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Proverbs 21
1599 Geneva Bible
Proverbs 21
1599 Geneva Bible
21 1 The [a]King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters: he turneth it whithersoever it pleaseth him.
2 Every (A)way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3 (B)To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A haughty look, and a proud heart which is the [b][c]light of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent do surely bring abundance; but [d]whosoever is hasty, cometh surely to poverty.
6 (C)The gathering of treasures by a deceitful tongue, is vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 The [e]robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; for they have refused to execute judgment.
8 The way of some is perverted and strange, but of the pure man, his work is right.
9 (D)It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, than with a contentious woman in a [f]wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked wisheth evil, and his neighbor hath no favor in his eyes.
11 [g]When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise, and when one instructeth the wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 The righteous [h]teacheth the house of the wicked; but God overthroweth the wicked for their evil.
13 He that stoppeth his ear at the crying of the poor, he shall also cry and not be heard.
14 A [i]gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a gift in the bosom, great wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment; but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom, shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 He that loveth pastime, shall be a poor man; and he that loveth wine and oil, shall not be rich.
18 The [j]wicked shall be a ransom for the just, and the transgressor for the righteous.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.
20 In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and [k]oil; but a foolish man devoureth it.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy, shall find life, righteousness and glory.
22 A [l]wise man goeth up into the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from afflictions.
24 Proud, haughty, and scornful is his name that worketh in his arrogancy wrath.
25 The desire of the slothful [m]slayeth him; for his hands refuse to work.
26 He coveteth evermore greedily: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 The (E)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28 (F)A false witness shall perish: but he that heareth, [n]speaketh continually.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but the just, he will direct his way.
30 There is no wisdom, neither understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but salvation is of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:1 Though Kings seem to have all things at commandment, yet are they not able to bring their own purposes to pass any otherwise than God hath appointed: much less are the inferiors able.
- Proverbs 21:4 Or, plowing.
- Proverbs 21:4 That is, the thing whereby he is guided or which he bringeth forth as the fruit of his work.
- Proverbs 21:5 He that goeth rashly about his business, and without counsel.
- Proverbs 21:7 He meaneth this chiefly of Judges, and Princes which leave that vocation, whereunto God hath called them, and powle their subjects to maintain their lusts.
- Proverbs 21:9 Or, in a great family.
- Proverbs 21:11 Read Prov. 19:25.
- Proverbs 21:12 Though the godly admonish them both by words and example of life, yet the wicked will not amend, till God destroy them.
- Proverbs 21:14 To do a pleasure to the angry man pacifieth him.
- Proverbs 21:18 God shall cause that to fall on their own heads, which they intended against the just by delivering the just, and putting the wicked in their places.
- Proverbs 21:20 Meaning, abundance of all things.
- Proverbs 21:22 Wisdom overcometh strength and confidence in worldly things.
- Proverbs 21:25 He thinketh to live by wishing and desiring all things, but will take no pain to get ought.
- Proverbs 21:28 He may boldly testify the truth that he hath heard.
Proverbs 21
Wycliffe Bible
Proverbs 21
Wycliffe Bible
21 As partings of waters, so the heart of the king is in the power of the Lord; whither ever he will, he shall bow it. (Like out-flowings of water, is the king’s heart in the Lord’s hand; he shall turn it wherever he will, or desireth.)
2 Each way of a man seemeth rightful to himself; but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
3 To do mercy and doom, pleaseth more the Lord, than sacrifices. (To do mercy and justice, that pleaseth the Lord more than sacrifices, or burnt offerings.)
4 Enhancing of eyes is [the] alarging of the heart; the lantern of wicked men is sin. (The raising up of the eyes, and the enlarging of the heart; such sins be the lantern of the wicked.)
5 The thoughts of a strong man be ever in abundance; but each slow man is ever in neediness. (The thoughts of a strong person be forevermore on abundance, or on plenty; but those of each person in haste be forevermore on neediness./Carefully-made plans shall be successful; but each person in haste shall be forever in need.)
6 He that gathereth treasures by the tongue of a lie maker, (or of a liar,) is vain, and without heart; and he shall be hurled to the snares of death.
7 The ravens of unpious men shall draw them down; for they would not do doom. (The robberies of the wicked shall pull them down; for what they do is wrong.)
8 The wayward way of a man is alien from God; but the work of him that is clean of sin, is rightful. (The evil way of a person is alien to God; but the work of him who is clean of sin, is upright.)
9 It is better to sit in the corner of an house without roof, than with a woman full of chiding, and in a common house. (It is better to sit in the corner of a house without a roof, than with a woman full of arguments, or of bickering, in a house together.)
10 The soul of an unpious man desireth evil; he shall not have mercy on his neighbour. (The soul of a wicked person desireth evil; he shall not even give mercy to his friend.)
11 When a man full of pestilence is punished, a little man of wit shall be wiser (even someone of little wit, or of low intelligence, shall be made the wiser); and if he followeth a wise man, he shall take knowing.
12 A just man of the house of a wicked man thinketh, to withdraw wicked men from evil. (The righteous think about the wicked in their houses, but it is God who shall throw down the wicked for their evil./The just God thinketh about the house of the wicked, and he shall throw down the wicked for their evil.)
13 He that stoppeth his ear at the cry of a poor man, shall cry also (shall also cry), and he shall not be heard.
14 A gift hid quencheth chidings (A secret gift quencheth arguments); and a gift in [the] bosom quencheth most indignation.
15 It is joy to a just man to make doom; and it is dread to them that work wickedness. (It is a joy for the righteous to see justice done; but judgement bringeth ruin to those who work wickedness.)
16 A man that erreth from the way of doctrine, shall dwell in the company of giants, that is, of men evil ruled, either of fiends. (Those who err, or who stray, from the way of doctrine, shall dwell in the company of the dead.)
17 He that loveth meats shall be in neediness (He who loveth too much food shall be in want); he that loveth wine and fat things, shall not be made rich.
18 An unpious man shall be given for a just man; and a wicked man shall be given for a rightful man. (An evil person shall be given as a ransom for a righteous person; and a wicked person shall be given as a ransom for an upright person.)
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman full of chiding, and wrathful.
20 Desirable treasure and oil is in the dwelling place of a just man; and an unprudent man shall destroy it. (Desirable treasure and oil be in the dwelling place of the wise; but an imprudent person shall destroy it all.)
21 He that followeth rightfulness and mercy, shall find life, [and rightwiseness,] and glory.
22 A wise man ascended into the city of (the) strong men, and destroyed the strength of [the] trust thereof.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue (under control), keepeth his soul from anguishes.
24 A proud man and (a) boaster is called a fool, (for) that (he) worketh (his) pride in ire.
25 Desires slay a slow man; for his hands would not (do) work (of) anything. (Desires shall slay a lazy person; for his hands shall not do any work.)
26 All day he coveteth and desireth; but he that is a just man, shall give, and shall not cease. (All day long he wanteth, and longeth for; but he who is righteous, shall give, and shall never cease to give.)
27 The offerings of wicked men (The offerings of the wicked), that be offered (out) of great trespass, be abominable.
28 A false witness shall perish; a man obedient shall speak victory (but an honest person shall speak, and be rewarded).
29 A wicked man maketh firm his cheer unshamefastly; but he that is rightful, amendeth his way. (A wicked person unashamedly maketh firm his face, or is stubborn; but he who is upright, mendeth his way.)
30 No wisdom there is, no prudence there is, no counsel there is, against the Lord. (There is no wisdom, no understanding, no good advice, in being against the Lord.)
31 An horse is made ready to the day of battle; but the Lord shall give health. (A horse can be prepared for the day of battle; but victory cometh only from the Lord.)
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
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
2001 by Terence P. Noble
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.