Proverbi 21
1 Il cuore del re, nella mano dell’Eterno, è come un corso d’acqua; egli lo volge dovunque gli piace.
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 Tutte le vie dell’uomo gli paion diritte, ma l’Eterno pesa i cuori.
People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
3 Praticare la giustizia e l’equità è cosa che l’Eterno preferisce ai sacrifizi.
Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
4 Gli occhi alteri e il cuor gonfio, lucerna degli empi, sono peccato.
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 I disegni dell’uomo diligente menano sicuramente all’abbondanza, ma chi troppo s’affretta non fa che cader nella miseria.
People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.
6 I tesori acquistati con lingua bugiarda sono un soffio fugace di gente che cerca la morte.
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 La violenza degli empi li porta via, perché rifiutano di praticare l’equità.
Wicked [people] refuse to do what is right/just, but they will be ruined because of the violent things [PRS] that they do.
8 La via del colpevole è tortuosa, ma l’innocente opera con rettitudine.
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 Meglio abitare sul canto d’un tetto, che una gran casa con una moglie rissosa.
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 L’anima dell’empio desidera il male; il suo amico stesso non trova pietà agli occhi di lui.
Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
11 Quando il beffardo è punito, il semplice diventa savio; e quando s’istruisce il savio, egli acquista scienza.
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 Il Giusto tien d’occhio la casa dell’empio, e precipita gli empi nelle sciagure.
[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 Chi chiude l’orecchio al grido del povero, griderà anch’egli, e non gli sarà risposto.
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 Un dono fatto in segreto placa la collera, e un regalo dato di sottomano, l’ira violenta.
When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
15 Far ciò ch’è retto è una gioia per il giusto, ma è una rovina per gli artefici d’iniquità.
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 L’uomo che erra lungi dalle vie del buon senso, riposerà nell’assemblea dei trapassati.
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 Chi ama godere sarà bisognoso, chi ama il vino e l’olio non arricchirà.
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 L’empio serve di riscatto al giusto; e il perfido, agli uomini retti.
Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
19 Meglio abitare in un deserto, che con una donna rissosa e stizzosa.
It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
20 In casa del savio c’è dei tesori preziosi e dell’olio, ma l’uomo stolto dà fondo a tutto.
Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
21 Chi ricerca la giustizia e la bontà troverà vita, giustizia e gloria.
Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
22 Il savio dà la scalata alla città dei forti, e abbatte il baluardo in cui essa confidava.
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 Chi custodisce la sua bocca e la sua lingua preserva l’anima sua dalle distrette.
Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
24 Il nome del superbo insolente è: beffardo; egli fa ogni cosa con furore di superbia.
Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
25 I desideri del pigro l’uccidono perché le sue mani rifiutano di lavorare.
Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
26 C’è chi da mane a sera brama avidamente, ma il giusto dona senza mai rifiutare.
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 Il sacrifizio dell’empio è cosa abominevole; quanto più se l’offre con intento malvagio!
[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 Il testimonio bugiardo perirà, ma l’uomo che ascolta potrà sempre parlare.
Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
29 L’empio fa la faccia tosta, ma l’uomo retto rende ferma la sua condotta.
Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
30 Non c’è sapienza, non intelligenza, non consiglio che valga contro l’Eterno.
[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 Il cavallo è pronto per il dì della battaglia, ma la vittoria appartiene all’Eterno.
We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
