Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
