< Sprueche 21 >
1 Den Wasserbächen gleich ist in der Hand des Herrn des Königs Herz; Er lenkt's, wohin er will.
Yahweh controls what kings do [MTY] [like] he controls how streams flow; he causes kings to do just what he wants them to do.
2 Dem Mann scheint jeder seiner Wege recht zu sein; jedoch der Herr ist's, der die Herzen wägt.
People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
3 Gerechtigkeit und Recht ausüben liebt der Herr viel mehr denn Schlachtopfer.
Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
4 Ein großer Ehrgeiz und Verstand entflammen Frevler zum Vergehen.
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).
5 Allein des Arbeitsamen Pläne führen zum Gewinn; der Hastige bringt's nur zum Verlust.
People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.
6 Wer sich durch Lügenzunge Schätze sammelt, strebt nach verwehtem Hauch, ja, nach dem Tod.
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.
7 Für Frevler hat das Unrecht einen Reiz; sie weigern sich zu tun, was recht.
Wicked [people] refuse to do what is right/just, but they will be ruined because of the violent things [PRS] that they do.
8 Mag eines Mannes Tun verwickelt sein und schief verlaufen, doch ist er redlich, handelt er doch recht.
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.
9 Viel lieber in dem Winkel eines Daches ruhen, als ein gemeinsam Haus mit einem Weib, das zänkisch!
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.
10 Des Frevlers Seele hat am Bösen ihre Lust, und nicht verhaßt ist ihm die böse Tat.
Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
11 Wenn man den Spötter büßen läßt, dann kann der Dumme dadurch weise werden. Behandelt man den Weisen rücksichtsvoll, kann jener dadurch auch zur Einsicht kommen.
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.
12 Wenn auf des Frevlers Haus der Fromme Rücksicht nimmt, verleitet er den Frevler wiederum zum Bösen.
[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.
13 Wer vor des Armen Hilferuf sein Ohr verstopft, der findet kein Gehör dann, wenn er selber ruft.
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.
14 Im stillen eine Gabe kann den Zorn besänftigen, ein heimliches Geschenk den größten Grimm.
When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
15 Dem Frommen ist es eine Freude, wenn ihm nach Recht geschieht; den Bösewichtern ist's ein Schrecken.
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].
16 Ein Mensch, der von der Klugheit Wege irrt, wird Ruhe erst im Schattenreiche finden.
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.
17 Wer Lustbarkeiten liebt, der fühlt sich stets im Mangel; wer Wein und Öl zu gerne hat, wird nimmer reich.
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.
18 Das Sühnegeld des Frommen ist der Frevler; an Stelle der Rechtschaffenen tritt der Verbrecher.
Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
19 Viel besser, einsam in der Wüste leben, als in Gesellschaft eines zank- und händelsüchtigen Weibes!
It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
20 An Öl und köstlichem Getränk ist in des Weisen Haus ein Vorrat; ein Tor läßt sie verderben.
Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
21 Wer nach Gerechtigkeit und Güte strebt, der findet Leben, Rechtlichkeit und Ehre.
Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
22 Der Helden Stadt erstieg ein Weiser; das Bollwerk stürzte ein, dem sie sich anvertraut.
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].
23 Wer seinen Mund und seine Zunge hütet, der schützt sein Leben vor Gefahren.
Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
24 Ein Spötter heißt, wer übermütig und vermessen ist und wer im Übermaß des Stolzes handelt.
Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
25 Den Faulen tötet sein Gelüste; denn seine Hände weigern sich zu schaffen.
Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
26 Den ganzen Tag begehrt nur, wer begehrlich; der Fromme spendet ohne Unterlaß.
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.
27 Des Frevlers Opfer ist ein Greuel und vollends, bringt er es in schnöder Absicht dar.
[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.
28 Ein falscher Zeuge geht zugrunde; dagegen redet sieghaft ein glaubwürdiger Mann.
Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
29 Der Frevler macht ein frech Gesicht; der Biedere verbessert seinen Wandel.
Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
30 Nicht Weisheit gibt's, nicht Einsicht, Rat nicht vor dem Herrn.
[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.
31 Das Roß ist abgerichtet für den Tag der Schlacht; jedoch der Sieg kommt von dem Herrn.
We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).