Proverbs 21

International Children’s Bible

21 The Lord can control a king’s mind as easily as he controls a river.
    He can direct it as he pleases.

² A person may believe he is doing right.
    But the Lord judges his reasons.

³ Do what is right and fair.
    That is more important to the Lord than animal sacrifices.

⁴ Proud looks, proud thoughts
    and evil actions are sin.

⁵ Those who plan and work hard earn a profit.
    But those who act too quickly become poor.

⁶ Wealth that comes from telling lies
    vanishes like a mist and leads to death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will destroy them
    because they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ Guilty people live dishonest lives.
    But honest people do what is right.

⁹ It is better to live in a corner on the roof^[a]
    than inside the house with a quarreling wife.

¹⁰ An evil person only wants to harm others.
    His neighbor will get no mercy from him.

¹¹ Punish a person who makes fun of wisdom, and he will become wise.
    But just teach a wise person, and he will get knowledge.

¹² God, who is always right, sees the house of the wicked.
    And he brings about the ruin of every evil person.

¹³ If you ignore the poor when they cry for help,
    you also will cry for help and not be answered.

¹⁴ A gift given secretly will calm an angry man.
    A present given in secrecy will calm even great anger.

¹⁵ When things are done fairly, good people are happy,
    but evil people are frightened.

¹⁶ A person who does not use understanding
    will join the dead.

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.
    Whoever loves wine and rich food will never be wealthy.

¹⁸ Wicked people will suffer instead of good people.
    And those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who can.

¹⁹ It is better to live alone in the desert
    than with a quarreling and complaining wife.

²⁰ Wise people store up the best foods and olive oil.
    But a foolish person eats up everything he has.

²¹ A person who tries to live right and be loyal
    finds life, success and honor.

²² A wise person can defeat a city full of strong men.
    He can tear down the defenses they trust.

²³ A person who is careful about what he says
    keeps himself out of trouble.

²⁴ People who act with stubborn pride
    are called “proud” and “bragger.”

²⁵ The lazy person’s desire for sleep will kill him
    because he refuses to work.
²⁶ All day long the lazy person wishes for more.
    But the good person gives without holding back.

²⁷ The Lord hates sacrifices made by evil people,
    particularly when they make them for the wrong reasons.

²⁸ The words of a lying witness will die.
    But the words of an obedient man will always be remembered.

²⁹ A wicked person is stubborn.
    But an honest person thinks carefully about what he does.

³⁰ There is no wisdom, understanding or advice
    that can succeed against the Lord.

³¹ You can get the horses ready for battle.
    But it is the Lord who gives the victory.