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21 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses.
    He turns it wherever he desires.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
    but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
A high look and a proud heart,
    the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit;
    and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away,
    because they refuse to do what is right.
The way of the guilty is devious,
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
    than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom.
    When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked,
    and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,
    he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
    and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice;
    but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding
    shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man.
    He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
    the treacherous for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
    than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
    but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness
    finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty,
    and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue
    keeps his soul from troubles.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name—
    he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long;
    but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination—
    how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 A false witness will perish.
    A man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 A wicked man hardens his face;
    but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding
    nor counsel against Yahweh.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle;
    but victory is with Yahweh.

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.

Every man’s lifestyle is proper in his own view,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.

To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
A proud attitude,[a] accompanied by[b] a haughty look, is sin;
    they reveal[c] wicked people.

Plans of the persistent surely lead to productivity,
    but all who are hasty will surely become poor.

A fortune gained by deceit[d]
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[e]

Devastation caused by the wicked will drag them away
    because they refuse to do what is just.

The conduct[f] of a guilty man is perverse,
    but the behavior of the pure is upright.

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.

14 Privately given gifts pacify wrath,
    and payments made secretly[h] appease[i] great anger.

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

  1. Proverbs 21:4 Lit. heart
  2. Proverbs 21:4 Lit. proud heart and
  3. Proverbs 21:4 Lit. sin; the lamp of
  4. Proverbs 21:6 Lit. by a lying tongue
  5. Proverbs 21:6 So MT; LXX reads is pursuing worthlessness into deadly snares
  6. Proverbs 21:8 Lit. way
  7. Proverbs 21:12 The Heb. lacks God
  8. Proverbs 21:14 Lit. made under the cloak
  9. Proverbs 21:14 The Heb. lacks appease
  10. Proverbs 21:16 Lit. the departed spirits
  11. Proverbs 21:20 So MT; LXX reads A desirable treasure will rest
  12. Proverbs 21:28 Lit. testify forever
  13. Proverbs 21:29 Lit. about his ways
  14. Proverbs 21:30 The Heb. lacks can prevail