Proverbs 21
21st Century King James Version
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, He turneth it whithersoever He will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A haughty look and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, are sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness, but of everyone that is hasty, only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity which is tossed to and fro by them that seek death.
7 The robberies of the wicked shall destroy them, because they refuse to do judgment.
8 The way of man is froward and strange, but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a brawling woman in a large house.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil; his neighbor findeth no favor 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, how God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall himself cry, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 It is a joy to the just to do judgment, but destruction shall come 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 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 honor.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of their confidence.
23 Whoso guardeth 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 labor;
26 he coveteth greedily all the day long, but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more so 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 considereth his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is from the Lord.
Proverbs 21
American Standard Version
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses:
He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes;
But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
4 A high look, and a proud heart,
[a]Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;
But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away,
Because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked;
But as for the pure, his work is [b]right.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
Than with a contentious woman in [c]a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil:
His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
And [d]when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 [e]The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked,
How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,
He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret [f]pacifieth anger;
And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice;
[g]But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding
Shall rest in the assembly of [h]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 is a ransom for the righteous;
And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
Than with [i]a contentious and fretful woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and kindness
Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,
And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue
Keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name;
He worketh in the arrogance of pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him;
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long;
But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more, when he bringeth it [j]with a wicked mind!
28 A false witness shall perish;
But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face;
But as for the upright, [k]he establisheth his ways.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding
Nor counsel against Jehovah.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle;
But [l]victory is of Jehovah.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:4 Or, And the tillage
- Proverbs 21:8 Or, straight
- Proverbs 21:9 Or, a house in common. Hebrew a house of society.
- Proverbs 21:11 Or, when one considereth the wise
- Proverbs 21:12 Or, One that is righteous . . . he overthroweth the wicked etc.
- Proverbs 21:14 Hebrew bendeth.
- Proverbs 21:15 Or, But destruction shall be to etc.
- Proverbs 21:16 Or, the shades. Hebrew Rephaim.
- Proverbs 21:19 Or, a contentious woman and vexation
- Proverbs 21:27 Or, to atone for wickedness
- Proverbs 21:29 Another reading is, he considereth his way.
- Proverbs 21:31 Or, deliverance
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