Proverbs 21–22

21 A king’s heart is like channeled water in the Lord’s hand:

He directs it wherever he chooses.y

2 All a person’s ways seem right to him,

but the Lord weighs hearts.z

3 Doing what is righteous and just

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.aa

4 The lamp that guides the wicked—

haughty eyes and an arrogant heartab —is sin.

5 The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,

but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.ac

6 Making a fortune through a lying tongue

is a vanishing mist,A a pursuit of death.B,C,ad

7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away

because they refuse to act justly.

8 A guilty one’s conduct is crooked,a

but the behavior of the innocent is upright.b

9 Better to live on the corner of a roof

than to share a house with a nagging wife.c

10 A wicked person desires evil;

he has no considerationD for his neighbor.d

11 When a mocker is punished,

the inexperienced become wiser;

when one teaches a wise man,

he acquires knowledge.e

12 The Righteous OneE considers the house of the wicked;

he brings the wicked to ruin.

13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor

will himself also call out and not be answered.f

14 A secret gift soothes anger,

and a covert bribe, fierce rage.g

15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous

but a terror to evildoers.h

16 The person who strays from the way of prudence

will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.i

17 The one who loves pleasure will become poor;

whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.j

18 The wicked are a ransom for the righteous,

and the treacherous, forF the upright.k

19 Better to live in a wilderness

than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.l

20 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person,

but a fool consumes them.A,m

21 The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love

will find life, righteousness, and honor.n

22 A wise person went up against a city of warriors

and brought down its secure fortress.o

23 The one who guards his mouth and tongue

keeps himself out of trouble.p

24 The arrogant and proud person, named “Mocker,”

acts with excessive arrogance.q

25 A slacker’s craving will kill him

because his hands refuse to work.r

26 He is filled with cravingB all day long,

but the righteous give and don’t hold back.s

27 The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable—

how much more so

when he brings it with ulterior motives!t

28 A lying witness will perish,u

but the one who listens will speak successfully.

29 A wicked person puts on a bold face,v

but the upright one considers his way.

30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel

will prevail against the Lord.w

31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle,x

but victory comes from the Lord.y

22 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;

favor is better than silver and gold.z

2 Rich and poor have this in common:C

the Lord makes them all.aa

3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,

but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.a

4 Humility, the fear of the Lord,

results in wealth, honor, and life.b

5 There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked;c

the one who guards himself stays far from them.

6 Start a youth out on his way;d

even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor,e

and the borrower is a slave to the lender.f

8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,g

and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9 A generous personA will be blessed,h

for he shares his food with the poor.i

10 Drive out a mocker,j and conflict goes too;

then quarreling and dishonor will cease.k

11 The one who loves a pure heart

and gracious lips—the king is his friend.l

12 The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!

I’ll be killed in the public square!”m

14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;

a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.n

15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;

a rod of discipline will separate it from him.o

16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,

and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.p

WORDS OF THE WISE

17 Listen closely,B pay attention to the words of the wise,q

and apply your mind to my knowledge.

18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you

and if they areC constantly on your lips.

19 I have instructed you today—even you—

so that your confidence may be in the Lord.

20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayingsD

about counsel and knowledge,

21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,

so that you may give a dependable reportE,r

to those who sent you?s

22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,

and don’t crush the oppressedt at the city gate,u

23 for the Lord will champion their causev

and will plunder those who plunder them.

24 Don’t make friends with an angry person,F

and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one,w

25 or you will learn his waysx

and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,A

who put up security for loans.y

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

even your bed will be taken from under you.z

28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker

that your ancestors set up.a

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?

He will stand in the presence of kings.

He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.a