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 a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh 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).
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are 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 lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only 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.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
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 drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
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 a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what 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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor 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 naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of 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 person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to 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.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases 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].
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
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 one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will 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.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one 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].
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
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 live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all 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 one who does right and is kind— this person 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 ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out 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].
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant 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 lazy kills him, for his hands 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.
All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
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 detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
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, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
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 makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about 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 understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
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 the victory belongs to Yahweh.
