Proverbs 21
1 As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will he shall turn it.
[Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
2 Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
Every way of a man, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.
3 To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims.
To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin.
Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, are sin.
5 The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want.
The plans of the diligent, tend only to abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, only to want.
6 He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death.
The gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek death,
7 The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not do judgment.
The violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.
8 The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.
Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.
9 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling women, and in a common house.
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour.
The soul of the lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked from evil.
The Righteous One observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.
13 He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself and shall not be heard.
He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be answered.
14 A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom the greatest wrath.
A gift in secret, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that work iniquity.
It is a joy, to a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide in the company of the giants.
The man who wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.
17 He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.
A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become rich.
18 The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.
A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.
19 It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman.
Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.
20 There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.
Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
21 He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory.
He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.
22 The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.
He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.
24 The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride.
A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport of pride.
25 Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all.
The craving of the sluggard, killeth him, for his hands have refused to work.
26 He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will not cease.
All the day, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.
27 The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness.
The sacrifice of the lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!
28 A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of victory.
A false witness, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.
29 The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his way.
A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth safety.
The horse, is prepared for the day of battle, but, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.
