Proverbs 21
21
1The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
2#Prov. 16:2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
#Prov. 24:12; Luke 16:15But the Lord weighs the hearts.
3#1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 15:8; Is. 1:11, 16, 17; Hos. 6:6; (Mic. 6:7, 8)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4#Prov. 6:17A haughty look, a proud heart,
And the plowing of the wicked are sin.
5#Prov. 10:4The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
6#2 Pet. 2:3Getting treasures by a lying tongue
Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.
7The violence of the wicked will destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.
8The way of a 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 #Prov. 19:13a contentious woman.
10#James 4:5The 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 #Prov. 19:25wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
13#(Matt. 7:2; 18:30–34); James 2:13; 1 John 3:17Whoever 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 behind 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 #Ps. 49:14dead.
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 in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.
20#Ps. 112:3; Prov. 8:21There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.
21#Prov. 15:9; Matt. 5:6; (Rom. 2:7); 1 Cor. 15:58He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22A #2 Sam. 5:6–9; Prov. 24:5; Eccl. 7:19; 9:15, 16wise man scales the city of the mighty,
And brings down the trusted stronghold.
23#Prov. 12:13; 13:3; 18:21; (James 3:2)Whoever 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 #Prov. 13:4desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous #(Prov. 22:9; Eph. 4:28)gives and does not spare.
27#Prov. 15:8; Is. 66:3; Jer. 6:20; Amos 5:22The 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 establishes his way.
30#Is. 8:9, 10; (Jer. 9:23, 24); Acts 5:39; 1 Cor. 3:19, 20There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.
31The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But #Ps. 3:8; Jer. 3:23; (1 Cor. 15:57)deliverance is of the Lord.
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Proverbs 21: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 21
21
The LORD Controls Wise and Foolish People
1The king’s heart is like streams of water.
Both are under the Lord’s control.
He turns them in any direction he chooses.
2A person thinks everything he does is right,
but the Lord weighs hearts.
3Doing what is right and fair
is more acceptable to the Lord than offering a sacrifice.
4A conceited look and an arrogant attitude,
which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins.
5The plans of a hard-working person lead to prosperity,
but everyone who is ⌞always⌟ in a hurry ends up in poverty.
6Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time.
They are looking for death.
7The violence of wicked people will drag them away
since they refuse to do what is just.
8The way of a guilty person is crooked,
but the behavior of those who are pure is moral.
9Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.
10The mind of a wicked person desires evil
and has no consideration for his neighbor.
11When a mocker is punished, a gullible person becomes wise,
and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12A righteous person wisely considers the house of a wicked person.
He throws wicked people into disasters.
13Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call and not be answered.
14A gift ⌞given⌟ in secret calms anger,
and a secret bribe calms great fury.
15When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted,
but troublemakers are terrified.
16A person who wanders from the way of wise behavior
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.
Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich.
18Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people,
and treacherous people will take the place of decent people.
19Better to live in a desert
than with a quarreling and angry woman.
20Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person,
but a fool devours them.
21Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22A wise man attacks a city of warriors
and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust.
23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker.
His arrogance knows no limits.
25The desire of a lazy person will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.
26All day long he feels greedy,
but a righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27The sacrifice of wicked people is disgusting,
especially if they bring it with evil intent.
28A lying witness will die,
but a person who listens to advice will continue to speak.
29A wicked person puts up a bold front,
but a decent person’s way of life is his own security.
30No wisdom, no understanding, and no advice
⌞can stand up⌟ against the Lord.
31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.