Proverbs 21:5-16

Christian Standard Bible

⁵ The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.^(A)

⁶ Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist,^[a] a pursuit of death.^[b][c](B)

⁷ The violence of the wicked sweeps them away
because they refuse to act justly.

⁸ A guilty one’s conduct is crooked,^(C)
but the behavior of the innocent is upright.^(D)

⁹ Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.^(E)

¹⁰ A wicked person desires evil;
he has no consideration^[d] for his neighbor.^(F)

¹¹ When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge.^(G)

¹² The Righteous One^[e] considers the house of the wicked;
he brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³ The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
will himself also call out and not be answered.^(H)

¹⁴ A secret gift soothes anger,
and a covert bribe, fierce rage.^(I)

¹⁵ Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to evildoers.^(J)

¹⁶ The person who strays from the way of prudence
will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.^(K)