Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
Like brooks of water is a king's heart in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever it pleaseth him doth he turn it.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Every way of a man is straight in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To exercise righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
Haughtiness of the eyes, and an immoderate heart, are the sinful field of the wicked.
5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; but every hasty man is [destined] only to want.
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
The getting of treasures by a tongue of falsehood is like the fleeting breath of those that seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
The robbery of the wicked will drag them away; because they refuse to execute justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Perverse is the way of the man that is estranged [from goodness]; but as for the 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 dwell in a corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman in a roomy house.
10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked longeth for evil: his neighbor findeth no grace in his eyes.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is taught intelligence, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
The righteous regardeth attentively the house of the wicked; [but God] overturneth the wicked into unhappiness.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
Whoso stoppeth his ears against the cry of the poor, he also will cry himself, but shall not be answered.
14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a bribe in the bosom, strong fury.
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
It is joy to the righteous to execute justice; but it is a terror to wrong-doers.
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
The man that wandereth astray out of the way of intelligence shall rest in the assembly of the departed.
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
He that loveth pleasure will be a man of want: he that loveth wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous shall be put in the stead of the upright.
19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a quarrelsome and vexatious woman.
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
There are a desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man will swallow it up.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
He that pursueth righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength in which they trusted.
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Whoso guardeth his mouth and his tongue guardeth his soul against distresses.
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
The presumptuous and proud, scorner is his name, dealeth in the wrath of presumption.
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
The longing of the slothful will kill him; for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
All the day he feeleth a great longing; but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a sinful purpose?
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
A lying witness shall perish; but the man that is obedient [to the law] can speak for ever.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
A wicked man showeth impudence in his face; but as for the upright, he will consider well his way.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel 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 with the Lord is the victory.
