Proverbs 21

1 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.

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

People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].

3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].

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

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

People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.

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

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

Wicked [people] refuse to do what is right/just, but they will be ruined because of the violent things [PRS] that they do.

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

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

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

Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.

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

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

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

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

When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.

15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

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

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 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.

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

Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].

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

It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.

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

Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].

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

Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.

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

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

Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.

24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.

Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].

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

Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].

26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.

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

[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 A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.

Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.

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

Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.

30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.

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

We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).