Proverbs 21
1 As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
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 live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgement: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 [It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
