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.
[Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
2 Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
Every way of a man, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.
3 To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, are sin.
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.
The plans of the diligent, tend only to abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, only to want.
6 He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
The gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek death,
7 By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
The violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.
8 Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.
9 It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
10 The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
The soul of the lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
The Righteous One observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.
13 He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be answered.
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 in secret, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.
15 It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
It is a joy, to a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, to the workers of iniquity.
16 The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
The man who wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.
17 The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become 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.
A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.
19 It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.
20 There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
21 He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.
22 A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
23 He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.
24 The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport of pride.
25 The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
The craving of the sluggard, killeth him, for his hands have refused to work.
26 All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
All the day, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.
27 The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
The sacrifice of the lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!
28 A false witness will be cut off, ...
A false witness, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.
29 The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.
30 Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
The horse, is prepared for the day of battle, but, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.
