Proverbs 21
21
The LORD Controls Wise and Foolish People
1The king’s heart is like streams of water.
Both are under the Lord’s control.
He turns them in any direction he chooses.
2A person thinks everything he does is right,
but the Lord weighs hearts.
3Doing what is right and fair
is more acceptable to the Lord than offering a sacrifice.
4A conceited look and an arrogant attitude,
which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins.
5The plans of a hard-working person lead to prosperity,
but everyone who is ⌞always⌟ in a hurry ends up in poverty.
6Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time.
They are looking for death.
7The violence of wicked people will drag them away
since they refuse to do what is just.
8The way of a guilty person is crooked,
but the behavior of those who are pure is moral.
9Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.
10The mind of a wicked person desires evil
and has no consideration for his neighbor.
11When a mocker is punished, a gullible person becomes wise,
and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12A righteous person wisely considers the house of a wicked person.
He throws wicked people into disasters.
13Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call and not be answered.
14A gift ⌞given⌟ in secret calms anger,
and a secret bribe calms great fury.
15When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted,
but troublemakers are terrified.
16A person who wanders from the way of wise behavior
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.
Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich.
18Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people,
and treacherous people will take the place of decent people.
19Better to live in a desert
than with a quarreling and angry woman.
20Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person,
but a fool devours them.
21Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22A wise man attacks a city of warriors
and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust.
23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker.
His arrogance knows no limits.
25The desire of a lazy person will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.
26All day long he feels greedy,
but a righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27The sacrifice of wicked people is disgusting,
especially if they bring it with evil intent.
28A lying witness will die,
but a person who listens to advice will continue to speak.
29A wicked person puts up a bold front,
but a decent person’s way of life is his own security.
30No wisdom, no understanding, and no advice
⌞can stand up⌟ against the Lord.
31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 21: GW
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 21
21
1 Streams of water are the heart#Or “mind” of a king in the hand of Yahweh;
wherever#Literally “upon all that” he will desire, he will turn.
2Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes,
but Yahweh weighs hearts.#Or “minds”
3Doing righteousness and justice is more acceptable
to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4Haughtiness of the eyes and pride of heart,
the lamp of the wicked are sin.
5The plans of the diligent only lead to abundance,
but all who are hasty, only to want.
6He who makes treasure by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and seeker#Hebrew “seekers” of death.
7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
for they refuse to do justice.
8Crooked is the way of a man and a foreigner,
but the pure is upright in his conduct.
9Better to dwell on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a woman#Or “wife” of contention.
10The soul#Or “soul, life, throat” of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor will not find mercy in his eyes.
11With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise,
and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.
12The righteous observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked to ruin.
13He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor,
he also will cry out and not be heard.
14A gift in secret#Hebrew “the secret” will avert anger,#Literally “nostril”
and a concealed bribe,#Literally “bribe in the bosom” strong wrath.
15It is a joy to the righteous to do justice,
but dismay to those who do evil.
16Whoever wanders from the way of understanding,
in the assembly of the dead#Or “Rephaim” he will rest.
17A man of want is he who loves pleasure;
he who loves wine and oil#Or “fat” will not become rich.
18A ransom for the righteous is the wicked,
and the faithless instead of the upright.
19Better to live in a land of wilderness
than with a wife of quarrels and provocation.
20Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise,
but the foolish person#Or “foolish of mankind” will devour them.#Literally “it”
21He who pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22To a city of warriors, the wise ascends,
and he will bring down the stronghold—its object of trust.
23He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
he guards his life#Or “soul,” or “inner self” from danger.
24The proud, haughty one: “scoffer” is his name;
he acts with arrogance of pride.
25The craving of a lazy person will kill him,
for his hands refuse to work.#Or “make”
26All day#Literally “All the day” he craves a craving,
but the righteous will give and not hold back.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it in divisiveness!
28A false witness will perish,
but a man who listens will testify with#Hebrew “to the” success.
29A wicked man is strong in his countenance,#Literally “his face”
but the upright will appoint his paths.
30There is no wisdom, nor understanding,
nor counsel to oppose Yahweh.
31A horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but to Yahweh belongs the victory.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software