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.
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 seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the 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, pleaseth the Lord more than victims.
Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
4 Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked 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 thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want.
People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.
6 He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon 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 wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not 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 strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.
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 housetop, than with a brawling women, and in a common 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 wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour.
Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
11 When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the 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 considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked 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 He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself and shall not be heard.
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 secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom the greatest wrath.
When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that 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 that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide 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 He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.
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 wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.
Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
19 It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate 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 a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.
Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
21 He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find 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 man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.
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 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.
Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
24 The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh 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 slothful: for his hands have refused 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 longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will 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 wicked are abominable, because they are offered 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 shall 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 wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his 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 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 giveth safety.
We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
