| 1 | The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills. |
| 2 | Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs
and
tries the hearts. |
| 3 | To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. |
| 4 | Haughtiness of eyes and a proud heart, even the tillage of the wicked
or
the lamp [of joy] to them [whatever it may be], are sin [in the eyes of God]. |
| 5 | The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient
and
hasty hastens only to want. |
| 6 | Securing treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to and fro; those who seek them seek death. |
| 7 | The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, because they refuse to do justice. |
| 8 | The way of the guilty is exceedingly crooked, but as for the pure, his work is right
and
his conduct is straight. |
| 9 | It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop [on the flat oriental roof, exposed to all kinds of weather] than in a house shared with a nagging, quarrelsome,
and
faultfinding woman. |
| 10 | The soul
or
life of the wicked craves
and
seeks evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. |
| 11 | When the scoffer is punished, the fool gets a lesson in being wise; but men of [godly] Wisdom
and
good sense learn by being instructed. |
| 12 | The [uncompromisingly] righteous man considers well the house of the wicked—how the wicked are cast down to ruin. |
| 13 | Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will cry out himself and not be heard. |
| 14 | A gift in secret pacifies
and
turns away anger, and a bribe in the lap, strong wrath. |
| 15 | When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God), but to the evildoers it is dismay, calamity,
and
ruin. |
| 16 | A man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall abide in the congregation of the spirits (of the dead). |
| 17 | He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. |
| 18 | The wicked become a ransom for the [uncompromisingly] righteous, and the treacherous for the upright [because the wicked themselves fall into the traps and pits they have dug for the good]. |
| 19 | It is better to dwell in a desert land than with a contentious woman and with vexation. |
| 20 | There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a self-confident
and
foolish man swallows it up
and
wastes it. |
| 21 | He who earnestly seeks after
and
craves righteousness, mercy,
and
loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor. |
| 22 | A wise man scales the city walls of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. |
| 23 | He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles. |
| 24 | The proud
and
haughty man—Scoffer is his name—deals
and
acts with overbearing pride. |
| 25 | The desire of the slothful kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. |
| 26 | He covets greedily all the day long, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous gives and does not withhold. |
| 27 | The sacrifice of the wicked is exceedingly disgusting
and
abhorrent [to the Lord]—how much more when he brings it with evil intention? |
| 28 | A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears attentively will endure
and
go unchallenged. |
| 29 | A wicked man puts on the bold, unfeeling face [of guilt], but as for the upright, he considers, directs,
and
establishes his way [with the confidence of integrity]. |
| 30 | There is no [human] wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord. |
| 31 | The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance
and
victory are of the Lord. |
Cross references:
-
Proverbs 21:2 : Prov. 24:12; Luke 16:15.
-
Proverbs 21:3 : I Sam. 15:22; Prov. 15:8; Isa. 1:11; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:7, 8.
-
Proverbs 21:10 : James 2:16.
-
Proverbs 21:13 : Matt. 18:30-34; James 2:13.
-
Proverbs 21:21 : Prov. 15:9; Matt. 5:6.
-
Proverbs 21:23 : Prov. 12:13; 13:3; 18:21; James 3:2.
-
Proverbs 21:26 : II Cor. 9:6-10.
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