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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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Proverbs 21
21
1In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.
2A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
5The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.#21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
7The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.
8The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
12The Righteous One#21:12 Or The righteous person takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.
13Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered.
14A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
15When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.
16Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.
17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
19Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
20The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
21Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity#21:21 Or righteousness and honor.
22One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
23Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
keep themselves from calamity.
24The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.
25The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!
28A false witness will perish,
but a careful listener will testify successfully.
29The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.
30There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.
31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.
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