Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in YHWH's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but YHWH weighs the hearts.
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to YHWH than sacrifice.
To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.
4 A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
The spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious in his eyes.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
The Righteous One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to evildoers.
To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.
17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous for the upright.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
24 The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.
Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
The desire of the slothful slays him, For his hands have refused to work.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
All the day desiring he has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind.
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.
28 A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against YHWH.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel against YHWH.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with YHWH.
A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!
