Proverbs 21- 1
- The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
- 2
- All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
- 3
- To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
- 4
- Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
- 5
- The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
- 6
- A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. [1]
- 7
- The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
- 8
- The way of the guilty is devious, 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.
- 10
- The wicked man craves evil; his neighbor gets no mercy from him.
- 11
- When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
- 12
- The Righteous One [2] takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
- 13
- If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
- 14
- A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
- 15
- When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
- 16
- A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead.
- 17
- He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
- 18
- The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
- 19
- Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.
- 20
- In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
- 21
- He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity [3] and honor.
- 22
- A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
- 23
- He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
- 24
- The proud and arrogant man--"Mocker" is his name; he behaves with overweening pride.
- 25
- The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
- 26
- All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
- 27
- The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable-- how much more so when brought with evil intent!
- 28
- A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever. [4]
- 29
- A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways.
- 30
- There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
- 31
- The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
- [6] Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
- [12] Or The righteous man
- [21] Or righteousness
- [28] Or / but the words of an obedient man will live on