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: CPDV
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Proverbs 21
21
The Lord Is In Charge
1 #
3 Macc 5.28. The Lord controls rulers,
just as he determines
the course of rivers.
2We may think we are doing
the right thing,
but the Lord always knows
what is in our hearts.
3Doing what is right and fair
pleases the Lord
more than an offering.
4Evil people are proud
and arrogant,
but sin is the only crop
they produce.#21.4 but sin … produce: Or “but sin is the only light they ever follow.”
5If you plan and work hard,
you will have plenty;
if you hurry to get rich,
you will end up poor.
6Cheating to get rich
is a foolish dream
and no less than suicide.#21.6 and … suicide: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
7You destroy yourself
by being cruel and violent
and refusing to live right.
8All crooks are liars,
but anyone who is innocent
will do right.
9 #
Si 25.16. It's better to stay outside
on the roof of your house
than to live inside
with a nagging wife.
10Evil people want to do wrong,
even to their friends.
11An ignorant fool learns
by seeing others punished;
a sensible person learns
by being instructed.
12God is always fair!
He knows what the wicked do
and will punish them.
13If you won't help the poor,
don't expect to be heard
when you cry out for help.
14A secret bribe will save you
from someone's fierce anger.
15When justice is done,
good citizens are glad
and crooks are terrified.
16If you stop using good sense,
you will find yourself
in the grave.
17Heavy drinkers and others
who live only for pleasure
will lose all they have.
18God's people will escape,
but all who are wicked
will pay the price.
19It's better out in the desert
than at home with a nagging,
complaining wife.
20Be sensible and store up
precious treasures—
don't waste them
like a fool.
21If you try to be kind and good,
you will be blessed with life
and goodness and honor.
22One wise person can defeat
a city full of soldiers
and capture their fortress.
23Watching what you say
can save you
a lot of trouble.
24If you are proud and conceited,
everyone will say,
“You're a snob!”
25If you want too much
and are too lazy to work,
it could be fatal.
26But people who obey God
are always generous.
27 #
Si 7.9. The Lord despises the offerings
of wicked people
with evil motives.
28If you tell lies in court,
you are done for;
only a reliable witness
can do the job.
29Wicked people bluff their way,
but God's people think
before they take a step.
30No matter how much you know
or what plans you make,
you can't defeat the Lord.
31Even if your army has horses
ready for battle,
the Lord will always win.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.