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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Proverbs 21
21
1The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he #[Ezra 6:22]turns it wherever he will.
2 # ch. 16:2; [ch. 12:15] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord #ch. 24:12; [Luke 16:15; 1 Cor. 4:4]; See 1 Sam. 16:7weighs the heart.
3 # See ch. 15:8; 1 Sam. 15:22 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 # See ch. 6:17; Ps. 101:5 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
#
1 Kgs. 11:36
the lamp#21:4 Or the plowing of the wicked, are sin.
5The plans of #ch. 10:4 the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is #[ch. 19:2] hasty comes #[ch. 11:24; 14:23; 22:16]only to poverty.
6 # ch. 20:21; See ch. 10:2 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a #[ch. 13:11] fleeting #Job 13:25 vapor and a #[ch. 8:36]snare of death.#21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
7The violence of the wicked will #[Jer. 30:23]sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8The way of the guilty #[ch. 2:15]is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9It is #ch. 25:24; [ver. 19; ch. 19:13; 27:15]better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11When #ch. 19:25; See Ps. 1:1a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12The Righteous One #Ps. 37:35, 36observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 # [James 2:13]; See Matt. 18:30-34 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.
14 # [ch. 17:8; 18:16] A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe,#21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom strong wrath.
15When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
# [ch. 10:29] but terror to evildoers.
16One who wanders from the way of good sense
# [Ps. 49:14] will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 # [ch. 11:8] The wicked is a #Isa. 43:3ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.
19It is #[ver. 9]better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 # [Ps. 112:3] Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man #[Job 20:15, 18]devours it.
21Whoever #ch. 15:9; Matt. 5:6; [ch. 3:3] pursues righteousness and kindness
will find #ch. 3:16; 1 Kgs. 3:11; Matt. 6:33; See ch. 4:22life, righteousness, and honor.
22 # [ch. 24:5; Eccles. 7:19]; See 2 Sam. 5:6-9; Eccles. 9:14-18 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 # See ch. 13:3 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
# ch. 22:5 keeps himself out of #ch. 12:13trouble.
24 # ch. 1:22; See Ps. 1:1 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25The desire of #[ch. 13:4]the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous #See Ps. 37:26gives and does not hold back.
27 #
Isa. 66:3; See ch. 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more #[ch. 24:9]when he brings it with evil intent.
28 # ch. 19:5, 9 A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright #Ps. 119:5gives thought to#21:29 Or establishes his ways.
30 #
Isa. 8:9, 10; 1 Cor. 3:19, 20; [ch. 19:21] No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.
31 # [Ps. 20:7; 33:17; Isa. 31:1] The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but #Jer. 3:23the victory belongs to the Lord.
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