Proverbs 21
New International Reader's Version
21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is like a stream of water.
The Lord directs it toward all those who please him.
2 A person might think their own ways are right.
But the Lord knows what they are thinking.
3 Do what is right and fair.
The Lord accepts that more than sacrifices.
4 The proud eyes and hearts of sinful people are like a field not plowed.
Those things produce nothing good.
5 The plans of people who work hard succeed.
You can be just as sure that those in a hurry will become poor.
6 A fortune made by people who tell lies
amounts to nothing and leads to death.
7 The harmful things that evil people do will drag them away.
They refuse to do what is right.
8 The path of those who are guilty is crooked.
But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest.
9 It is better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.
10 Sinful people long to do evil.
They don’t show their neighbors any mercy.
11 When you punish someone who makes fun of others, childish people get wise.
By paying attention to wise people, the childish get knowledge.
12 The Blameless One knows where sinners live.
And he destroys them.
13 Whoever refuses to listen to the cries of poor people
will also cry out and not be answered.
14 A secret gift calms down anger.
A hidden favor softens great anger.
15 When you do what is fair, you make godly people glad.
But you terrify those who do what is evil.
16 Whoever leaves the path of understanding
ends up with those who are dead.
17 Anyone who loves pleasure will become poor.
Anyone who loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18 Evil people become the payment for setting godly people free.
Those who aren’t faithful are the payment for honest people.
19 It is better to live in a desert
than to live with a nagging wife who loves to argue.
20 Wise people store up the best food and olive oil.
But foolish people eat up everything they have.
21 Anyone who wants to be godly and loving
finds life, success and honor.
22 A wise person can attack a strong city.
They can pull down the place of safety its people trust in.
23 Those who are careful about what they say
keep themselves out of trouble.
24 A proud person is called a mocker.
He thinks much too highly of himself.
25 Some people will die while they are still hungry.
That’s because their hands refuse to work.
26 All day long they hunger for more.
But godly people give without holding back.
27 God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people.
He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason.
28 Witnesses who aren’t honest will die.
But anyone who listens carefully will be a successful witness.
29 Sinful people try to look as if they were bold.
But honest people think about how they live.
30 No wisdom, wise saying or plan
can succeed against the Lord.
31 You can prepare a horse for the day of battle.
But the power to win comes from the Lord.
Proverbs 21
New International Version
21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.(A)
2 A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.(B)
3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(C)
4 Haughty eyes(D) and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit(E)
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(G)
for they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious,(H)
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.(I)
10 The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.(J)
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.(N)
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.(O)
16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.(P)
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(Q)
18 The wicked become a ransom(R) for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(S)
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(V)
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
24 The proud and arrogant person(Y)—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(Z)
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous(AA) give without sparing.(AB)
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(AC)—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!(AD)
29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.(AG)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.(AJ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
- Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
- Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
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