Proverbs 21

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

Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.

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

Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.

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

To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.

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

To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.

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

The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.

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

Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.

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

The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.

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

The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.

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 sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.

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

The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.

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

When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.

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

The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.

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

Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.

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

A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.

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

It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.

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

A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.

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

Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.

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

The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.

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

It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.

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

There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.

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

Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.

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

The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.

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

Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.

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

A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.

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

Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.

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

He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.

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

The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.

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

A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.

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

The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.

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

There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.

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

The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.