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21 耶和华掌管君王的心,
    易如支配垄沟的流水。
人自以为行事正确,
    但耶和华衡量人心。
秉公行义比献祭更蒙耶和华喜悦。
高傲的眼,狂妄的心,恶人的灯,
    都是罪恶。
勤劳者的计划必致富足,
    行事急躁的人必致贫困。
骗来的财如过眼云雾,
    使人掉进死亡的陷阱。
恶人的暴力必毁灭自己,
    因为他们行事不公不义。
犯罪的人行径扭曲,
    纯洁的人行为正直。
宁愿住在房顶的一角,
    也不跟争闹之妻同屋。
10 恶人贪恋邪恶,
    对邻舍残忍无情。
11 惩罚嘲讽者,愚人得智慧;
    训诫智者,他便长见识。
12 公义的上帝鉴察恶人的家,
    祂必使他们灭亡。
13 掩耳不听穷人呼求的,
    他将来求救也无人管。
14 暗中送的礼物能平息愤怒,
    塞进怀里的贿赂止息盛怒。
15 正义得到伸张,
    义人喜、恶人怕。
16 人偏离明智之道,
    终必与阴魂为伍。
17 贪图享受必穷困,
    奢华宴乐难富足。
18 恶人作义人的赎价,
    奸徒替正直人受苦。
19 宁愿独居旷野,
    不跟吵闹易怒的女子同住。
20 智者家中积存宝物和油,
    愚人将所有的挥霍一空。
21 追求公义与慈爱的,
    必寻得生命、公义和尊荣。
22 智者攀上勇士的城池,
    摧毁他们倚仗的坚垒。
23 管住口舌,免遭祸患。
24 嘲讽者狂妄自大,
    行事骄横无比。
25 懒人的欲望害死自己,
    因为他的手不肯做工。
26 懒人整天贪得无厌,
    义人施舍毫不吝啬。
27 恶人的祭物已经可憎,
    何况他怀着恶意来献!
28 作伪证的终灭亡,
    道实情的常发言。
29 恶人虚张声势,
    正直人谨慎行事。
30 任何智慧、悟性和谋略,
    都不能对抗耶和华。
31 马为争战之日预备,
    胜败由耶和华决定。

21 Il cuore del re è un canale d'acqua in mano al Signore:
lo dirige dovunque egli vuole.
Agli occhi dell'uomo tutte le sue vie sono rette,
ma chi pesa i cuori è il Signore.
Praticare la giustizia e l'equità
per il Signore vale più di un sacrificio.
Occhi alteri e cuore superbo,
lucerna degli empi, è il peccato.
I piani dell'uomo diligente si risolvono in profitto,
ma chi è precipitoso va verso l'indigenza.
Accumular tesori a forza di menzogne
è vanità effimera di chi cerca la morte.
La violenza degli empi li travolge,
perché rifiutano di praticare la giustizia.
La via dell'uomo criminale è tortuosa,
ma l'innocente è retto nel suo agire.
E' meglio abitare su un angolo del tetto
che avere una moglie litigiosa e casa in comune.
10 L'anima del malvagio desidera far il male
e ai suoi occhi il prossimo non trova pietà.
11 Quando il beffardo vien punito, l'inesperto diventa saggio
e quando il saggio viene istruito, accresce il sapere.
12 Il Giusto osserva la casa dell'empio
e precipita gli empi nella sventura.
13 Chi chiude l'orecchio al grido del povero
invocherà a sua volta e non otterrà risposta.
14 Un regalo fatto in segreto calma la collera,
un dono di sotto mano placa il furore violento.
15 E' una gioia per il giusto che sia fatta giustizia,
mentre è un terrore per i malfattori.
16 L'uomo che si scosta dalla via della saggezza,
riposerà nell'assemblea delle ombre dei morti.
17 Diventerà indigente chi ama i piaceri
e chi ama vino e profumi non arricchirà.
18 Il malvagio serve da riscatto per il giusto
e il perfido per gli uomini retti.
19 Meglio abitare in un deserto
che con una moglie litigiosa e irritabile.
20 Tesori preziosi e profumi sono nella dimora del saggio,
ma lo stolto dilapida tutto.
21 Chi segue la giustizia e la misericordia
troverà vita e gloria.
22 Il saggio assale una città di guerrieri
e abbatte la fortezza in cui essa confidava.
23 Chi custodisce la bocca e la lingua
preserva se stesso dai dispiaceri.
24 Il superbo arrogante si chiama beffardo,
egli agisce nell'eccesso dell'insolenza.
25 I desideri del pigro lo portano alla morte,
perché le sue mani rifiutano di lavorare.
26 Tutta la vita l'empio indulge alla cupidigia,
mentre il giusto dona senza risparmiare.
27 Il sacrificio degli empi è un abominio,
tanto più se offerto con cattiva intenzione.
28 Il falso testimone perirà,
ma l'uomo che ascolta potrà parlare sempre.
29 L'empio assume un'aria sfrontata,
l'uomo retto controlla la propria condotta.
30 Non c'è sapienza, non c'è prudenza,
non c'è consiglio di fronte al Signore.
31 Il cavallo è pronto per il giorno della battaglia,
ma al Signore appartiene la vittoria.

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

21 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

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

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

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

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation 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 shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

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

24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

The Lord Considers the Heart

21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the [a]rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.

(A)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
(B)But the Lord weighs the hearts.

(C)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

(D)A haughty look, a proud heart,
And the [b]plowing of the wicked are sin.

(E)The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

(F)Getting treasures by a lying tongue
[c]Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

The violence of the wicked will [d]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.

The way of [e]a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.

Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with (G)a contentious woman.

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

11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the (I)wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

13 (J)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe [f]behind the back, strong wrath.

15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

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

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

18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
And the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to dwell [g]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.

20 (L)There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.

21 (M)He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A (N)wise man [h]scales the city of the mighty,
And brings down the trusted stronghold.

23 (O)Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.

24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.

25 The (P)desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous (Q)gives and does not spare.

27 (R)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

28 A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

29 A wicked man hardens his face,
But as for the upright, he [i]establishes his way.

30 (S)There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But (T)deliverance is of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:1 channels
  2. Proverbs 21:4 Or lamp
  3. Proverbs 21:6 LXX Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vg. Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Tg. They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death
  4. Proverbs 21:7 Lit. drag them away
  5. Proverbs 21:8 Or The way of a man is perverse and strange;
  6. Proverbs 21:14 Under cover, lit. in the bosom
  7. Proverbs 21:19 Lit. in the land of the desert
  8. Proverbs 21:22 Climbs over the walls of
  9. Proverbs 21:29 Qr., LXX understands