Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
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 the hasty hasteneth only to want.
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion 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 scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
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 poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be 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 in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
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 contentious and fretful woman.
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, 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 bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth not withhold.
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 an evil design!
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, 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 victory is from the LORD.
