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.
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Proverbs 21: GW
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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
1The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.#21:4. Literally, “Proud eyes and arrogant heart the lamp of the wicked sin.”
5Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7The destruction#21:7. Or “violence.” caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
9It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
11When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12The God of justice#21:12. Literally, “the righteous one.” This is taken to refer to God particularly because of the second line. sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil#21:17. The extensive use of wine and olive oil was associated with luxury. you won't ever be rich.
18The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.#21:18. The exact intention of this verse is unclear, but seems to be similar to the thought in 11:8.
19It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com