< 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 streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
To do justice and equity 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).
The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
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 tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
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 getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that 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 rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
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 man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are 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.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
10 Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion 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 scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth 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 man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into 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.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, 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 pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, 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].
To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do 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.
A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly 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.
He that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth 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 shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
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].
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them 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 followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall 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].
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
23 Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth 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].
The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
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 will destroy 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.
The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth 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 bringeth it with an evil design!
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 a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
29 Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth 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.
Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, 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 from the LORD.