Proverbs 21
Revised Standard Version
21 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but every one who is hasty comes only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is right.
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The righteous observes the house of the wicked;
the wicked are cast down to ruin.
13 He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself cry out and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret averts anger;
and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,
but dismay to evildoers.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Precious treasure remains[a] in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.
21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life[b] and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
24 “Scoffer” is the name of the proud, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him
for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long the wicked covets,[c]
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
28 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 an upright man considers[d] his ways.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel,
can avail against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:20 Gk: Heb and oil
- Proverbs 21:21 Gk: Heb life and righteousness
- Proverbs 21:26 Gk: Heb all day long he covets covetously
- Proverbs 21:29 Another reading is establishes
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.