Proverbs 21
1 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.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
19 [It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
