Font Size
Proverbs 21
Names of God Bible
Proverbs 21
Names of God Bible
The Lord Controls Wise and Foolish People
21 The king’s heart is like streams of water.
Both are under Yahweh’s control.
He turns them in any direction he chooses.
2 A person thinks everything he does is right,
but Yahweh weighs hearts.
3 Doing what is right and fair
is more acceptable to Yahweh than offering a sacrifice.
4 A conceited look and an arrogant attitude,
which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins.
5 The plans of a hard-working person lead to prosperity,
but everyone who is always in a hurry ends up in poverty.
6 Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time.
They are looking for death.
7 The violence of wicked people will drag them away
since they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of a guilty person is crooked,
but the behavior of those who are pure is moral.[a]
9 Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.
10 The mind of a wicked person desires evil
and has no consideration for his neighbor.
11 When a mocker is punished, a gullible person becomes wise,
and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 A righteous person wisely considers the house of a wicked person.
He throws wicked people into disasters.
13 Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call and not be answered.
14 A gift given in secret calms anger,
and a secret bribe calms great fury.
15 When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted,
but troublemakers are terrified.
16 A person who wanders from the way of wise behavior
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.
Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich.
18 Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people,
and treacherous people will take the place of decent people.
19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarreling and angry woman.
20 Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person,
but a fool devours them.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man attacks a city of warriors
and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker.
His arrogance knows no limits.
25 The desire of a lazy person will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he feels greedy,
but a righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of wicked people is disgusting,
especially if they bring it with evil intent.
28 A lying witness will die,
but a person who listens to advice will continue to speak.
29 A wicked person puts up a bold front,
but a decent person’s way of life is his own security.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no advice
can stand up against Yahweh.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:8 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.
Proverbs 21
English Standard Version
Proverbs 21
English Standard Version
21 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he (A)turns it wherever he will.
2 (B)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord (C)weighs the heart.
3 (D)To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 (E)Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
(F)the lamp[a] of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of (G)the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is (H)hasty comes (I)only to poverty.
6 (J)The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a (K)fleeting (L)vapor and a (M)snare of death.[b]
7 The violence of the wicked will (N)sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty (O)is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9 It is (P)better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When (Q)a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One (R)observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 (S)Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.
14 (T)A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe,[c] strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
(U)but terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
(V)will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 (W)The wicked is a (X)ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is (Y)better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 (Z)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
but a foolish man (AA)devours it.
21 Whoever (AB)pursues righteousness and kindness
will find (AC)life, righteousness, and honor.
22 (AD)A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 (AE)Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
(AF)keeps himself out of (AG)trouble.
24 (AH)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of (AI)the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous (AJ)gives and does not hold back.
27 (AK)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more (AL)when he brings it with evil intent.
28 (AM)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 the upright (AN)gives thought to[d] his ways.
30 (AO)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.
31 (AP)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but (AQ)the victory belongs to the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:4 Or the plowing
- Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
- Proverbs 21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom
- Proverbs 21:29 Or establishes
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
Proverbes 21
Louis Segond
Proverbes 21
Louis Segond
21 Le coeur du roi est un courant d'eau dans la main de l'Éternel; Il l'incline partout où il veut.
2 Toutes les voies de l'homme sont droites à ses yeux; Mais celui qui pèse les coeurs, c'est l'Éternel.
3 La pratique de la justice et de l'équité, Voilà ce que l'Éternel préfère aux sacrifices.
4 Des regards hautains et un coeur qui s'enfle, Cette lampe des méchants, ce n'est que péché.
5 Les projets de l'homme diligent ne mènent qu'à l'abondance, Mais celui qui agit avec précipitation n'arrive qu'à la disette.
6 Des trésors acquis par une langue mensongère Sont une vanité fugitive et l'avant-coureur de la mort.
7 La violence des méchants les emporte, Parce qu'ils refusent de faire ce qui est juste.
8 Le coupable suit des voies détournées, Mais l'innocent agit avec droiture.
9 Mieux vaut habiter à l'angle d'un toit, Que de partager la demeure d'une femme querelleuse.
10 L'âme du méchant désire le mal; Son ami ne trouve pas grâce à ses yeux.
11 Quand on châtie le moqueur, le sot devient sage; Et quand on instruit le sage, il accueille la science.
12 Le juste considère la maison du méchant; L'Éternel précipite les méchants dans le malheur.
13 Celui qui ferme son oreille au cri du pauvre Criera lui-même et n'aura point de réponse.
14 Un don fait en secret apaise la colère, Et un présent fait en cachette calme une fureur violente.
15 C'est une joie pour le juste de pratiquer la justice, Mais la ruine est pour ceux qui font le mal.
16 L'homme qui s'écarte du chemin de la sagesse Reposera dans l'assemblée des morts.
17 Celui qui aime la joie reste dans l'indigence; Celui qui aime le vin et l'huile ne s'enrichit pas.
18 Le méchant sert de rançon pour le juste, Et le perfide pour les hommes droits.
19 Mieux vaut habiter dans une terre déserte, Qu'avec une femme querelleuse et irritable.
20 De précieux trésors et de l'huile sont dans la demeure du sage; Mais l'homme insensé les engloutit.
21 Celui qui poursuit la justice et la bonté Trouve la vie, la justice et la gloire.
22 Le sage monte dans la ville des héros, Et il abat la force qui lui donnait de l'assurance.
23 Celui qui veille sur sa bouche et sur sa langue Préserve son âme des angoisses.
24 L'orgueilleux, le hautain, s'appelle un moqueur; Il agit avec la fureur de l'arrogance.
25 Les désirs du paresseux le tuent, Parce que ses mains refusent de travailler;
26 Tout le jour il éprouve des désirs; Mais le juste donne sans parcimonie.
27 Le sacrifice des méchants est quelque chose d'abominable; Combien plus quand ils l'offrent avec des pensées criminelles!
28 Le témoin menteur périra, Mais l'homme qui écoute parlera toujours.
29 Le méchant prend un air effronté, Mais l'homme droit affermit sa voie.
30 Il n'y a ni sagesse, ni intelligence, Ni conseil, en face de l'Éternel.
31 Le cheval est équipé pour le jour de la bataille, Mais la délivrance appartient à l'Éternel.
Names of God Bible (NOG)
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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.
Louis Segond (LSG)