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.
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 People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
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-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and 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.
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.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of 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.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
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.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
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 a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
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 an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive 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.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
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.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up 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] the joy of the righteous to do judgement: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
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.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
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.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
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 wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow 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.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
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 assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
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.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
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 sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands 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, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
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).
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
