Proverbs 21
21
1The Lord can control a king’s mind as easily as he controls a river.
He can direct it as he pleases.
2A person may believe he is doing right.
But the Lord judges his reasons.
3Do what is right and fair.
That is more important to the Lord than animal sacrifices.
4Proud looks, proud thoughts
and evil actions are sin.
5Those who plan and work hard 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 what is right.
9It is better to live in a corner on the roof# In Bible times houses were built with flat roofs. The roof was used for drying things such as flax and fruit. And it was used as an extra room, as a place for worship and as a place to sleep in the summer.
than inside the house with a quarreling wife.
10An evil person only wants to harm others.
His neighbor will get no mercy from him.
11Punish a person who makes fun of wisdom, and he will become wise.
But just teach a wise person, and he will get knowledge.
12God, who is always right, sees the house of the wicked.
And he brings about the ruin of every evil person.
13If you ignore the poor when they cry for help,
you also will cry for help and not be answered.
14A gift given secretly will calm an angry man.
A present given in secrecy will calm even great anger.
15When things are done fairly, good people are happy,
but evil people are frightened.
16A person who does not use understanding
will join the dead.
17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.
Whoever loves wine and rich food will never be wealthy.
18Wicked people will suffer instead of good people.
And those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who can.
19It is better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarreling and complaining wife.
20Wise people store up the best foods and olive oil.
But a foolish person eats up everything he has.
21A person who tries to live right and be loyal
finds life, success and honor.
22A wise person can defeat a city full of strong men.
He can tear down the defenses they trust.
23A person who is careful about what he says
keeps himself out of trouble.
24People who act with stubborn pride
are called “proud” and “bragger.”
25The lazy person’s desire for sleep will kill him
because he refuses to work.
26All day long the lazy person wishes for more.
But the good person gives without holding back.
27The Lord hates sacrifices made by evil people,
particularly when they make them for the wrong reasons.
28The words of a lying witness will die.
But the words of an obedient man will always be remembered.
29A wicked person is stubborn.
But an honest person thinks carefully about what he does.
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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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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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