Pro 21 | ESV | STEP | The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord ; he turns it wherever he will .

Proverbs 21

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he ^aturns it wherever he will.
2 ^bEvery way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord ^cweighs the heart.
3 ^dTo do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 ^eHaughty eyes and a proud heart,
^fthe lamp ^{▼▼Or the plowing} of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of ^hthe diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is ⁱhasty comes ^jonly to poverty.
6 ^kThe getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a ^lfleeting ^mvapor and a ⁿsnare of death. ^{▼▼Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death}
7 The violence of the wicked will ^psweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty ^qis crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9 It is ^rbetter to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When ^sa scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One ^tobserves the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 ^uWhoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.
14 ^vA gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe, ^{▼▼Hebrew a bribe in the bosom} strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
^xbut terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
^ywill rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 ^zThe wicked is a ^aaransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is ^abbetter to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 ^acPrecious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man ^addevours it.
21 Whoever ^aepursues righteousness and kindness
will find ^aflife, righteousness, and honor.
22 ^agA wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 ^ahWhoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
^aikeeps himself out of ^ajtrouble.
24 ^ak“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of ^althe sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous ^amgives and does not hold back.
27 ^anThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more ^aowhen he brings it with evil intent.
28 ^apA false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright ^aqgives thought to ^{▼▼Or establishes} his ways.
30 ^asNo wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.
31 ^atThe horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but ^authe victory belongs to the Lord.