Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
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 [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
3 To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
4 An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing 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 diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to 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 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek 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 robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to 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 way of man [is] froward and strange: but [as for] the 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 dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide 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: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth 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 righteous [man] wisely considereth the house of the wicked: [but God] overthroweth the wicked for [their] wickedness.
[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 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but 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 gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong 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: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of 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 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
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 pleasure [shall be] a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil 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 [shall be] a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
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 the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry 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] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
22 A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth 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 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
24 Proud [and] haughty scorner [is] his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
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 sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
[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 false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but [as for] the upright, he directeth 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 nor understanding nor 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 against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD.
We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
