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
New Living Translation
21 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases.
2 People may be right in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their heart.
3 The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.
4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
and evil actions are all sin.
5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
6 Wealth created by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.[a]
7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The guilty walk a crooked path;
the innocent travel a straight road.
9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
10 Evil people desire evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
12 The Righteous One[b] knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;
he will bring disaster on them.
13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.
14 A secret gift calms anger;
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
15 Justice is a joy to the godly,
but it terrifies evildoers.
16 The person who strays from common sense
will end up in the company of the dead.
17 Those who love pleasure become poor;
those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
18 The wicked are punished in place of the godly,
and traitors in place of the honest.
19 It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
20 The wise have wealth and luxury,
but fools spend whatever they get.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 The wise conquer the city of the strong
and level the fortress in which they trust.
23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.
24 Mockers are proud and haughty;
they act with boundless arrogance.
25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
for their hands refuse to work.
26 Some people are always greedy for more,
but the godly love to give!
27 The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,
especially when it is offered with wrong motives.
28 A false witness will be cut off,
but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
29 The wicked bluff their way through,
but the virtuous think before they act.
30 No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
