21 The [a]King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters: he turneth it whithersoever it pleaseth him.

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

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

A haughty look, and a proud heart which is the [b][c]light of the wicked, is sin.

The thoughts of the diligent do surely bring abundance; but [d]whosoever is hasty, cometh surely to poverty.

(C)The gathering of treasures by a deceitful tongue, is vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

The [e]robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; for they have refused to execute judgment.

The way of some is perverted and strange, but of the pure man, his work is right.

(D)It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, than with a contentious woman in a [f]wide house.

10 The soul of the wicked wisheth evil, and his neighbor hath no favor in his eyes.

11 [g]When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise, and when one instructeth the wise, he will receive knowledge.

12 The righteous [h]teacheth the house of the wicked; but God overthroweth the wicked for their evil.

13 He that stoppeth his ear at the crying of the poor, he shall also cry and not be heard.

14 A [i]gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a gift in the bosom, great wrath.

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

16 A man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom, shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

17 He that loveth pastime, shall be a poor man; and he that loveth wine and oil, shall not be rich.

18 The [j]wicked shall be a ransom for the just, and the transgressor for the righteous.

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

20 In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and [k]oil; but a foolish man devoureth it.

21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy, shall find life, righteousness and glory.

22 A [l]wise man goeth up into the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from afflictions.

24 Proud, haughty, and scornful is his name that worketh in his arrogancy wrath.

25 The desire of the slothful [m]slayeth him; for his hands refuse to work.

26 He coveteth evermore greedily: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

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

28 (F)A false witness shall perish: but he that heareth, [n]speaketh continually.

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but the just, he will direct his way.

30 There is no wisdom, neither understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.

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

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:1 Though Kings seem to have all things at commandment, yet are they not able to bring their own purposes to pass any otherwise than God hath appointed: much less are the inferiors able.
  2. Proverbs 21:4 Or, plowing.
  3. Proverbs 21:4 That is, the thing whereby he is guided or which he bringeth forth as the fruit of his work.
  4. Proverbs 21:5 He that goeth rashly about his business, and without counsel.
  5. Proverbs 21:7 He meaneth this chiefly of Judges, and Princes which leave that vocation, whereunto God hath called them, and powle their subjects to maintain their lusts.
  6. Proverbs 21:9 Or, in a great family.
  7. Proverbs 21:11 Read Prov. 19:25.
  8. Proverbs 21:12 Though the godly admonish them both by words and example of life, yet the wicked will not amend, till God destroy them.
  9. Proverbs 21:14 To do a pleasure to the angry man pacifieth him.
  10. Proverbs 21:18 God shall cause that to fall on their own heads, which they intended against the just by delivering the just, and putting the wicked in their places.
  11. Proverbs 21:20 Meaning, abundance of all things.
  12. Proverbs 21:22 Wisdom overcometh strength and confidence in worldly things.
  13. Proverbs 21:25 He thinketh to live by wishing and desiring all things, but will take no pain to get ought.
  14. Proverbs 21:28 He may boldly testify the truth that he hath heard.

21 פַּלְגֵי־מַ֣יִם לֶב־מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהוָ֑ה עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃

כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃

עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃

רוּם־עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ־לְמוֹתָ֑ר וְכָל־אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃

פֹּ֣עַל א֭וֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־מָֽוֶת׃

שֹׁד־רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃

ט֗וֹב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃

10 נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־רָ֑ע לֹא־יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

11 בַּעְנָשׁ־לֵ֭ץ יֶחְכַּם־פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח־דָּֽעַת׃

12 מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃

13 אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃

14 מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃

15 שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

16 אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃

17 אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃

18 כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃

19 ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת ׳מְדוֹנִים׳ ״מִדְיָנִ֣ים״ וָכָֽעַס׃

20 אוֹצָ֤ר׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃

21 רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃

22 עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃

23 שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִצָּר֣וֹת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

24 זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃

25 תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

26 כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃

27 זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־בְזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃

28 עֵד־כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ לָנֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃

29 הֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא׀ ׳יָכִין׳ ״יָבִ֬ין״ ׳דְּרָכָיו׳ ״דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃״

30 אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה׃ פ

31 ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃

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