Proverbs 21

Chapter 21

1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD;
he guides it wherever he pleases.2 People may be right in their own eyes,
but the LORD examines their heart.3 The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
and evil actions are all sin.5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.6 Wealth created by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.t7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.8 The guilty walk a crooked path;
the innocent travel a straight road.9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.10 Evil people desire evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.12 The Righteous Onet knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;
he will bring disaster on them.13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.14 A secret gift calms anger;
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.15 Justice is a joy to the godly,
but it terrifies evildoers.16 The person who strays from common sense
will end up in the company of the dead.17 Those who love pleasure become poor;
those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.18 The wicked are punished in place of the godly,
and traitors in place of the honest.19 It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.20 The wise have wealth and luxury,
but fools spend whatever they get.21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.22 The wise conquer the city of the strong
and level the fortress in which they trust.23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.24 Mockers are proud and haughty;
they act with boundless arrogance.25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
for their hands refuse to work.26 Some people are always greedy for more,
but the godly love to give!27 The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,
especially when it is offered with wrong motives.28 A false witness will be cut off,
but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.29 The wicked bluff their way through,
but the virtuous think before they act.30 No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the LORD.31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the LORD.

Proverbs 21

1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

2 All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs the heart.

3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, are sin!

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6 A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.

8 The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

10 The wicked man craves evil;
his neighbor gets no mercy from him.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.

12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.

13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered.

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

16 A man who strays from the path of understanding
comes to rest in the company of the dead.

17 He who loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.

18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has.

21 He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.

22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty
and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

24 The proud and arrogant man—“Mocker” is his name;
he behaves with overweening pride.

25 The sluggard's craving will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.

26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!

28 A false witness will perish,
and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.

29 A wicked man puts up a bold front,
but an upright man gives thought to his ways.

30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.