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 heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
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 YHWH 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 YHWH 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 catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [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 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 has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious 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 becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
The Righteous One is acting wisely Toward 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].
Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgement: 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, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
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 swallows it up.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
Proud, haughty, scorner—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 slays 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 has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.
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 he brings it in wickedness.
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares 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 YHWH.
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 YHWH!
