21 耶和華掌管君王的心,
    易如支配壟溝的流水。
人自以為行事正確,
    但耶和華衡量人心。
秉公行義比獻祭更蒙耶和華喜悅。
高傲的眼,狂妄的心,惡人的燈,
    都是罪惡。
勤勞者的計劃必致富足,
    行事急躁的人必致貧困。
騙來的財如過眼雲霧,
    使人掉進死亡的陷阱。
惡人的暴力必毀滅自己,
    因為他們行事不公不義。
犯罪的人行徑扭曲,
    純潔的人行為正直。
寧願住在房頂的一角,
    也不跟爭鬧之妻同屋。
10 惡人貪戀邪惡,
    對鄰舍殘忍無情。
11 懲罰嘲諷者,愚人得智慧;
    訓誡智者,他便長見識。
12 公義的上帝鑒察惡人的家,
    祂必使他們滅亡。
13 掩耳不聽窮人呼求的,
    他將來求救也無人管。
14 暗中送的禮物能平息憤怒,
    塞進懷裡的賄賂止息盛怒。
15 正義得到伸張,
    義人喜、惡人怕。
16 人偏離明智之道,
    終必與陰魂為伍。
17 貪圖享受必窮困,
    奢華宴樂難富足。
18 惡人作義人的贖價,
    奸徒替正直人受苦。
19 寧願獨居曠野,
    不跟吵鬧易怒的女子同住。
20 智者家中積存寶物和油,
    愚人將所有的揮霍一空。
21 追求公義與慈愛的,
    必尋得生命、公義和尊榮。
22 智者攀上勇士的城池,
    摧毀他們倚仗的堅壘。
23 管住口舌,免遭禍患。
24 嘲諷者狂妄自大,
    行事驕橫無比。
25 懶人的慾望害死自己,
    因為他的手不肯做工。
26 懶人整天貪得無厭,
    義人施捨毫不吝嗇。
27 惡人的祭物已經可憎,
    何況他懷著惡意來獻!
28 作偽證的終滅亡,
    道實情的常發言。
29 惡人虛張聲勢,
    正直人謹慎行事。
30 任何智慧、悟性和謀略,
    都不能對抗耶和華。
31 馬為爭戰之日預備,
    勝敗由耶和華決定。

21 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he (A)turns it wherever he will.
(B)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
    but the Lord (C)weighs the heart.
(D)To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
(E)Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
    (F)the lamp[a] of the wicked, are sin.
The plans of (G)the diligent lead surely to abundance,
    but everyone who is (H)hasty comes (I)only to poverty.
(J)The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
    is a (K)fleeting (L)vapor and a (M)snare of death.[b]
The violence of the wicked will (N)sweep them away,
    because they refuse to do what is just.
The way of the guilty (O)is crooked,
    but the conduct of the pure is upright.
It is (P)better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When (Q)a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
    when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One (R)observes the house of the wicked;
    he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 (S)Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
    will himself call out and not be answered.
14 (T)A gift in secret averts anger,
    and a concealed bribe,[c] strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    (U)but terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
    (V)will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 (W)The wicked is a (X)ransom for the righteous,
    and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is (Y)better to live in a desert land
    than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 (Z)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man (AA)devours it.
21 Whoever (AB)pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find (AC)life, righteousness, and honor.
22 (AD)A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 (AE)Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    (AF)keeps himself out of (AG)trouble.
24 (AH)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of (AI)the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous (AJ)gives and does not hold back.
27 (AK)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more (AL)when he brings it with evil intent.
28 (AM)A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright (AN)gives thought to[d] his ways.
30 (AO)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the Lord.
31 (AP)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but (AQ)the victory belongs to the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:4 Or the plowing
  2. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
  3. Proverbs 21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom
  4. Proverbs 21:29 Or establishes

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.(B)

To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(C)

Haughty eyes(D) and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit(E)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a](F)

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

The way of the guilty is devious,(H)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

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

10 The wicked crave evil;
    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.(J)

12 The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
    and brings the wicked to ruin.(K)

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out(L) and not be answered.(M)

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

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

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.(P)

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(Q)

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

19 Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(S)

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[c](T) and honor.(U)

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(V)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths(W) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(X)

24 The proud and arrogant person(Y)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(Z)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(AA) give without sparing.(AB)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(AC)
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(AD)

28 A false witness(AE) will perish,(AF)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(AG)

30 There is no wisdom,(AH) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(AI)

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

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
  2. Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
  3. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness