Proverbs 21
1 The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
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, And YHWH is pondering hearts.
People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
3 To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.
Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
4 Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage 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 purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, 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 making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking 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 spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused 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 a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.
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 Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.
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 has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious 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 becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives 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 One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for 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 Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.
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 pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
15 To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to 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 A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.
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 Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
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 [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
19 Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
20 A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swallows it up.
Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
21 Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
22 The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
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 Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
24 Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
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 slays him, For his hands have refused to work.
Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
26 All the day desiring he has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.
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, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.
[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 perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
29 A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares 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 YHWH.
[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 A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!
We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
