Proverbs 21
1 [Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
2 Every way of a man, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, are sin.
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 abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, only to want.
6 The gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek death,
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 The violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
[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 lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour in his eyes.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 The Righteous One observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be answered.
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, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 It is a joy, to a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, to the workers of iniquity.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 The man who wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become rich.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport of pride.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 The craving of the sluggard, killeth him, for his hands have refused to work.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 All the day, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 The sacrifice of the lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 A false witness, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.
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, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
