Proverbs 21
1 As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out.
2 All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, but shall not be heard.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 He that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be rich.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth not withhold.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he bringeth it with an evil design!
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, against the LORD.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is from the LORD.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
