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 Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than 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).
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up 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.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in 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 destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's 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.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
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's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
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 a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain 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 God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
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.
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
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].
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
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.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
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.
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
18 Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, 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].
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of 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 proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
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.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
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 given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
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.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before 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).
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
