Proverbs 21
1 The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the riuers of waters: he turneth it whithersoeuer it pleaseth him.
The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
2 Euery way of a man is right in his owne eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 To doe iustice and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice.
To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 A hautie looke, and a proude heart, which is the light of the wicked, is sinne.
A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
5 The thoughtes of the diligent doe surely bring abundance: but whosoeuer is hastie, commeth surely to pouertie.
The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
6 The gathering of treasures by a deceitfull tongue is vanitie tossed to and from of them that seeke death.
He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 The robberie of the wicked shall destroy them: for they haue refused to execute iudgement.
By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 The way of some is peruerted and strange: but of the pure man, his worke is right.
Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
10 The soule of the wicked wisheth euill: and his neighbour hath no fauour in his eyes.
The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
11 When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise: and when one instructeth the wise, he wil receiue knowledge.
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 The righteous teacheth the house of the wicked: but God ouerthroweth the wicked for their euill.
The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 He that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore, he shall also cry and not be heard.
He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a gift in the bosome great wrath.
By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 It is ioye to the iust to doe iudgement: but destruction shalbe to the workers of iniquitie.
It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 A man that wandreth out of the way of wisdome, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead.
The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Hee that loueth pastime, shalbe a poore man: and he that loueth wine and oyle, shall not be riche.
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 The wicked shalbe a ransome for the iust, and the transgressour for the righteous.
The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wildernesse, then with a contentious and angry woman.
It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and oyle: but a foolish man deuoureth it.
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 He that followeth after righteousnes and mercy, shall finde life, righteousnes, and glory.
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man goeth vp into the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soule from afflictions.
He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Proude, hautie and scornefull is his name that worketh in his arrogancie wrath.
The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 The desire of the slouthfull slayeth him: for his hands refuse to worke.
The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 He coueteth euermore greedily, but the righteous giueth and spareth not.
All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked minde?
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 A false witnes shall perish: but hee that heareth, speaketh continually.
A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but the iust, he will direct his way.
The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 There is no wisedome, neither vnderstanding, nor counsell against the Lord.
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battell: but saluation is of the Lord.
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
