Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
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 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapour for those who seek death.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbour finds no mercy in his eyes.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgement: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honour.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labour.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
