Proverbs 21

1 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.

As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.

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

All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.

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

To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

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

The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.

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

The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.

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

The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.

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

The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.

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

The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.

9 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.

Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.

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

The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.

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

When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.

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

The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.

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

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, but shall not be heard.

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

A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.

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

To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.

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

A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.

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

He that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be rich.

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

The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.

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

It is better to dwell in a desert land Than with a contentious and fretful woman.

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

Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.

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

He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.

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

A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.

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

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.

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

The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.

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

The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.

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

The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth not withhold.

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

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he bringeth it with an evil design!

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

A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.

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

The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.

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

Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, against the LORD.

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

The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is from the LORD.