Proverbs 21

21The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,

Like the ¹rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

^2aEvery way of a man is right in his own eyes,

^bBut the Lord weighs the hearts.

^3cTo do righteousness and justice

Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

^4dA haughty look, a proud heart,

And the ²plowing of the wicked are sin.

^5eThe plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,

But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

^6fGetting treasures by a lying tongue

³Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

⁷The violence of the wicked will ⁴destroy them,

Because they refuse to do justice.

⁸The way of ⁵a guilty man is perverse;

But as for the pure, his work is right.

⁹Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with ^ga contentious woman.

^10hThe soul of the wicked desires evil;

His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;

But when the ⁱwise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

¹²The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,

Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

^13jWhoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor

Will also cry himself and not be heard.

¹⁴A gift in secret pacifies anger,

And a bribe ⁶behind the back, strong wrath.

¹⁵It is a joy for the just to do justice,

But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶A man who wanders from the way of understanding

Will rest in the assembly of the ^kdead.

¹⁷He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;

He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

¹⁸The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,

And the unfaithful for the upright.

¹⁹Better to dwell ⁷in the wilderness,

Than with a contentious and angry woman.

^20lThere is desirable treasure,

And oil in the dwelling of the wise,

But a foolish man squanders it.

^21mHe who follows righteousness and mercy

Finds life, righteousness and honor.

²²A ⁿwise man ⁸scales the city of the mighty,

And brings down the trusted stronghold.

^23oWhoever guards his mouth and tongue

Keeps his soul from troubles.

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

He acts with arrogant pride.

²⁵The ^pdesire of the lazy man kills him,

For his hands refuse to labor.

²⁶He covets greedily all day long,

But the righteous ^qgives and does not spare.

^27rThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

²⁸A false witness shall perish,

But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

²⁹A wicked man hardens his face,

But as for the upright, he ⁹establishes his way.

^30sThere is no wisdom or understanding

Or counsel against the Lord.

³¹The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But ^tdeliverance is of the Lord.