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
Proverbs 21
American Standard Version
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses:
He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes;
But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
4 A high look, and a proud heart,
[a]Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;
But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away,
Because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked;
But as for the pure, his work is [b]right.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
Than with a contentious woman in [c]a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil:
His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
And [d]when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 [e]The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked,
How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,
He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret [f]pacifieth anger;
And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice;
[g]But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding
Shall rest in the assembly of [h]the dead.
17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man:
He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous;
And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
Than with [i]a contentious and fretful woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and kindness
Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,
And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue
Keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name;
He worketh in the arrogance of pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him;
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long;
But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more, when he bringeth it [j]with a wicked mind!
28 A false witness shall perish;
But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face;
But as for the upright, [k]he establisheth his ways.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding
Nor counsel against Jehovah.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle;
But [l]victory is of Jehovah.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:4 Or, And the tillage
- Proverbs 21:8 Or, straight
- Proverbs 21:9 Or, a house in common. Hebrew a house of society.
- Proverbs 21:11 Or, when one considereth the wise
- Proverbs 21:12 Or, One that is righteous . . . he overthroweth the wicked etc.
- Proverbs 21:14 Hebrew bendeth.
- Proverbs 21:15 Or, But destruction shall be to etc.
- Proverbs 21:16 Or, the shades. Hebrew Rephaim.
- Proverbs 21:19 Or, a contentious woman and vexation
- Proverbs 21:27 Or, to atone for wickedness
- Proverbs 21:29 Another reading is, he considereth his way.
- Proverbs 21:31 Or, deliverance
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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