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 LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
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 weighs the hearts.
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 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.
A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapour for those who seek death.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
The way of the guilty is devious, 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.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbour finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. 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 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 stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, 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 bribe in the cloak, 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 righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction 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 wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous 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 a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
He who follows after righteousness and kindness 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 brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
Whoever guards 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.
The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
The desire of the sluggard 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.
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an 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 will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
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 establishes his ways.
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 for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
