Proverbs 21
21
1The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord,
as the rivers of water:
he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes:
but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3To do justice and judgment
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4A high look, and a proud heart,
and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;
but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them;
because they refuse to do judgment.
8The way of man is froward and strange:#21.8 The way of man is froward and strange: or The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked.
but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop,
than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10The soul of the wicked desireth evil:
his neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
11When the scorner is punished,
the simple is made wise:
and when the wise is instructed,
he receiveth knowledge.
12The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked:
but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,
he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14A gift in secret pacifieth anger:
and a reward in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment:
but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding
shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man:
he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
and the transgressor for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness,
than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy
findeth life, righteousness, and honor.
22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,
and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue,
keepeth his soul from troubles.
24Proud and haughty scorner is his name,#21.24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, or The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name.
who dealeth in proud wrath.
25The desire of the slothful killeth him;
for his hands refuse to labor.
26He coveteth greedily all the day long:
but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:
how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28A false witness shall perish:
but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29A wicked man hardeneth his face:
but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding
nor counsel against the Lord.
31The horse is prepared against the day of battle:
but safety is of the Lord.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 21: KJVAAE
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV: