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Proverbs 21
International Children’s Bible
Proverbs 21
International Children’s Bible
21 The Lord can control a king’s mind as easily as he controls a river.
He can direct it as he pleases.
2 A person may believe he is doing right.
But the Lord judges his reasons.
3 Do what is right and fair.
That is more important to the Lord than animal sacrifices.
4 Proud looks, proud thoughts
and evil actions are sin.
5 Those who plan and work hard earn a profit.
But those who act too quickly become poor.
6 Wealth that comes from telling lies
vanishes like a mist and leads to death.
7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them
because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Guilty people live dishonest lives.
But honest people do what is right.
9 It is better to live in a corner on the roof[a]
than inside the house with a quarreling wife.
10 An evil person only wants to harm others.
His neighbor will get no mercy from him.
11 Punish a person who makes fun of wisdom, and he will become wise.
But just teach a wise person, and he will get knowledge.
12 God, who is always right, sees the house of the wicked.
And he brings about the ruin of every evil person.
13 If you ignore the poor when they cry for help,
you also will cry for help and not be answered.
14 A gift given secretly will calm an angry man.
A present given in secrecy will calm even great anger.
15 When things are done fairly, good people are happy,
but evil people are frightened.
16 A person who does not use understanding
will join the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.
Whoever loves wine and rich food will never be wealthy.
18 Wicked people will suffer instead of good people.
And those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who can.
19 It is better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarreling and complaining wife.
20 Wise people store up the best foods and olive oil.
But a foolish person eats up everything he has.
21 A person who tries to live right and be loyal
finds life, success and honor.
22 A wise person can defeat a city full of strong men.
He can tear down the defenses they trust.
23 A person who is careful about what he says
keeps himself out of trouble.
24 People who act with stubborn pride
are called “proud” and “bragger.”
25 The lazy person’s desire for sleep will kill him
because he refuses to work.
26 All day long the lazy person wishes for more.
But the good person gives without holding back.
27 The Lord hates sacrifices made by evil people,
particularly when they make them for the wrong reasons.
28 The words of a lying witness will die.
But the words of an obedient man will always be remembered.
29 A wicked person is stubborn.
But an honest person thinks carefully about what he does.
30 There is no wisdom, understanding or advice
that can succeed against the Lord.
31 You can get the horses ready for battle.
But it is the Lord who gives the victory.
Footnotes
- 21:9 roof In Bible times houses were built with flat roofs. The roof was used for drying things such as flax and fruit. And it was used as an extra room, as a place for worship and as a place to sleep in the summer.
Proverbs 21
King James Version
Proverbs 21
King James Version
21 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of 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 shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.
箴言 21
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
箴言 21
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
追求公義仁愛必得尊榮
21 君王的心在耶和華手中，好像水溝的水，
他可以隨意轉移。
2 人看自己一切所行的，都是正直的；
耶和華卻衡量人心。
3 秉公行義，
比獻祭更蒙耶和華悅納。
4 高傲的眼、傲慢的心，
惡人的燈，都是罪惡。
5 殷勤人的籌劃必使他獲利；
行事急躁的必致貧窮。
6 憑撒謊的舌頭得來的財寶，
是飄蕩的浮雲、死亡的追尋。
7 惡人的暴行必拖累自己；
因為他們不肯秉行公正。
8 罪人的道路充滿狡詐，
清潔的人，行為正直。
9 寧可住在房頂的一角，
也不跟吵鬧的婦人同住一間房屋。
10 惡人的心只求邪惡，
他的眼並不顧惜鄰舍。
11 好譏笑人的受刑罰的時候，愚蒙人就得著智慧；
智慧人受訓誨的時候，他就得著知識。
12 公義的 神留意惡人的家，
使惡人在禍患中毀滅。
13 塞耳不聽貧窮人呼求的，
他將來呼求，也得不到應允。
14 暗中送的禮物，可以平息怒氣，
懷裡藏的賄賂，能平息暴怒。
15 秉行公正，使義人喜樂，
卻使作孽的人恐懼。
16 偏離明慧之道的人，
必住在陰魂的會中。
17 貪愛享樂的，必成為窮乏人；
好酒愛脂油的，必不會富足。
18 惡人作了義人的贖價，
奸詐人作了正直人的替身。
19 寧可住在野地，
也不跟吵鬧易怒的婦人同住。
20 智慧人的居所中，積存珍貴的財物和油；
愚昧人卻把他所有的揮霍耗盡。
21 追求公義與慈愛的，
必得著生命、公義和榮耀。
22 智慧人登上勇士的城，
傾覆他倚靠的堅壘。
23 謹守口舌的，
保護自己免受患難。
24 驕傲自大的人，他的名字是好譏笑人的；
他行事狂妄驕傲。
25 懶惰人的願望害死自己，
因為他的手不肯工作。
26 他終日貪得無厭，
但義人施予毫不吝嗇。
27 惡人的祭物是耶和華所厭惡的，
更何況是懷著惡念來獻的呢？
28 作假見證的必要滅亡，
聆聽真情的人，他的話長存。
29 惡人厚顏無恥，
正直人卻堅定他的道路。
30 任何智慧、聰明、
謀略都不能敵擋耶和華。
31 馬是為打仗之日預備的，
勝利卻在於耶和華。
Proverbs 21
New International Version
Proverbs 21
New International Version
21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.(A)
2 A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.(B)
3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(C)
4 Haughty eyes(D) and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit(E)
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(G)
for they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious,(H)
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 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)
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.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(V)
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
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)
29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.(AG)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.(AJ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
- Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
- Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
International Children’s Bible (ICB) 
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Chinese New Version (Traditional) (CNVT) 
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.