Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it anywhere he will.
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 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts.
Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to lack.
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed back and forth of them that seek death.
Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 The way of man is perverse and strange: but as for the pure, his work 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 housetop, than with a brawling 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 soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbour finds no favour 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 simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives 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 man wisely considers the house of the wicked: but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall 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 pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain 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 He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
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 wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.
There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honour.
Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and casts down 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 Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 He covers greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares 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 abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind?
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that hears speaks constantly.
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he directs his way.
The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel 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 battle: but safety is of the LORD.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
