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.

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.

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

Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.

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

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

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

Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.

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

The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.

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

Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.

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

The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.

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

The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.

9 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared 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 impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.

The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor 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 mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.

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

The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.

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

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

A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.

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

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.

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

The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will 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.

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves 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.

A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.

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

It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.

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

Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.

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

The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, 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 scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.

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

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

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

The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.

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

The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.

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

All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.

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

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.

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

A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.

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

A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.

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

There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.

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 the victory belongs to Yahweh.