Proverbs 21
1 The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
Like brooks of water is a king's heart in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever it pleaseth him doth he turn it.
2 Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering hearts.
Every way of a man is straight in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.
To exercise righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
Haughtiness of the eyes, and an immoderate heart, are the sinful field of the wicked.
5 The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; but every hasty man is [destined] only to want.
6 The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
The getting of treasures by a tongue of falsehood is like the fleeting breath of those that seek death.
7 The spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
The robbery of the wicked will drag them away; because they refuse to execute justice.
8 The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.
Perverse is the way of the man that is estranged [from goodness]; but as for the 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 dwell in a corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman in a roomy house.
10 The soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked longeth for evil: his neighbor findeth no grace in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is taught intelligence, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The Righteous One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
The righteous regardeth attentively the house of the wicked; [but God] overturneth the wicked into unhappiness.
13 Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.
Whoso stoppeth his ears against the cry of the poor, he also will cry himself, but shall not be answered.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a bribe in the bosom, strong fury.
15 To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
It is joy to the righteous to execute justice; but it is a terror to wrong-doers.
16 A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.
The man that wandereth astray out of the way of intelligence shall rest in the assembly of the departed.
17 Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
He that loveth pleasure will be a man of want: he that loveth wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous shall be put in the stead of the upright.
19 Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a quarrelsome and vexatious woman.
20 A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swallows it up.
There are a desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man will swallow it up.
21 Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
He that pursueth righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength in which they trusted.
23 Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
Whoso guardeth his mouth and his tongue guardeth his soul against distresses.
24 Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
The presumptuous and proud, scorner is his name, dealeth in the wrath of presumption.
25 The desire of the slothful slays him, For his hands have refused to work.
The longing of the slothful will kill him; for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All the day desiring he has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.
All the day he feeleth a great longing; but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a sinful purpose?
28 A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
A lying witness shall perish; but the man that is obedient [to the law] can speak for ever.
29 A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares his way.
A wicked man showeth impudence in his face; but as for the upright, he will consider well his way.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel against YHWH.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel 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 with the Lord is the victory.
