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 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is like a stream of water.
    The Lord directs it toward all those who please him.

A person might think their own ways are right.
    But the Lord knows what they are thinking.

Do what is right and fair.
    The Lord accepts that more than sacrifices.

The proud eyes and hearts of sinful people are like a field not plowed.
    Those things produce nothing good.

The plans of people who work hard succeed.
    You can be just as sure that those in a hurry will become poor.

A fortune made by people who tell lies
    amounts to nothing and leads to death.

The harmful things that evil people do will drag them away.
    They refuse to do what is right.

The path of those who are guilty is crooked.
    But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest.

It is better to live on a corner of a roof
    than to share a house with a nagging wife.

10 Sinful people long to do evil.
    They don’t show their neighbors any mercy.

11 When you punish someone who makes fun of others, childish people get wise.
    By paying attention to wise people, the childish get knowledge.

12 The Blameless One knows where sinners live.
    And he destroys them.

13 Whoever refuses to listen to the cries of poor people
    will also cry out and not be answered.

14 A secret gift calms down anger.
    A hidden favor softens great anger.

15 When you do what is fair, you make godly people glad.
    But you terrify those who do what is evil.

16 Whoever leaves the path of understanding
    ends up with those who are dead.

17 Anyone who loves pleasure will become poor.
    Anyone who loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

18 Evil people become the payment for setting godly people free.
    Those who aren’t faithful are the payment for honest people.

19 It is better to live in a desert
    than to live with a nagging wife who loves to argue.

20 Wise people store up the best food and olive oil.
    But foolish people eat up everything they have.

21 Anyone who wants to be godly and loving
    finds life, success and honor.

22 A wise person can attack a strong city.
    They can pull down the place of safety its people trust in.

23 Those who are careful about what they say
    keep themselves out of trouble.

24 A proud person is called a mocker.
    He thinks much too highly of himself.

25 Some people will die while they are still hungry.
    That’s because their hands refuse to work.
26 All day long they hunger for more.
    But godly people give without holding back.

27 God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people.
    He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason.

28 Witnesses who aren’t honest will die.
    But anyone who listens carefully will be a successful witness.

29 Sinful people try to look as if they were bold.
    But honest people think about how they live.

30 No wisdom, wise saying or plan
    can succeed against the Lord.

31 You can prepare a horse for the day of battle.
    But the power to win comes from the Lord.

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.