Proverbs 21
1 The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
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, And YHWH is pondering hearts.
Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 The spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.
The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: 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 sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 The soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious 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 becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise 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 One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.
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 bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.
A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional 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 desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 The desire of the slothful slays him, For his hands have refused to work.
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 All the day desiring he has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.
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, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares 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 YHWH.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
