Proverbs 21
21
1In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.
2A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
5The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.#21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
7The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.
8The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
12The Righteous One#21:12 Or The righteous person takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.
13Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered.
14A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
15When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.
16Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.
17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
19Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
20The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
21Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity#21:21 Or righteousness and honor.
22One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
23Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
keep themselves from calamity.
24The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.
25The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!
28A false witness will perish,
but a careful listener will testify successfully.
29The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.
30There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.
31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.
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Proverbs 21: NIV
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 21
21
1 Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.
2 Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
9 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
11 When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
14 A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
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