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 in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it anywhere he will.
2 Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to lack.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed back and forth of them that seek death.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
The way of man is perverse and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbour finds no favour in his eyes.
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 is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked: but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.
13 He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
A gift in secret pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgement: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be 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 that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19 [It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honour.
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 casts down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
He covers greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind?
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
A false witness shall perish: but the man that hears speaks constantly.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he directs 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 against the LORD.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
