4 A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not do judgment.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling women, and in a common house.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked from evil.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself and shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom the greatest wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that work iniquity.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide in the company of the giants.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will 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 wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness.
28 A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth safety.
