Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
Rivulets of waters [is] the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
The spoil of the wicked catcheth them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Froward [is] the way of a man who is vile, And the pure — upright [is] his work.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.
10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.
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 becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
Whoso is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also doth cry, and is not 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.
To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Whoso [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.
19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Whoso is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Whoso is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping from adversities his soul.
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
Proud, haughty, scorner [is] his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
The desire of the slothful slayeth him, For his hands have refused to work.
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
All the day desiring he hath desired, And 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] abomination, Much more when in wickedness he bringeth it.
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
A false witness doth perish, And an attentive man for ever speaketh.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright — he prepareth 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, over-against Jehovah.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of Jehovah!
