Proverbs 21
21
1The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
5The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but every one who is hasty comes only to want.
6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is right.
9It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12The righteous observes the house of the wicked;
the wicked are cast down to ruin.
13He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself cry out and not be heard.
14A gift in secret averts anger;
and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,
but dismay to evildoers.
16A man who wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.
19It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20Precious treasure remains#21.20 Gk: Heb and oil in a wise man's dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.
21He who pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life#21.21 Gk: Heb life and righteousness and honor.
22A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23He who keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
24“Scoffer” is the name of the proud, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25The desire of the sluggard kills him
for his hands refuse to labor.
26All day long the wicked covets,#21.26 Gk: Heb all day long he covets covetously
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
28A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but an upright man considers#21.29 Another reading is establishes his ways.
30No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel,
can avail against the Lord.
31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 21: RSV-C
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in