Proverbs 21
1 As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
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's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
11 When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgement: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 [It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
