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.
Yahweh controls what kings do [MTY] [like] he controls how streams flow; he causes kings to do just what he wants them to do.
2 Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
3 To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
4 To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
Being proud and arrogant [DOU] is [like] a lamp [MTY] [that guides] wicked people; being proud and arrogant characterizes (wicked people’s whole behavior/everything that wicked people do).
5 The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.
6 Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
Money that people acquire [by cheating others] by lying [MTY] to them will soon disappear [like] a mist, and doing that will [soon] lead to their death.
7 The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
Wicked [people] refuse to do what is right/just, but they will be ruined because of the violent things [PRS] that they do.
8 The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
Guilty [people continually do what is evil; it is as though] [MET] they are walking on a crooked road; but righteous/innocent people [always] do what is 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 live in the corner of an attic/housetop [by yourself] than to live inside the house with a wife who is always nagging.
10 The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
11 When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
When those who ridicule [others] are punished, [even] those who do not have good sense [see that, and] they become wise, and when those who are wise are taught, they become wiser.
12 The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
[God], the one [who is completely] righteous, knows [what happens inside] the houses of wicked [people], and [he will cause] those people to be completely ruined/destroyed.
13 Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
There are people who refuse to listen when poor people cry out [for help]; [but some day] they themselves will cry out [for help], and no one will hear them.
14 A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
15 It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
Good/Righteous [people] are happy when they [see others do] what is just/fair, but those who do what is evil are terrified [when they think about what may happen to them].
16 A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
Those who stop behaving like those who have good sense behave will [soon] discover that they have gone to the place where dead people are.
17 Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
Those who spend their money to buy (things that give them pleasure/things that cause them to feel happy) will become poor; those who love [to spend money to buy] wine and nice/fancy food [MTY] will never become rich.
18 The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
19 It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
20 There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
21 Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
22 The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
A wise army commander [helps his troops] climb over a wall [to attack] a city that is defended by a strong army, with the result that they are able to (get over/destroy) the high walls that their enemies trusted [would protect them].
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
24 A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
25 Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
26 He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
All during the day [wicked people] desire to obtain things, but righteous [people] have plenty, [with the result that] they [are able to] give things generously to others.
27 The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
[Yahweh] detests the sacrifices that wicked [people] offer [to him]; [but he] detests it even more when they [think that they will escape being punished for] their evil deeds because of the sacrifices that they bring.
28 A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
29 The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
[Thinking that we are] wise, and that we understand many things, and that we have good insight, does not help us if Yahweh is (acting against/not pleased with) us.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
