Proverbs 21
21
1The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases.
2People may be right in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their heart.
3The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.
4Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
and evil actions are all sin.
5Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
6Wealth created by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.#21:6 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads mist for those who seek death.
7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8The guilty walk a crooked path;
the innocent travel a straight road.
9It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
10Evil people desire evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
12The Righteous One#21:12 Or The righteous man. knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;
he will bring disaster on them.
13Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.
14A secret gift calms anger;
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
15Justice is a joy to the godly,
but it terrifies evildoers.
16The person who strays from common sense
will end up in the company of the dead.
17Those who love pleasure become poor;
those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
18The wicked are punished in place of the godly,
and traitors in place of the honest.
19It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
20The wise have wealth and luxury,
but fools spend whatever they get.
21Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22The wise conquer the city of the strong
and level the fortress in which they trust.
23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.
24Mockers are proud and haughty;
they act with boundless arrogance.
25Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
for their hands refuse to work.
26Some people are always greedy for more,
but the godly love to give!
27The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,
especially when it is offered with wrong motives.
28A false witness will be cut off,
but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
29The wicked bluff their way through,
but the virtuous think before they act.
30No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.
31The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
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Proverbs 21: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Proverbs 21
21
1The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses.
He turns it wherever he desires.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
3To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4A high look and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit;
and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6Getting treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
7The violence of the wicked will drive them away,
because they refuse to do what is right.
8The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom.
When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked,
and brings the wicked to ruin.
13Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,
he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14A gift in secret pacifies anger,
and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15It is joy to the righteous to do justice;
but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16The man who wanders out of the way of understanding
shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17He who loves pleasure will be a poor man.
He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
the treacherous for the upright.
19It is better to dwell in a desert land,
than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
but a foolish man swallows it up.
21He who follows after righteousness and kindness
finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22A wise man scales the city of the mighty,
and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps his soul from troubles.
24The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name—
he works in the arrogance of pride.
25The desire of the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26There are those who covet greedily all day long;
but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination—
how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28A false witness will perish.
A man who listens speaks to eternity.
29A wicked man hardens his face;
but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30There is no wisdom nor understanding
nor counsel against Yahweh.
31The horse is prepared for the day of battle;
but victory is with Yahweh.
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