Proverbs 21
1 As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
5 The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
6 The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
9 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large 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 wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.
The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth 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 man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, but shall not be heard.
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 pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be rich.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
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 desert land Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.
The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth 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 an abomination; How much more when he bringeth it with an evil design!
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 a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, 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 victory is from the LORD.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
