< Proverbs 21 >
1 As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out.
Rivulets of waters [is] the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.
2 Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
The spoil of the wicked catcheth them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
Froward [is] the way of a man who is vile, And the pure — upright [is] his work.
9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
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 ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.
11 When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
13 He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
Whoso is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also doth cry, and is not answered.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a bribe in the bosom strong fury.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
16 A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
Whoso [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.
19 [It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
Whoso is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
Whoso is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping from adversities his soul.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
Proud, haughty, scorner [is] his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
The desire of the slothful slayeth him, For his hands have refused to work.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
All the day desiring he hath desired, And the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, Much more when in wickedness he bringeth it.
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
A false witness doth perish, And an attentive man for ever speaketh.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright — he prepareth his way.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel, over-against Jehovah.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of Jehovah!