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
International Standard Version
Thoughts on the Sovereignty of God
21 A king’s heart is a water stream that the Lord controls;
he directs it wherever he pleases.
2 Every man’s lifestyle is proper in his own view,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A proud attitude,[a] accompanied by[b] a haughty look, is sin;
they reveal[c] wicked people.
5 Plans of the persistent surely lead to productivity,
but all who are hasty will surely become poor.
7 Devastation caused by the wicked will drag them away
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The conduct[f] of a guilty man is perverse,
but the behavior of the pure is upright.
9 It’s better to live in a corner on the roof
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked craves evil;
he extends no mercy to his neighbor.
11 When a mocker is punished, the fool gains wisdom;
but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous God[g] considers the house of the wicked,
bringing the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoever refuses to hear the cry of the poor
will also cry himself, but he won’t be answered.
15 Administering justice brings joy to the righteous,
but terror to those who practice iniquity.
16 Whoever wanders from the path of understanding
will end up where the dead[j] are gathered.
17 Pleasure lovers become poor;
loving wine and oil doesn’t bring riches.
18 The wicked are ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
19 It’s better to live in the wilderness
than to live with a contentious and irritable woman.
20 Precious treasures and oil are found[k] where the wise live,
but a foolish man devours them.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and gracious love
finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty,
bringing down the fortress in which they trust.
23 Whoever watches his mouth and tongue
keeps himself from trouble.
24 The names “Proud,” “Arrogant,” and “Mocker”
fit whoever acts with presumptuous conceit.
25 What the lazy person craves will kill him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he continues to crave,
while the righteous person gives without holding back.
27 What the wicked person sacrifices is detestable—
how much more when he offers it with vile motives!
28 A false witness will perish,
but whoever listens will testify successfully.[l]
29 The wicked man puts up a bold appearance,
but the upright thinks about what he is doing.[m]
30 No wisdom, insight, or counsel
can prevail[n] against the Lord.
31 The horse may be prepared for the day of battle,
but to the Lord goes the victory.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:4 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 21:4 Lit. proud heart and
- Proverbs 21:4 Lit. sin; the lamp of
- Proverbs 21:6 Lit. by a lying tongue
- Proverbs 21:6 So MT; LXX reads is pursuing worthlessness into deadly snares
- Proverbs 21:8 Lit. way
- Proverbs 21:12 The Heb. lacks God
- Proverbs 21:14 Lit. made under the cloak
- Proverbs 21:14 The Heb. lacks appease
- Proverbs 21:16 Lit. the departed spirits
- Proverbs 21:20 So MT; LXX reads A desirable treasure will rest
- Proverbs 21:28 Lit. testify forever
- Proverbs 21:29 Lit. about his ways
- Proverbs 21:30 The Heb. lacks can prevail
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