21 Streams of water are the heart^[a] of a king in the hand of Yahweh;
    wherever^[b] he will desire, he will turn.
² Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes,
    but Yahweh weighs hearts.^[c]
3 Doing righteousness and justice is more acceptable
    to Yahweh than sacrifice.
⁴ Haughtiness of the eyes and pride of heart,
    the lamp of the wicked are sin.
⁵ The plans of the diligent only lead to abundance,
    but all who are hasty, only to want.
⁶ He who makes treasure by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and seeker^[d] of death.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
    for they refuse to do justice.
⁸ Crooked is the way of a man and a foreigner,
    but the pure is upright in his conduct.
⁹ Better to dwell on the corner of a roof
    than to share a house with a woman^[e] of contention.
¹⁰ The soul^[f] of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor will not find mercy in his eyes.
¹¹ With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise,
    and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.
¹² The righteous observes the house of the wicked;
    he throws the wicked to ruin.
¹³ He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor,
    he also will cry out and not be heard.
¹⁴ A gift in secret^[g] will avert anger,^[h]
    and a concealed bribe,^[i] strong wrath.
¹⁵ It is a joy to the righteous to do justice,
    but dismay to those who do evil.
¹⁶ Whoever wanders from the way of understanding,
    in the assembly of the dead^[j] he will rest.
¹⁷ A man of want is he who loves pleasure;
    he who loves wine and oil^[k] will not become rich.
¹⁸ A ransom for the righteous is the wicked,
    and the faithless instead of the upright.
¹⁹ Better to live in a land of wilderness
    than with a wife of quarrels and provocation.
²⁰ Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise,
    but the foolish person^[l] will devour them.^[m]
21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
²² To a city of warriors, the wise ascends,
    and he will bring down the stronghold—its object of trust.
²³ He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
    he guards his life^[n] from danger.
²⁴ The proud, haughty one: “scoffer” is his name;
    he acts with arrogance of pride.
²⁵ The craving of a lazy person will kill him,
    for his hands refuse to work.^[o]
26 All day^[p] he craves a craving,
    but the righteous will give and not hold back.
²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more when he brings it in divisiveness!
²⁸ A false witness will perish,
    but a man who listens will testify with^[q] success.
²⁹ A wicked man is strong in his countenance,^[r]
    but the upright will appoint his paths.
³⁰ There is no wisdom, nor understanding,
    nor counsel to oppose Yahweh.
³¹ A horse is prepared for the day of battle,
    but to Yahweh belongs the victory.