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 King James Version
The Lord Considers the Heart
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the [a]rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
3 (C)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
5 (E)The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
7 The violence of the wicked will [d]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of [e]a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.
9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with (G)a contentious woman.
10 (H)The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the (I)wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
13 (J)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe [f]behind the back, strong wrath.
15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the (K)dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
And the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to dwell [g]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.
20 (L)There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.
21 (M)He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
23 (O)Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.
24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.
25 The (P)desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous (Q)gives and does not spare.
27 (R)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!
28 A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
29 A wicked man hardens his face,
But as for the upright, he [i]establishes his way.
30 (S)There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But (T)deliverance is of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:1 channels
- Proverbs 21:4 Or lamp
- Proverbs 21:6 LXX Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vg. Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Tg. They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death
- Proverbs 21:7 Lit. drag them away
- Proverbs 21:8 Or The way of a man is perverse and strange;
- Proverbs 21:14 Under cover, lit. in the bosom
- Proverbs 21:19 Lit. in the land of the desert
- Proverbs 21:22 Climbs over the walls of
- Proverbs 21:29 Qr., LXX understands
Ordspråksboken 21
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
21 (A) Kungens tankar är som
vattenflöden i Herrens hand,
han leder dem vart han vill.
2 (B) Var och en tycker
att hans vägar är rätta,
men Herren prövar hjärtan.
3 (C) Att handla rätt och rättfärdigt
är mer värt för Herren än offer.
5 (E) Den flitiges planer ger idel vinst,
hastverk bara förlust.
6 (F) Att vinna skatter
med lögnaktig tunga
är ett jagande efter vind[b]
för dem som söker döden[c].
7 De gudlösas våldsdåd
snärjer dem själva,
för de vägrar göra det rätta.
8 (G) Syndfull man går krokig väg,
den rene går rakt fram.
10 Den gudlöses själ
har lust till det onda,
hans nästa finner ingen nåd
i hans ögon.
11 (I) Straffas hånaren
blir den okunnige vis,
undervisas den vise
vinner han kunskap.
12 (J) Den Rättfärdige
ger akt på den gudlöses hus,
han störtar de gudlösa i olycka.
13 Den som stänger sitt öra
för den fattiges rop
ska själv ropa utan att få svar.
14 (K) Hemlig gåva dämpar vrede,
en skänk i fickan stillar stark ilska.
15 Att rätt skipas
är den rättfärdiges glädje
men förbrytarnas skräck.
16 Den som villar bort sig
från klokhetens väg
hamnar i de dödas församling.
17 (L) Den som älskar fest blir fattig,
den som älskar vin och olja
blir inte rik.
18 (M) Den gudlöse ges som lösen
för den rättfärdige,
den trolöse sätts i de ärligas ställe.
19 (N) Bättre bo i ett öde land
än tillsammans med en grälsjuk
och elak kvinna.
20 Den vise har dyrbara skatter
och salvor i sin boning,
en dåraktig människa
slösar bort det.[e]
21 (O) Den som strävar efter
rättfärdighet och godhet
finner liv, rättfärdighet och ära.
22 (P) En vis man kan storma en stad
full av hjältar
och bryta ner det fäste de litade på.
23 (Q) Den som vaktar sin mun
och sin tunga
bevarar sitt liv från svårigheter.
24 Hånare kallas den som är fräck
och övermodig,
som handlar i måttlöst övermod.
25 (R) Den lates begär blir hans död,
för hans händer vägrar arbeta.
26 Ständigt fikar han efter mer,
men den rättfärdige ger
utan att snåla.
27 (S) De gudlösas offer är avskyvärt,
särskilt när det bärs fram i ont syfte.
28 (T) Falskt vittne ska förgås,
den som lyssnar får tala till punkt.
29 Den gudlöse visar upp en trotsig min,
den ärlige går sin väg rakt fram.
30 (U) Ingen vishet, ingen förmåga,
ingen plan kan lyckas
mot Herren.
31 (V) Hästen rustas för stridens dag,
men segern kommer från Herren.
Footnotes
- 21:4 lykta Andra handskrifter: ”nyodling”.
- 21:6 ett jagande efter vind Annan översättning: ”en flyktig vindpust”.
- 21:6 för dem som söker döden Andra handskrifter (så Septuaginta): ”en dödlig snara”.
- 21:9 vrå på taket Avskilt gästrum (jfr 2 Kung 4:10).
- 21:20 dyrbara skatter och salvor Annan översättning: ”lager av läckerheter och olivolja”.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015, Copyright © 2015 by Svenska Folkbibeln Foundation