Proverbs 21

On Life and Conduct

1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.

2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.

3 To do righteousness and justice
Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
Because they refuse to act with justice.

8 The way of a guilty man is crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the wicked to ruin.

13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered.

14 A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But is terror to the workers of iniquity.

16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 He who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.

19 It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.

20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man swallows it up.

21 He who pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness and honor.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.

24 "Proud," "Haughty," "Scoffer," are his names,
Who acts with insolent pride.

25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;

26 All day long he is craving,
While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

28 A false witness will perish,
But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

29 A wicked man displays a bold face,
But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.

30 There is no wisdom and no understanding
And no counsel against the LORD.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But victory belongs to the LORD.

Proverbs 21

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.

3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

4 A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.

7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice.

8 The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right.

9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

12 The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin.

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.

15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.

19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.

20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.

21 He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride.

25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor.

26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!

28 A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.

30 There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.