Proverbios 21
1 Como los repartimientos de las aguas, Así el corazón del rey está en la mano de Yavé. A todo lo que quiere lo inclina.
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 Todo camino del hombre es recto en su propia opinión, Pero Yavé pesa los corazones.
People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].
3 Yavé prefiere el derecho y la justicia en vez de los sacrificios.
Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].
4 Ojos altivos, corazón arrogante, Y la lámpara de los perversos son pecado.
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 Los planes del diligente solo traen ganancia, Los del precipitado, solo indigencia.
People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.
6 Acumular tesoros con boca mentirosa Es vanidad ilusoria y trampa de muerte.
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 violencia de los impíos los arrastrará, Por cuanto se niegan a obrar con justicia.
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 senda del vicioso es torcida y extraña, Las acciones del puro son rectas.
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 Más vale vivir en rincón de azotea, Que en casa espaciosa con mujer rencillosa.
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 Afán del perverso es desear el mal, Su prójimo nunca halla favor ante sus ojos.
Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.
11 Cuando el burlador es castigado, el simple se hace prudente, Y cuando el sabio es instruido, adquiere conocimiento.
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 El justo considera la casa del impío, Y precipita al impío a la ruina.
[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 El que cierra sus oídos al clamor del pobre No será escuchado cuando grite.
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 regalo en secreto aplaca la ira, Y un soborno bajo el manto, el gran furor.
When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.
15 Alegría para el justo es que se haga justicia, Pero terror para los que practican iniquidad.
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 Hombre que se extravía del camino de la sabiduría Va a parar a la asamblea de los difuntos.
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 El que ama el deleite será un hombre pobre, Quien ama el vino y los ungüentos no enriquecerá.
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 El impío está en lugar del justo y El que pervierte ocupa el puesto de los rectos.
Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].
19 Más vale habitar en tierra desierta, Que con mujer rencillosa e iracunda.
It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.
20 Preciosos tesoros y aceite hay en la casa del sabio, Pero el hombre insensato los dilapida.
Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].
21 El que va tras la justicia y la misericordia Halla vida, prosperidad y honra.
Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.
22 El sabio conquista la ciudad de los poderosos, Y humilla la fortaleza en la que ella confía.
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 El que guarda su boca y su lengua Guarda su alma de penurias.
Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.
24 El soberbio presuntuoso tiene por nombre insolente, Y obra con saña y furor.
Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].
25 Los deseos del perezoso lo matan, Pues sus manos no quieren trabajar.
Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].
26 Todo el día desea y desea más, Pero el justo da y no escatima.
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 Los sacrificios del perverso son repugnancia, ¡Cuánto más cuando los ofrece con malicia!
[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 El testigo falso perecerá, Pero el que atiende, habla perpetuamente.
Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.
29 El perverso se presenta desafiante, Pero el recto examina su camino.
Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.
30 No hay habilidad, ni inteligencia, Ni consejo frente a Yavé.
[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 El caballo es preparado para el día de la batalla, Pero la victoria es de Yavé.
We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).
