Proverbs 21
1 The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
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 Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering hearts.
Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.
To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
5 The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
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 making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 The spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
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 a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.
Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.
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 soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious 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 simple becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 The Righteous One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.
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 pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.
The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
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 Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swallows it up.
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
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 slothful slays him, For his hands have refused to work.
The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 All the day desiring he has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.
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] abomination, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares his way.
The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel against YHWH.
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
