Proverbs 21

1 The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.

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 [is] right in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering hearts.

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

3 To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.

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

4 Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.

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

5 The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.

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

6 The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.

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

7 The spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.

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

8 The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.

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

9 Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.

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 wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious in his eyes.

The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scorner is punished, the simple becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.

When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.

12 The Righteous One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.

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

13 Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.

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 gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.

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

15 To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.

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

16 A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.

The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.

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

19 Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.

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

20 A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swallows it up.

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

21 Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength 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 is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.

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

24 Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.

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

25 The desire of the slothful slays him, For his hands have refused to work.

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

26 All the day desiring he has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.

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

27 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.

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

28 A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.

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

29 A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares his way.

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

30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel against YHWH.

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

31 A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.