< 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 Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the riuers of waters: he turneth it whithersoeuer it pleaseth him.
2 People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
Euery way of a man is right in his owne eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
To doe iustice and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lord then 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 hautie looke, and a proude heart, which is the light of the wicked, is sinne.
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 thoughtes of the diligent doe surely bring abundance: but whosoeuer is hastie, commeth surely to pouertie.
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.
The gathering of treasures by a deceitfull tongue is vanitie tossed to and from of them that seeke 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 robberie of the wicked shall destroy them: for they haue refused to execute iudgement.
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 some is peruerted and strange: but of the pure man, his worke is 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 of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.
10 Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
The soule of the wicked wisheth euill: and his neighbour hath no fauour 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 scorner is punished, the foolish is wise: and when one instructeth the wise, he wil receiue 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 teacheth the house of the wicked: but God ouerthroweth the wicked for their euill.
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 stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore, he shall also cry and 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 pacifieth anger, and a gift in the bosome great 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 ioye to the iust to doe iudgement: but destruction shalbe to the workers of iniquitie.
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 wandreth out of the way of wisdome, shall remaine in the congregation of 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.
Hee that loueth pastime, shalbe a poore man: and he that loueth wine and oyle, shall not be riche.
18 Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
The wicked shalbe a ransome for the iust, and the transgressour for the righteous.
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 the wildernesse, then with a contentious and angry woman.
20 Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and oyle: but a foolish man deuoureth it.
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 that followeth after righteousnes and mercy, shall finde life, righteousnes, 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 goeth vp into the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soule from afflictions.
24 Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
Proude, hautie and scornefull is his name that worketh in his arrogancie wrath.
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 slouthfull slayeth him: for his hands refuse to worke.
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.
He coueteth euermore greedily, but the righteous giueth and spareth not.
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 bringeth it with a wicked minde?
28 Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
A false witnes shall perish: but hee that heareth, speaketh continually.
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 hardeneth his face: but the iust, he will direct his way.
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 wisedome, neither vnderstanding, nor counsell 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 against the day of battell: but saluation is of the Lord.