Proverbs 21

On Life and Conduct

1 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He ^aturns it wherever He pleases.
2 ^bEvery person’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord ^cexamines the hearts.
3 To do ^drighteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The ^elamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The plans of the ^fdiligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone ^gwho is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
6 The ^hacquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the ▼

▼Lit seekers

pursuit of ^jdeath.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they ^krefuse to act with justice.
8 The way of a guilty person is ^lcrooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9 It is better to live on a corner of a roof
Than ▼

▼Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association

in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His ⁿneighbor is shown no compassion in his eyes.
11 When the ^oscoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The ▼

▼Or Righteous One

righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Bringing the ^qwicked to ruin.
13 One who ^rshuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will also call out himself, and not be ^sanswered.
14 A ^tgift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe ▼

▼Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly

in an inside pocket, strong wrath.
15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But ^vterror to those who practice injustice.
16 A person who wanders from the way of understanding
Will ^wrest in the assembly of the ▼

▼Lit departed spirits

dead.
17 One who ^yloves pleasure will become a poor person;
One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked is a ^zransom for the righteous,
And the ^aatreacherous is in the place of the upright.
19 ^abIt is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and irritating woman.
20 There is precious ^actreasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person ^adswallows it up.
21 One who ^aepursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A ^afwise person scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the ▼

▼Lit strength of trust

stronghold in which they trust.
23 One who ^ahguards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Arrogant,” “ ^aiScoffer,” are his names,
One who acts with ^ajinsolent pride.
25 The ^akdesire of the ▼

▼Lit idle

lazy one puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he ▼

▼Lit desires desire

is craving,
While the righteous ^angives and does not hold back.
27 The ^aosacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
28 A ^apfalse witness will perish,
But a person who listens will speak forever.
29 A wicked person ▼

▼Lit makes firm with his face

, ^ardisplays a bold face,
But as for the ^asupright, he makes his way sure.
30 There is ^atno wisdom, no understanding,
And no ▼

▼Or advice

plan against the Lord.
31 The ^avhorse is prepared for the day of battle,
But the ^awvictory belongs to the Lord.