On Life and Conduct

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He (A)turns it wherever He pleases.
(B)Every person’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord (C)examines the hearts.
To do (D)righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The (E)lamp of the wicked, is sin.
The plans of the (F)diligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone (G)who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
The (H)acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the [a]pursuit of (I)death.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they (J)refuse to act with justice.
The way of a guilty person is (K)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
It is better to live on a corner of a roof
Than [b]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His (L)neighbor is shown no compassion in his eyes.
11 When the (M)scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The [c]righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Bringing the (N)wicked to ruin.
13 One who (O)shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will also call out himself, and not be (P)answered.
14 A (Q)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe [d]in an inside pocket, strong wrath.
15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But (R)terror to those who practice injustice.
16 A person who wanders from the way of understanding
Will (S)rest in the assembly of the [e]dead.
17 One who (T)loves pleasure will become a poor person;
One 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 irritating woman.
20 There is precious (X)treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person (Y)swallows it up.
21 One who (Z)pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A (AA)wise person scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the [f]stronghold in which they trust.
23 One who (AB)guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Arrogant,” “(AC)Scoffer,” are his names,
One who acts with (AD)insolent pride.
25 The (AE)desire of the [g]lazy one puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he [h]is 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 evil intent!
28 A (AH)false witness will perish,
But a person who listens will speak forever.
29 A wicked person [i](AI)displays a bold face,
But as for the (AJ)upright, he makes his way sure.
30 There is (AK)no wisdom, no understanding,
And no [j]plan against the Lord.
31 The (AL)horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But the (AM)victory belongs to the Lord.

On Life and Conduct

22 A (AN)good name is to be more desired than great wealth;
Favor is better than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor [k]have a common bond,
The Lord is the (AO)Maker of them all.
A (AP)prudent person sees evil and hides himself,
But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
The reward of humility and [l]the fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor, and life.
(AQ)Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
One who guards himself will be far from them.
(AR)Train up a child [m]in the way he should go,
Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.
The (AS)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
One who (AT)sows injustice will reap disaster,
And the (AU)rod of his fury will perish.
One who [n]is (AV)generous will be blessed,
Because he (AW)gives some of his food to the poor.
10 (AX)Drive out the scoffer, and strife will leave,
Even quarreling and dishonor will cease.
11 One who loves (AY)purity of heart
And [o]whose speech is (AZ)gracious, the king is his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord protect knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the treacherous person.
13 The [p](BA)lazy one says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of [q](BB)an adulteress is a deep pit;
He who is (BC)cursed of the Lord will fall [r]into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The (BD)rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16 One (BE)who oppresses the poor to make [s]more for himself,
Or gives to the rich, (BF)will only come to poverty.

17 (BG)Extend your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be (BH)pleasant if you keep them within you,
[t]So that they may be ready on your lips.
19 So that your (BI)trust may be in the Lord,
I have [u]taught you today, you indeed.
20 Have I not written to you [v](BJ)excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make you (BK)know the [w]certainty of the words of truth,
So that you may [x](BL)correctly answer him who sent you?

22 (BM)Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Nor (BN)crush the needy at the gate;
23 For the Lord will (BO)plead their case
And [y]take the life of those who rob them.

24 Do not make friends with a person given to anger,
Or go with a (BP)hot-tempered person,
25 Or you will (BQ)learn his ways
And [z]find a snare for yourself.

26 Do not be among those who (BR)shake hands,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to repay,
Why should he (BS)take your bed from under you?

28 (BT)Do not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will (BU)stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure people.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Lit seekers
  2. Proverbs 21:9 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
  3. Proverbs 21:12 Or Righteous One
  4. Proverbs 21:14 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly
  5. Proverbs 21:16 Lit departed spirits
  6. Proverbs 21:22 Lit strength of trust
  7. Proverbs 21:25 Lit idle
  8. Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire
  9. Proverbs 21:29 Lit makes firm with his face
  10. Proverbs 21:30 Or advice
  11. Proverbs 22:2 Lit meet together
  12. Proverbs 22:4 Or reverence for
  13. Proverbs 22:6 Lit according to his way
  14. Proverbs 22:9 Lit has a good eye
  15. Proverbs 22:11 Lit has grace on his lips
  16. Proverbs 22:13 Lit idle
  17. Proverbs 22:14 Lit strange woman
  18. Proverbs 22:14 Lit there
  19. Proverbs 22:16 Lit much
  20. Proverbs 22:18 Lit They together
  21. Proverbs 22:19 Lit made you know
  22. Proverbs 22:20 Or previous
  23. Proverbs 22:21 Lit truth
  24. Proverbs 22:21 Lit return words of truth
  25. Proverbs 22:23 Lit rob the soul
  26. Proverbs 22:25 Lit take

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.(B)

To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(C)

Haughty eyes(D) and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit(E)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a](F)

The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(G)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

The way of the guilty is devious,(H)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(I)

10 The wicked crave evil;
    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.(J)

12 The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
    and brings the wicked to ruin.(K)

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out(L) and not be answered.(M)

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.(N)

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.(O)

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.(P)

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(Q)

18 The wicked become a ransom(R) for the righteous,
    and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(S)

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[c](T) and honor.(U)

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(V)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths(W) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(X)

24 The proud and arrogant person(Y)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(Z)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(AA) give without sparing.(AB)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(AC)
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(AD)

28 A false witness(AE) will perish,(AF)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(AG)

30 There is no wisdom,(AH) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(AI)

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.(AJ)

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(AK)

Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.(AL)

The prudent see danger and take refuge,(AM)
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(AN)

Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(AO) and life.(AP)

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,(AQ)
    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

Start(AR) children off on the way they should go,(AS)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(AT)

The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(AU)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(AV)

The generous will themselves be blessed,(AW)
    for they share their food with the poor.(AX)

10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.(AY)

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(AZ)

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!(BA)
    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;(BB)
    a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.(BC)

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(BD)

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17 Pay attention(BE) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(BF)
    apply your heart to what I teach,(BG)
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(BH)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(BI) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(BJ)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(BK)
    and will exact life for life.(BL)

Saying 3

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared.(BM)

Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge(BN)
    or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
    your very bed will be snatched from under you.(BO)

Saying 5

28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(BP)
    set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled(BQ) in their work?
    They will serve(BR) before kings;(BS)
    they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
  2. Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
  3. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness