Proverbs 21-22

Common English Bible

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he directs it wherever he wants.
² Everyone’s path is straight in their own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.
³ Acting with righteousness and justice
    is more valued by the Lord than sacrifice.
⁴ Prideful eyes, an arrogant heart, and
    the lamp of the wicked are all sinful.
⁵ The plans of the diligent end up in profit,
    but those who hurry end up with loss.
⁶ Those who gain treasure with lies
    are like a drifting fog, leading to death.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
    for they refuse to act with justice.
⁸ The ways of some people are twisted and strange,
    but the behavior of those who do right is pure.
⁹ Better to live on the edge of a roof
    than with a contentious woman in a large house.
¹⁰ Wicked people desire evil;
    their neighbors receive no mercy from them.
¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the naive person gains wisdom;
    when insight comes to the wise, knowledge increases.
¹² The righteous one observes the house of the wicked,
    turning the wicked toward trouble.
¹³ Those who close their ears to the cries of the poor
    will themselves call out but receive no answer.
¹⁴ A secret gift calms anger,
    and a hidden bribe removes^[a] furious wrath.
¹⁵ Acting justly is a joy to the righteous,
    but dreaded by those who do evil.
¹⁶ People who wander from the path of insight
    will rest in the company of the dead.
¹⁷ Those who love pleasure end up poor;
    lovers of wine and oil won’t get rich.
¹⁸ The wicked are a ransom for the righteous;
    the treacherous will be punished^[b] in the place of the virtuous.
¹⁹ Better to live in a wilderness
    than in a house with a contentious and angry woman.
²⁰ Precious treasure and oil stay in the home of the wise,
    but fools swallow them up.
²¹ Those who pursue righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
²² A wise person fought a city of warriors
    and brought down the stronghold in which they felt safe.
²³ Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
    guard themselves from trouble.
²⁴ Incredibly proud—mockers are their name!
    Their conduct involves excessive pride.
²⁵ The desires of the lazy will kill them,
    because their hands refuse to do anything.
²⁶ The lazy desire things constantly,
    but the righteous give without holding back.
²⁷ The Lord detests the sacrifices of the wicked,
    especially when brought with devious motives.
²⁸ A lying witness will perish,
    but one who listens will testify successfully.
²⁹ The wicked person appears brash,
    but the virtuous think about the path ahead.
³⁰ No wisdom, understanding,
    or advice can stand up against the Lord.
³¹ A horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory belongs to the Lord.

22 A good reputation is better than much wealth;
    high esteem is better than silver and gold.
² The rich and the poor have this in common:
    the Lord made them both.
³ Prudent people see trouble and hide,
    while the simpleminded go right to it and get punished.
⁴ The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
    is wealth, honor, and life.
⁵ Thorns and nets are in the path of the crooked;
    those who guard their lives keep their distance.
⁶ Train children in the way they should go;
    when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.
⁷ The wealthy rule over the poor;
    a borrower is a slave to a lender.
⁸ Those who sow injustice will harvest evil;
    the rod of their fury will come to an end.
⁹ Happy are generous people,
    because they give some of their food to the poor.
¹⁰ Remove the mocker and conflict disappears;
    judgment and shame also stop.
¹¹ Those who love a pure heart—
    their speech is gracious, and the king is their friend.
¹² The Lord’s eyes protect knowledge,
    but he frustrates the words of the treacherous.
¹³ A lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the street!
    I’ll be killed in the town square!”
¹⁴ The mouth of a mysterious woman is a deep pit;
    those under the Lord’s wrath will fall in it.
¹⁵ Folly is bound up in a child’s heart;
    the rod of discipline removes it.
¹⁶ Oppressing the poor to get rich
    and giving to the wealthy lead only to poverty.

²² Don’t steal from the poor, because they are poor.
    Don’t oppress the needy in the gate.
²³ The Lord will take up their case
    and press the life out of those who oppress them.^[d]

²⁴ Don’t befriend people controlled by anger;
    don’t associate with hot-tempered people;
²⁵     otherwise, you will learn their ways
    and become trapped.

²⁶ Don’t shake hands to guarantee a loan.
²⁷ If you can’t repay,
    why should they be able to take your bed from you?

²⁸ Don’t remove an ancient boundary marker
    that your ancestors established.

²⁹ Do you see people who work skillfully?
    They will work for kings
        but not work for lowly people.