Proverbs 21
1 [Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
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, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.
People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
3 To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.
Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
4 Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, are 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 plans of the diligent, tend only to abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, 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 gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek 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 violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.
Wicked [people] refuse to do what is right/just, but they will be ruined because of the violent things [PRS] that they do.
8 Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.
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 dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
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 lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour in his eyes.
Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth 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 observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.
[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 He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be 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, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.
When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
15 It is a joy, to a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, to the 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 The man who wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.
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 A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become rich.
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 A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.
Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
19 Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.
It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
20 Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
21 He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.
Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
22 A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth 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 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.
Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
24 A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport 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 craving of the sluggard, killeth 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, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.
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 lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!
[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, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.
Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
29 A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.
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, to confront Yahweh.
[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 The horse, is prepared for the day of battle, but, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.
We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
