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.
The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
2 All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering hearts.
3 To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.
4 The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
5 The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
7 The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
The spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
8 The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.
9 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
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 longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.
12 The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.
The Righteous One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, 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 pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
15 To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wandereth from the way of discretion 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 that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be rich.
Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
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 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them 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 followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.
Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.
Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
24 The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
The desire of the slothful slays him, For his hands have refused to work.
26 The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth 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 bringeth it with an evil design!
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.
28 A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
29 The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares his way.
30 Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, against the LORD.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel against YHWH.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is from the LORD.
A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!
