Proverbs 21

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the hearts.

Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.

3 To do justice and judgment 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 An high look, and a proud heart, [even] 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 thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness: but every one that is hasty [hasteth] only to want.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapour driven to and fro; they [that seek them] seek death.

He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.

7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away; because they refuse to do judgment.

Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.

8 The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked: but as for the pure, his work is right.

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 with a contentious woman in a wide house.

[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 desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.

11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.

12 The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked; [how] the wicked are overthrown to [their] ruin.

A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry, 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 pacifieth anger, and a present in the bosom 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 judgment; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.

16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall rest in the congregation of the dead.

A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.

17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; and the treacherous [cometh] in the stead of 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 swalloweth it up.

A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.

21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.

24 The proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, he worketh 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 slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.

26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.

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 bringeth it with a wicked mind!

The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.

28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth shall speak unchallenged.

A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he ordereth 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 against the day of battle: but victory is of the LORD,

A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.