Proverbs 21
1 Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.
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.
2 Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
