Proverbs 21
21
1A king’s heart is like channeled water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever he chooses.#Ezr 6:22
2All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs 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 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,#21:6 Or a breath blown away a pursuit of death.#21:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death#21:6 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 one’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#21:10 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#21:12 Or 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, fierce rage.#Pr 17:8; 18:16; 19:6
15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to evildoers.#Pr 10:29; Rm 13:3
16The person who strays from the way of prudence
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 poor;
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#21:18 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 fool consumes them.#21:20 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 arrogant and proud person, named “Mocker,”
acts with excessive arrogance.#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#21:26 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 person puts on a bold face,#Pr 7:13
but the upright one 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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Proverbs 21: CSB
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