Proverbs 21
Contemporary English Version
The Lord Is In Charge
21 (A) The Lord controls rulers,
just as he determines
the course of rivers.
2 We may think we are doing
the right thing,
but the Lord always knows
what is in our hearts.
3 Doing what is right and fair
pleases the Lord
more than an offering.
4 Evil people are proud
and arrogant,
but sin is the only crop
they produce.[a]
5 If you plan and work hard,
you will have plenty;
if you hurry to get rich,
you will end up poor.
6 Cheating to get rich
is a foolish dream
and no less than suicide.[b]
7 You destroy yourself
by being cruel and violent
and refusing to live right.
8 All crooks are liars,
but anyone who is innocent
will do right.
9 (B) It's better to stay outside
on the roof of your house
than to live inside
with a nagging wife.
10 Evil people want to do wrong,
even to their friends.
11 An ignorant fool learns
by seeing others punished;
a sensible person learns
by being instructed.
12 God is always fair!
He knows what the wicked do
and will punish them.
13 If you won't help the poor,
don't expect to be heard
when you cry out for help.
14 A secret bribe will save you
from someone's fierce anger.
15 When justice is done,
good citizens are glad
and crooks are terrified.
16 If you stop using good sense,
you will find yourself
in the grave.
17 Heavy drinkers and others
who live only for pleasure
will lose all they have.
18 God's people will escape,
but all who are wicked
will pay the price.
19 It's better out in the desert
than at home with a nagging,
complaining wife.
20 Be sensible and store up
precious treasures—
don't waste them
like a fool.
21 If you try to be kind and good,
you will be blessed with life
and goodness and honor.
22 One wise person can defeat
a city full of soldiers
and capture their fortress.
23 Watching what you say
can save you
a lot of trouble.
24 If you are proud and conceited,
everyone will say,
“You're a snob!”
25 If you want too much
and are too lazy to work,
it could be fatal.
26 But people who obey God
are always generous.
27 (C) The Lord despises the offerings
of wicked people
with evil motives.
28 If you tell lies in court,
you are done for;
only a reliable witness
can do the job.
29 Wicked people bluff their way,
but God's people think
before they take a step.
30 No matter how much you know
or what plans you make,
you can't defeat the Lord.
31 Even if your army has horses
ready for battle,
the Lord will always win.
Proverbs 21
Authorized (King James) Version
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water:
he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes:
but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 An high look, and a proud heart,
and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;
but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them;
because they refuse to do judgment.
8 The way of man is froward and strange:
but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop,
than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil:
his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise:
and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked:
but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,
he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger:
and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment:
but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding
shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man:
he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
and the transgressor for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness,
than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy
findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,
and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue
keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name,
who dealeth in proud wrath.
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him;
for his hands refuse to labour.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long:
but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:
how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28 A false witness shall perish:
but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face:
but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding
nor counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle:
but safety is of the Lord.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.