Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
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 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
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 will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
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 the wicked man craves 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 mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
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 soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror 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 strays from the path of understanding will 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 will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion 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 pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
