21 A king’s heart is like streams of water in the hand of the Lord.
He directs it wherever he desires.
² In a person’s own eyes all his ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the motives of the heart.
³ Practicing righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the Lord than a sacrifice.
⁴ Haughty eyes and an arrogant heart,
the unplowed field^[a] of the wicked, produce sin.
⁵ The plans of a hard worker lead to abundance,
but everyone in a hurry rushes toward scarcity.
⁶ Piling up treasure by a lying tongue
    is a vanishing vapor for those who seek death.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
⁸ A guilty person’s way is very crooked,
but the conduct of a pure person is straight.
⁹ Better to live on the corner of a roof
    than in a house shared with a nagging wife.
¹⁰ The soul of a wicked person craves evil.
He does not look on his neighbor with mercy.
¹¹ When a scoffer is punished, an undisciplined person becomes wise,
and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
¹² The Righteous One^[b] carefully watches the house of the wicked.
He throws the wicked down to ruin.
¹³ Whoever shuts his ear to the cries of the poor—
he too will cry out and not be answered.
¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe slipped into the pocket soothes fury.
¹⁵ It is a joy for a righteous person to practice justice,
but destruction waits for those who practice evil.
¹⁶ A person who wanders from the way of understanding
    will rest in the company of departed spirits.
¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will be poor.
Whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the treacherous make a payment for the upright.
¹⁹ Better to live in an arid region
    than with a nagging, ill-tempered wife.
²⁰ Good food and olive oil are stored up in the dwellings of the wise,
but a foolish person devours everything he has.
²¹ A person who pursues righteousness and mercy
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
²² A wise man can climb up to a city full of warriors
and pull down the strong defenses in which they trust.
²³ The person who guards his mouth and his tongue
    guards himself from troubles.
²⁴ The contemptuous, insolent person—“Scoffer” is his name—
    behaves with overflowing arrogance.
²⁵ A lazy person’s craving will kill him,
because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long he craves something more,
but a righteous person gives and does not hold back.
²⁷ A sacrifice offered by wicked people is an abomination.^[c]
How much more when they bring it with evil intent!
²⁸ A lying witness will perish,
but a man who listens will keep speaking forever.^[d]
29 A wicked person puts on a bold front,
but an upright person gives thought to^[e] his way.
³⁰ There is no wisdom, no cleverness, and no advice
    that can stand up against the Lord.
³¹ A horse is made ready for a day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.