Proverbs 21

1 The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.

The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.

2 Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.

3 To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4 A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.

A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5 The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.

The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.

6 He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.

Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.

7 By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.

The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.

8 Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.

The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9 It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.

10 The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.

The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

11 When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.

When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.

The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.

13 He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.

Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.

14 By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.

A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.

15 It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.

It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to evildoers.

16 The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.

The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.

He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

18 The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous for the upright.

19 It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.

It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.

20 There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.

21 He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.

He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.

23 He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

24 The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.

The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.

25 The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

26 All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.

There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.

27 The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind.

28 A false witness will be cut off, ...

A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.

29 The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.

A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

30 Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.