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 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.