Proverbs 21
21
1The Lord can control a king’s mind as he controls a river;
he can direct it as he pleases.
2You may believe you are doing right,
but the Lord judges your reasons.
3Doing what is right and fair
is more important to the Lord than sacrifices.
4Proud looks, proud thoughts,
and evil actions are sin.
5The plans of hard-working people earn a profit,
but those who act too quickly become poor.
6Wealth that comes from telling lies
vanishes like a mist and leads to death.
7The violence of the wicked will destroy them,
because they refuse to do what is right.
8Guilty people live dishonest lives,
but honest people do right.
9It is better to live in a corner on the roof
than inside the house with a quarreling wife.
10Evil people only want to harm others.
Their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11If you punish those who make fun of wisdom, a foolish person may gain some wisdom.
But if you teach the wise, they will get knowledge.
12God, who is always right, watches the house of the wicked
and brings ruin on every evil person.
13Whoever ignores the poor when they cry for help
will also cry for help and not be answered.
14A secret gift will calm an angry person;
a present given in secrecy will quiet great anger.
15When justice is done, good people are happy,
but evil people are ruined.
16Whoever does not use good sense
will end up among the dead.
17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and perfume will never be rich.
18Wicked people will suffer instead of good people,
and those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who do right.
19It is better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarreling and complaining wife.
20Wise people’s houses are full of the best foods and olive oil,
but fools waste everything they have.
21Whoever tries to live right and be loyal
finds life, success, and honor.
22A wise person can defeat a city full of warriors
and tear down the defenses they trust in.
23Those who are careful about what they say
keep themselves out of trouble.
24People who act with stubborn pride
are called “proud,” “bragger,” and “mocker.”
25Lazy people’s desire for sleep will kill them,
because they refuse to work.
26All day long they wish for more,
but good people give without holding back.
27The Lord hates sacrifices brought by evil people,
particularly when they offer them for the wrong reasons.
28A lying witness will be forgotten,
but a truthful witness will speak on.
29Wicked people are stubborn,
but good people think carefully about what they do.
30There is no wisdom, understanding, or advice
that can succeed against the Lord.
31You can get the horses ready for battle,
but it is the Lord who gives the victory.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 21
21
1A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses. # Ezr 6:22
2All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives. # Lit Lord weighs the hearts # Pr 12:15; 16:2; 17:3; 24:12; Lk 16:15
3Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. # 1Sm 15:22; Pr 15:8; Hs 6:6; Mc 6:7-8; Mt 9:13
4The lamp # Some Hb mss, ancient versions read tillage that guides the wicked —
haughty eyes and an arrogant heart # Ps 101:5; Pr 6:16-17; 30:13 — is sin.
5The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor. # Pr 10:4; 14:23; 21:20; 28:22
6Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist, # Or a breath blown away a pursuit of death. # Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death # Lit is vanity, ones seeking death # Pr 8:36; 13:11; 20:21
7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away
because they refuse to act justly.
8A guilty man’s conduct is crooked, # Pr 2:15
but the behavior of the innocent is upright. # Pr 20:11
9Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife. # Pr 15:16-17; 17:1; 21:19; 25:24
10A wicked person desires evil;
he has no consideration # Or favor for his neighbor. # Pr 14:21
11When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge. # Pr 19:25
12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked;
He brings the wicked to ruin.
13The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
will himself also call out and not be answered. # Pr 14:31; 17:5; Mt 18:30-34; Jms 2:13; 1Jn 3:17
14A secret gift soothes anger,
and a covert bribe, # Lit a bribe in the bosom fierce rage. # Pr 17:8; 18:16; 19:6
15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to those who practice iniquity. # Pr 10:29; Rm 13:13
16The man who strays from the way of wisdom
will come to rest
in the assembly of the departed spirits. # Ps 49:14; Pr 2:18; 9:18
17The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich. # Ec 2:1-3,10-11
18The wicked are a ransom for the righteous,
and the treacherous, for # Or in place of the upright. # Pr 11:8; Is 43:3
19Better to live in a wilderness
than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife. # Pr 21:9
20Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person,
but a foolish man consumes them. # Lit it # Jb 20:15,18; Ps 112:3; Pr 10:4; 28:20; Mt 25:1-13
21The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love
will find life, righteousness, and honor. # Pr 3:16; 8:18; 15:9; Mt 5:6; 6:33
22A wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down its secure fortress. # 2Sm 5:6-9; Pr 14:26; 24:5; Ec 7:19; 9:14-18
23The one who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble. # Pr 12:13; 13:3; Jms 3:2
24The proud and arrogant person, named “Mocker,”
acts with excessive pride. # Ps 1:1; Pr 1:22; 21:11
25A slacker’s craving will kill him
because his hands refuse to work. # Pr 10:4; 12:24; 13:4; 19:15,24
26He is filled with craving # Lit He craves a craving all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back. # Ps 37:26; Pr 11:24-25
27The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable —
how much more so
when he brings it with ulterior motives! # Pr 15:8; 28:9; Is 66:3
28A lying witness will perish, # Pr 19:5,9
but the one who listens will speak successfully.
29A wicked man puts on a bold face, # Pr 7:13
but the upright man considers his way.
30No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel
will prevail against the Lord. # Is 8:9-10; 1Co 3:19-20
31A horse is prepared for the day of battle, # Ps 20:7; 33:17; 108:10-13; Is 31:1
but victory comes from the Lord. # Jr 3:23; 1Co 15:57
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