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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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
1A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses. # Ezr 6:22
2All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives. # Lit Lord weighs the hearts # Pr 12:15; 16:2; 17:3; 24:12; Lk 16:15
3Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. # 1Sm 15:22; Pr 15:8; Hs 6:6; Mc 6:7-8; Mt 9:13
4The lamp # Some Hb mss, ancient versions read tillage that guides the wicked —
haughty eyes and an arrogant heart # Ps 101:5; Pr 6:16-17; 30:13 — is sin.
5The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor. # Pr 10:4; 14:23; 21:20; 28:22
6Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist, # Or a breath blown away a pursuit of death. # Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death # Lit is vanity, ones seeking death # Pr 8:36; 13:11; 20:21
7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away
because they refuse to act justly.
8A guilty man’s conduct is crooked, # Pr 2:15
but the behavior of the innocent is upright. # Pr 20:11
9Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife. # Pr 15:16-17; 17:1; 21:19; 25:24
10A wicked person desires evil;
he has no consideration # Or favor for his neighbor. # Pr 14:21
11When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge. # Pr 19:25
12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked;
He brings the wicked to ruin.
13The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
will himself also call out and not be answered. # Pr 14:31; 17:5; Mt 18:30-34; Jms 2:13; 1Jn 3:17
14A secret gift soothes anger,
and a covert bribe, # Lit a bribe in the bosom fierce rage. # Pr 17:8; 18:16; 19:6
15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to those who practice iniquity. # Pr 10:29; Rm 13:13
16The man who strays from the way of wisdom
will come to rest
in the assembly of the departed spirits. # Ps 49:14; Pr 2:18; 9:18
17The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich. # Ec 2:1-3,10-11
18The wicked are a ransom for the righteous,
and the treacherous, for # Or in place of the upright. # Pr 11:8; Is 43:3
19Better to live in a wilderness
than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife. # Pr 21:9
20Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person,
but a foolish man consumes them. # Lit it # Jb 20:15,18; Ps 112:3; Pr 10:4; 28:20; Mt 25:1-13
21The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love
will find life, righteousness, and honor. # Pr 3:16; 8:18; 15:9; Mt 5:6; 6:33
22A wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down its secure fortress. # 2Sm 5:6-9; Pr 14:26; 24:5; Ec 7:19; 9:14-18
23The one who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble. # Pr 12:13; 13:3; Jms 3:2
24The proud and arrogant person, named “Mocker,”
acts with excessive pride. # Ps 1:1; Pr 1:22; 21:11
25A slacker’s craving will kill him
because his hands refuse to work. # Pr 10:4; 12:24; 13:4; 19:15,24
26He is filled with craving # Lit He craves a craving all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back. # Ps 37:26; Pr 11:24-25
27The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable —
how much more so
when he brings it with ulterior motives! # Pr 15:8; 28:9; Is 66:3
28A lying witness will perish, # Pr 19:5,9
but the one who listens will speak successfully.
29A wicked man puts on a bold face, # Pr 7:13
but the upright man considers his way.
30No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel
will prevail against the Lord. # Is 8:9-10; 1Co 3:19-20
31A horse is prepared for the day of battle, # Ps 20:7; 33:17; 108:10-13; Is 31:1
but victory comes from the Lord. # Jr 3:23; 1Co 15:57
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