Proverbs 21
Legacy Standard Bible
Salvation Belongs to Yahweh
21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of Yahweh;
He (A)turns it wherever He pleases.
2 (B)Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But Yahweh (C)weighs the hearts.
3 To do (D)righteousness and justice
Is chosen by Yahweh over sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
The (E)fallow ground of the wicked—are sin.
5 The [a]thoughts of the (F)diligent lead surely to profit,
But everyone (G)who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
6 (H)Working for treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting breath, by those who pursue (I)death.
7 The destruction of the wicked will drag them away,
Because they (J)refuse to do justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is (K)perverse,
But as for the pure, his work is upright.
9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than [b]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked craves evil;
His (L)neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the (M)scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
And when one considers wisdom, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the (N)wicked to ruin.
13 He who (O)shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will himself also call and not be (P)answered.
14 A (Q)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 To do justice is [c]pleasure for the righteous,
But is (R)ruin to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of insight
Will (S)rest in the assembly of the [d]dead.
17 He who (T)loves [e]pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked is a (U)ransom for the righteous,
And the (V)treacherous is in the place of the upright.
19 (W)It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
20 There is desirable (X)treasure and oil in the abode of the wise,
But a foolish man (Y)swallows it up.
21 He who (Z)pursues righteousness and lovingkindness
Finds life, righteousness, and glory.
22 A (AA)wise man goes up to the city of the mighty
And brings down the [f]stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who (AB)keeps his mouth and his tongue,
Keeps his soul from troubles.
24 “Arrogant,” “Haughty,” “(AC)Scoffer,” are his names,
Who acts with (AD)arrogant fury.
25 The (AE)desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he [g]is insatiably craving,
While the righteous (AF)gives and does not hold back.
27 The (AG)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with a wicked scheme!
28 A (AH)false witness will perish,
But the man who listens will speak forever.
29 A wicked man [h](AI)displays a brazen face,
But as for the (AJ)upright, he establishes his way.
30 There is (AK)no wisdom, there is no discernment
And there is no counsel against Yahweh.
31 The (AL)horse is set for the day of battle,
But (AM)salvation belongs to Yahweh.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:5 Or plans
- Proverbs 21:9 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
- Proverbs 21:15 Lit gladness
- Proverbs 21:16 Lit departed spirits
- Proverbs 21:17 Lit gladness
- Proverbs 21:22 Lit strength of trust
- Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire
- Proverbs 21:29 Lit makes firm with his face
Proverbs 21
Holman Christian Standard Bible
21 A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses.(A)
3 Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(C)
5 The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.(E)
7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away
because they refuse to act justly.
9 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.(I)
11 When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge.(K)
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked;
He brings the wicked to ruin.
13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
will himself also call out and not be answered.(L)
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to those who practice iniquity.(N)
16 The man who strays from the way of wisdom
will come to rest
in the assembly of the departed spirits.(O)
17 The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.(P)
19 Better to live in a wilderness
than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.(R)
20 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person,
but a foolish man consumes them.[i](S)
21 The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.(T)
22 A wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down its secure fortress.(U)
23 The one who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.(V)
24 The proud and arrogant person, named “Mocker,”
acts with excessive pride.(W)
25 A slacker’s craving will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.(X)
26 He is filled with craving[j] all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back.(Y)
27 The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable—
how much more so
when he brings it with ulterior motives!(Z)
28 A lying witness will perish,(AA)
but the one who listens will speak successfully.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,(AB)
but the upright man considers his way.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel
will prevail against the Lord.(AC)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:2 Lit Lord weighs the hearts
- Proverbs 21:4 Some Hb mss, ancient versions read tillage
- Proverbs 21:6 Or a breath blown away
- Proverbs 21:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death
- Proverbs 21:6 Lit is vanity, ones seeking death
- Proverbs 21:10 Or favor
- Proverbs 21:14 Lit a bribe in the bosom
- Proverbs 21:18 Or in place of
- Proverbs 21:20 Lit it
- Proverbs 21:26 Lit He craves a craving
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