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
Revised Standard Version
21 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but every one who is hasty comes only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is right.
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The righteous observes the house of the wicked;
the wicked are cast down to ruin.
13 He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself cry out and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret averts anger;
and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,
but dismay to evildoers.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Precious treasure remains[a] in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.
21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life[b] and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
24 “Scoffer” is the name of the proud, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him
for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long the wicked covets,[c]
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
28 A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but an upright man considers[d] his ways.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel,
can avail against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:20 Gk: Heb and oil
- Proverbs 21:21 Gk: Heb life and righteousness
- Proverbs 21:26 Gk: Heb all day long he covets covetously
- Proverbs 21:29 Another reading is establishes
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