Proverbs 21:22–27

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty

and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues

keep themselves from calamity.

24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—

behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,

because his hands refuse to work.

26 All day long he craves for more,

but the righteous give without sparing.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—

how much more so when brought with evil intent!

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,

And casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue

Keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name,

Who dealeth in proud wrath.

25 The desire of the slothful killeth him;

For his hands refuse to labour.

26 He coveteth greedily all the day long:

But the righteous giveth and spareth not.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:

How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

22 The wise conquer the city of the strong

and level the fortress in which they trust.

23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,

and you will stay out of trouble.

24 Mockers are proud and haughty;

they act with boundless arrogance.

25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,

for their hands refuse to work.

26 Some people are always greedy for more,

but the godly love to give!

27 The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,

especially when it is offered with wrong motives.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty,

And brings down the trusted stronghold.

23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue

Keeps his soul from troubles.

24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;

He acts with arrogant pride.

25 The desire of the lazy man kills him,

For his hands refuse to labor.

26 He covets greedily all day long,

But the righteous gives and does not spare.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

22 A wise person can defeat a city full of warriors

and tear down the defenses they trust in.

23 Those who are careful about what they say

keep themselves out of trouble.

24 People who act with stubborn pride

are called “proud,” “bragger,” and “mocker.”

25 Lazy people’s desire for sleep will kill them,

because they refuse to work.

26 All day long they wish for more,

but good people give without holding back.

27 The Lord hates sacrifices brought by evil people,

particularly when they offer them for the wrong reasons.

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,

And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue

Keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name;

He worketh in the arrogance of pride.

25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him;

For his hands refuse to labor.

26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long;

But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination:

How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 Proud, arrogant, scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.

25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work: 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!

22 A wise man attacks a city of warriors 

and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust. 

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

24 An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker. 

His arrogance knows no limits. 

25 The desire of a lazy person will kill him 

because his hands refuse to work. 

26 All day long he feels greedy, 

but a righteous person gives and does not hold back. 

27 The sacrifice of wicked people is disgusting, 

especially if they bring it with evil intent. 

22 A wise person went up against a city of warriors

and brought down its secure fortress.

23 The one who guards his mouth and tongue

keeps himself out of trouble.

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

acts with excessive pride.

25 A slacker’s craving will kill him

because his hands refuse to work.

26 He is filled with craving all day long,

but the righteous give and don’t hold back.

27 The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable—

how much more so

when he brings it with ulterior motives!

22 One wise person went up against a city of warriors

and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.

23 To watch over mouth and tongue

is to keep out of trouble.

24 The proud, haughty person, named Scoffer,

acts with arrogant pride.

25 The craving of the lazy person is fatal,

for lazy hands refuse to labor.

26 All day long the wicked covet,

but the righteous give and do not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more when brought with evil intent.

22 To a city of warriors, the wise ascends,

and he will bring down the stronghold—its object of trust.

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,

he guards his life from danger.

24 The proud, haughty one: “scoffer” is his name;

he acts with arrogance of pride.

25 The craving of a lazy person will kill him,

for his hands refuse to work.

26 All day he craves a craving,

but the righteous will give and not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more when he brings it in divisiveness!

22 Those who are wise can attack a strong city.

They can pull down the place of safety its people trust in.

23 Anyone who is careful about what he says

keeps himself out of trouble.

24 A proud person is called a “mocker.”

He thinks much too highly of himself.

25 Some people will die while they are still hungry.

That’s because their hands refuse to work.

26 All day long they hunger for more.

But godly people give without holding back.

27 God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people.

He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty

And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,

Guards his soul from troubles.

24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names,

Who acts with insolent pride.

25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,

For his hands refuse to work;

26 All day long he is craving,

While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,

How much more when he brings it with evil intent!