1In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels towards all who please him.2A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.3To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.4Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the unploughed field of the wicked – produce sin.5The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.6A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapour and a deadly snare.[1]7The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.8The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.9Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.10The wicked crave evil; their neighbours get no mercy from them.11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.12The Righteous One[2] takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.13Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.14A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.15When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.16Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.19Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.20The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.21Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity[3] and honour.22One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.23Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.24The proud and arrogant person – ‘Mocker’ is his name – behaves with insolent fury.25The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.26All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable – how much more so when brought with evil intent!28A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.29The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.30There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.31The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.
Proverbs 21
English Standard Version
1The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. (Ezr 6:22)2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. (1Sa 16:7; Pr 12:15; Pr 16:2; Pr 24:12; Lu 16:15; 1Co 4:4)3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (1Sa 15:22; Pr 15:8)4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp[1] of the wicked, are sin. (1Ki 11:36; Ps 101:5; Pr 6:17)5The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. (Pr 10:4; Pr 11:24; Pr 14:23; Pr 19:2; Pr 22:16)6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.[2] (Job 13:25; Pr 8:36; Pr 10:2; Pr 13:11; Pr 20:21)7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. (Jer 30:23)8The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. (Pr 2:15)9It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. (Pr 19:13; Pr 21:19; Pr 25:24; Pr 27:15)10The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.11When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. (Ps 1:1; Pr 19:25)12The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin. (Ps 37:35)13Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. (Mt 18:30; Jas 2:13)14A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe,[3] strong wrath. (Pr 17:8; Pr 18:16)15When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. (Pr 10:29)16One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead. (Ps 49:14)17Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright. (Pr 11:8; Isa 43:3)19It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman. (Pr 21:9)20Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. (Job 20:15; Job 20:18; Ps 112:3)21Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. (1Ki 3:11; Pr 3:3; Pr 3:16; Pr 4:22; Pr 15:9; Mt 5:6; Mt 6:33)22A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. (2Sa 5:6; Pr 24:5; Ec 7:19; Ec 9:14)23Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. (Pr 12:13; Pr 13:3; Pr 22:5)24“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. (Ps 1:1; Pr 1:22)25The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. (Pr 13:4)26All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. (Ps 37:26)27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. (Pr 15:8; Pr 24:9; Isa 66:3)28A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. (Pr 19:5; Pr 19:9)29A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to[4] his ways. (Ps 119:5)30No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. (Pr 19:21; Isa 8:9; 1Co 3:19)31The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (Ps 20:7; Ps 33:17; Isa 31:1; Jer 3:23)