Proverbs 21

Chapter 21

¹The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;

he turns it wherever he will.

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

but the Lord weighs the heart.

³To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

⁵The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,

but every one who is hasty comes only to want.

⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

⁷The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,

because they refuse to do what is just.

⁸The way of the guilty is crooked,

but the conduct of the pure is right.

⁹It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

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.

¹²The righteous observes the house of the wicked;

the wicked are cast down to ruin.

¹³He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor

will himself cry out and not be heard.

¹⁴A gift in secret averts anger;

and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

¹⁵When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,

but dismay to evildoers.

¹⁶A man who wanders from the way of understanding

will rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷He who 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 faithless for the upright.

¹⁹It is better to live in a desert land

than with a contentious and fretful woman.

²⁰Precious treasure remains^h in a wise man’s dwelling,

but a foolish man devours it.

²¹He who pursues righteousness and kindness

will find lifeⁱ and honor.

²²A wise man scales the city of the mighty

and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³He who keeps his mouth and his tongue

keeps himself out of trouble.

²⁴“Scoffer” is the name of the proud, haughty man

who acts with arrogant pride.

²⁵The desire of the sluggard kills him

for his hands refuse to labor.

²⁶All day long the wicked covets,^j

but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

²⁸A false witness will perish,

but the word of a man who hears will endure.

²⁹A wicked man puts on a bold face,

but an upright man considers^k his ways.

³⁰No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel,

can avail against the Lord.

³¹The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to the Lord.