Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will.
The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts.
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
The spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
8 The way of man is fraudulent and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide 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 wicked desires evil: his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.
12 The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked: but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.
The Righteous One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.
17 He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.
A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and casts down the strength of the confidence thereof.
The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.
Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
25 The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor.
The desire of the slothful slays him, For his hands have refused to work.
26 He covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.
All the day desiring he has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind?
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that hears speaks constantly.
A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
29 A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he directs his way.
A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel against YHWH.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!
