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

² A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.^(B)

³ To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.^(C)

⁴ Haughty eyes^(D) and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit^(E)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

⁶ A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.^[a](F)

⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,^(G)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

²¹ Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity^[a](B) and honor.^(C)