Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6 He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
9 It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
11 When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
18 The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 A false witness will be cut off, ...
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
