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.
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.
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 weighs hearts.
3 To doe iustice and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice.
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 A hautie looke, and a proude heart, which is the light of the wicked, is sinne.
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 The thoughtes of the diligent doe surely bring abundance: but whosoeuer is hastie, commeth surely to pouertie.
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 The gathering of treasures by a deceitfull tongue is vanitie tossed to and from of them that seeke death.
Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 The robberie of the wicked shall destroy them: for they haue refused to execute iudgement.
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 The way of some is peruerted and strange: but of the pure man, his worke is right.
The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: 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 sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 The soule of the wicked wisheth euill: and his neighbour hath no fauour in his eyes.
The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
11 When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise: and when one instructeth the wise, he wil receiue knowledge.
When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 The righteous teacheth the house of the wicked: but God ouerthroweth the wicked for their euill.
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 He that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore, he shall also cry and not be heard.
Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a gift in the bosome great wrath.
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 It is ioye to the iust to doe iudgement: but destruction shalbe to the workers of iniquitie.
It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 A man that wandreth out of the way of wisdome, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead.
A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 Hee that loueth pastime, shalbe a poore man: and he that loueth wine and oyle, shall not be riche.
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 The wicked shalbe a ransome for the iust, and the transgressour for the righteous.
The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wildernesse, then with a contentious and angry woman.
It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and oyle: but a foolish man deuoureth it.
There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 He that followeth after righteousnes and mercy, shall finde life, righteousnes, and glory.
Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 A wise man goeth vp into the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof.
The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soule from afflictions.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 Proude, hautie and scornefull is his name that worketh in his arrogancie wrath.
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 The desire of the slouthfull slayeth him: for his hands refuse to worke.
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 He coueteth euermore greedily, but the righteous giueth and spareth not.
He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked minde?
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 A false witnes shall perish: but hee that heareth, speaketh continually.
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but the iust, he will direct his way.
The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 There is no wisedome, neither vnderstanding, nor counsell against the Lord.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battell: but saluation is of the Lord.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
