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Proverbs 21
Complete Jewish Bible
Proverbs 21
Complete Jewish Bible
21 The king’s heart in Adonai’s hand is like streams of water —
he directs it wherever he pleases.
2 All a person’s ways are right in his own view,
but Adonai weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just
is more pleasing to Adonai than sacrifice.
4 Haughty looks, a proud heart —
what the wicked plow is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead only to abundance;
but all who rush in arrive only at want.
6 A fortune gained by a lying tongue
is vapor dispersed [by] seekers of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to act justly.
8 A criminal’s conduct is crooked,
but the work of the pure is right.
9 It is better to live on a corner of the roof
than to share the house with a nagging wife.
10 The wicked is set on evil;
he doesn’t pity even his neighbor.
11 When a scorner is punished, the simple become wiser;
and when the wise is instructed, he takes hold of knowledge.
12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.
13 Whoever stops up his ears at the cry of the poor
will himself cry, but not be answered.
14 A secret gift allays anger,
and a bribe under the cloak the strongest fury.
15 Acting justly is a joy for the righteous
but it terrifies evildoers.
16 The person who strays from the way of common sense
will come to rest in the company of the dead.
17 Pleasure-lovers will suffer want;
he who loves wine and oil won’t get rich.
18 The wicked serve as a ransom for the righteous,
and likewise the perfidious for the upright.
19 It is better to live in the desert
than with a nagging, irritable wife.
20 In the home of the wise are fine treasures and oil,
but a fool quickly devours it.
21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness
finds life, prosperity and honor.
22 A wise man can go up into a city of warriors
and undermine the strength in which it trusts.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
24 “Scoffer” is what you call a proud, insolent person
who acts with overweening conceit.
25 A lazy man’s craving will kill him,
because his hands refuse to work —
26 he covets greedily all day long;
but a righteous person gives without holding back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with vile motives.
28 A lying witness is doomed,
but one who heard [what was said] will testify successfully.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
whereas the upright prepares his ways.
30 No wisdom, discernment or counsel
succeeds against Adonai.
31 A horse may be prepared for the day of battle,
but victory comes from Adonai.
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.
Proverbios 21
Reina Valera Contemporánea
Proverbios 21
Reina Valera Contemporánea
21 El corazón del rey se bifurca como los ríos,
pero en manos del Señor sigue los planes divinos.
2 El hombre cree que todo camino es recto,
pero el Señor pondera los corazones.
3 Al Señor le agrada que se le hagan ofrendas,
pero más le agrada que se haga justicia.
4 Esto es pecado: Los ojos altivos,
el corazón orgulloso y los planes malvados.
5 Si piensas lo que haces, tendrás abundancia;
si te apresuras, acabarás en la pobreza.
6 Amontonar tesoros a base de mentiras
es una ilusión que te conduce a la muerte.
7 A los impíos los destruye su propia rapiña,
porque se rehúsan a hacer justicia.
8 El malvado va por caminos torcidos,
pero el hombre honrado actúa con rectitud.
9 Es mejor vivir en la azotea de la casa
que compartir la casa con una esposa agresiva
10 El impío tiene sed de maldad;
no considera a nadie digno de compasión.
11 Castiga al blasfemo, y el simple se hará sabio;
aconseja al sabio, y éste aprenderá su lección.
12 El justo observa la casa del impío,
y lo ve cuando es trastornado por el mal.
13 El que cierra su oído al clamor del pobre
tampoco será escuchado cuando pida ayuda.
14 La dádiva discreta calma el enojo;
el don disimulado apacigua la furia.
15 El justo se alegra cuando se hace justicia,
pero los malvados se ponen a temblar.
16 Quien se aparta del camino de la sabiduría
acaba entre las legiones de muertos.
17 Si amas los placeres, acabarás en la pobreza;
el gusto por el vino y los perfumes no te hará rico.
18 El malvado pagará el rescate del justo;
el impío sufrirá en lugar del hombre recto.
19 Es mejor vivir en el desierto
que convivir con mujer peleonera y agresiva.
20 Riquezas y perfumes hay en la casa del sabio;
en la casa del necio sólo hay despilfarro.
21 Ve en pos de la justicia y la misericordia,
y hallarás vida, justicia y honra.
22 El sabio conquista la ciudad más protegida,
y derriba la fortaleza más confiable.
23 El que cuida su boca y su lengua
se libra de muchos problemas.
24 Al que es burlón y soberbio
también se le llama insolente.
25 El perezoso se muere de deseos,
pero no es capaz de ponerse a trabajar.
26 Todo el tiempo se lo pasa codiciando.
En cambio, el hombre justo da sin tacañerías.
27 El sacrificio de los impíos es repugnante,
¡y más aún si se ofrece con maldad!
28 El falso testimonio es desechado;
el que sabe escuchar puede hablar siempre.
29 El hombre impío finge firmeza;
el hombre recto es firme en sus caminos.
30 Ante el Señor nada vale el sabio,
ni el inteligente ni el consejero.
31 Presto está el caballo para entrar en combate,
pero la victoria está en manos del Señor.
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
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC)
Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.