Proverbs 21

1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.

[Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.

2 Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.

Every way of a man, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.

3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.

Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, are sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.

The plans of the diligent, tend only to abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, only to want.

6 Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.

The gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek death,

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.

The violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.

8 The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.

Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.

9 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.

10 The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

The soul of the lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour in his eyes.

11 When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.

When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

12 The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.

The Righteous One observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.

13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.

He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be answered.

14 A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.

A gift in secret, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.

It is a joy, to a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, to the workers of iniquity.

16 The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.

The man who wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become rich.

18 A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.

A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.

19 It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.

Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.

20 Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.

Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.

21 The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.

He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.

A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.

23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.

24 The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.

A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport of pride.

25 The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.

The craving of the sluggard, killeth him, for his hands have refused to work.

26 All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.

All the day, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.

The sacrifice of the lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!

28 A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.

A false witness, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.

29 A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.

A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.

30 There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.

There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.

The horse, is prepared for the day of battle, but, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.