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.
Rivulets of waters [is] the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.
2 Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.
3 To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.
4 To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
5 The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
6 Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
7 The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
The spoil of the wicked catcheth them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
8 The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
Froward [is] the way of a man who is vile, And the pure — upright [is] his work.
9 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared 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 impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.
11 When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.
12 The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
13 Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
Whoso is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also doth cry, and is not answered.
14 A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a bribe in the bosom strong fury.
15 It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.
17 Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
Whoso [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.
18 The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.
19 It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
20 There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
Whoso is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
Whoso is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping from adversities his soul.
24 A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
Proud, haughty, scorner [is] his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
25 Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
The desire of the slothful slayeth him, For his hands have refused to work.
26 He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
All the day desiring he hath desired, And the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, Much more when in wickedness he bringeth it.
28 A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
A false witness doth perish, And an attentive man for ever speaketh.
29 The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright — he prepareth his way.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel, over-against Jehovah.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of Jehovah!
