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
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: