Proverbs 21
1 Yahweh controls what kings do [MTY] [like] he controls how streams flow; he causes kings to do just what he wants them to do.
The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
2 People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 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).
A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 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.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
7 Wicked [people] refuse to do what is right/just, but they will be ruined because of the violent things [PRS] that they do.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 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.
The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 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.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 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.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 [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.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 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.
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 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].
It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 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.
The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 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.
He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
19 It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 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].
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
26 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.
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
27 [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.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 [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.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
