Proverbs 21
Tree of Life Version
Adonai Weighs the Heart
21 A king’s heart is like a stream of water in the hand of Adonai;
he directs it wherever He wants.[a]
2 All a man’s ways seem right in his own eyes,
but Adonai weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to Adonai than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 Plans of the diligent surely lead to gain,
but all who are hasty come only to loss.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue
is like a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
Violence and Ruin of the Wicked
7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,
because they refuse to act justly.
8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9 It is better to live on a corner of a roof
than in a house shared
with a quarrelsome wife.
10 A wicked soul craves evil—
his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When a mocker is punished, the naïve become wise.
When a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
throwing the wicked down to their ruin.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
will also cry out but not be answered.
14 A gift in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe given secretly, fierce rage.
15 Doing justice brings joy to the righteous,
and terror to those who do evil.
16 Whoever strays from the path of wisdom
ends up in the congregation of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure becomes poor.
Whoever 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 quarrelsome, worrisome wife.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise person’s dwelling,
but a foolish person devours all he has.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy
finds life, prosperity and honor.
22 A wise person scales the city of warriors
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
keeps his soul out of troubles.
24 A proud and haughty man
—Mocker is his name—
acts with overbearing pride.
25 A slacker’s craving will kill him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves greedily,
yet the righteous one 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 a man who hears will speak forever.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright man considers his ways.
30 There is no wisdom,
there is no understanding,
there is no counsel—
against Adonai.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but victory comes from Adonai.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:1 cf. Luke 16:15.
箴言 21
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
善恶互论垂为箴言
21 王的心在耶和华手中好像垄沟的水，随意流转。 2 人所行的在自己眼中都看为正，唯有耶和华衡量人心。 3 行仁义、公平比献祭更蒙耶和华悦纳。 4 恶人发达[a]，眼高心傲，这乃是罪。 5 殷勤筹划的足致丰裕，行事急躁的都必缺乏。 6 用诡诈之舌求财的，就是自己取死，所得之财乃是吹来吹去的浮云。 7 恶人的强暴必将自己扫除，因他们不肯按公平行事。 8 负罪之人的路甚是弯曲，至于清洁的人，他所行的乃是正直。 9 宁可住在房顶的角上，不在宽阔的房屋与争吵的妇人同住。 10 恶人的心乐人受祸，他眼并不怜恤邻舍。 11 亵慢的人受刑罚，愚蒙的人就得智慧；智慧人受训诲，便得知识。 12 义人思想恶人的家，知道恶人倾倒，必致灭亡。 13 塞耳不听穷人哀求的，他将来呼吁也不蒙应允。 14 暗中送的礼物挽回怒气，怀中揣的贿赂止息暴怒。 15 秉公行义使义人喜乐，使作孽的人败坏。 16 迷离通达道路的，必住在阴魂的会中。 17 爱宴乐的必致穷乏，好酒爱膏油的必不富足。 18 恶人做了义人的赎价，奸诈人代替正直人。 19 宁可住在旷野，不与争吵使气的妇人同住。 20 智慧人家中积蓄宝物、膏油，愚昧人随得来随吞下。 21 追求公义仁慈的，就寻得生命、公义和尊荣。 22 智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒。 23 谨守口与舌的，就保守自己免受灾难。 24 心骄气傲的人，名叫亵慢，他行事狂妄，都出于骄傲。 25 懒惰人的心愿将他杀害，因为他手不肯做工。 26 有终日贪得无厌的，义人施舍而不吝惜。 27 恶人的祭物是可憎的，何况他存恶意来献呢？ 28 作假见证的必灭亡，唯有听真情而言的，其言长存。 29 恶人脸无羞耻，正直人行事坚定。 30 没有人能以智慧、聪明、谋略抵挡耶和华。 31 马是为打仗之日预备的，得胜乃在乎耶和华。
Footnotes
- 箴言 21:4 “发达”原文作“灯”。
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.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative