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Proverbs 21
New Life Version
Proverbs 21
New Life Version
21 The heart of the king is like rivers of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it where He wishes.
2 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord knows the hearts.
3 To do what is right and good and fair is more pleasing to the Lord than gifts given on the altar in worship.
4 Eyes lifted high and a proud heart is sin and is the lamp of the sinful.
5 The plans of those who do their best lead only to having all they need, but all who are in a hurry come only to want.
6 Getting riches by a lying tongue is like a passing cloud, and leads to death.
7 The way the sinful hurt others will draw them away, because they will not do what is right and fair.
8 The way of a guilty man is sinful, but the actions of the pure man are right.
9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with an arguing woman.
10 The soul of the sinful has a desire for what is bad. His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the man who laughs at the truth is punished, the fool becomes wise. When a wise man is taught, he gets much learning.
12 The One Who is right and good thinks about the house of the sinful, and the sinful are thrown down to be destroyed.
13 He who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret quiets anger. A gift from the heart quiets strong anger.
15 When what is right and fair is done, it is a joy for those who are right with God. But it fills the sinful with fear.
16 A man who goes away from the way of understanding will rest in the gathering of the dead.
17 He who loves only fun will become a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The sinful man is the price given for the man who is right with God, the man who is not faithful for the faithful man.
19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a woman who argues and causes trouble.
20 There are riches and oil of great worth in the house of the wise, but a foolish man swallows them up.
21 He who follows what is right and loving and kind finds life, right-standing with God and honor.
22 A wise man goes over the city walls of the powerful, and brings down the strong-place in which they trust.
23 He who watches over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Self-important” and “One who laughs at the truth” are the names of the man who acts without respect and is proud.
25 The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands will not work.
26 He is filled with desire all day long, but the man who is right with God gives all he can.
27 The gift given on an altar in worship by the sinful is a hated thing. How much more when he brings it for the wrong reason!
28 A person who tells a lie about someone else will be lost, but the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
29 A sinful man’s face shows he is pretending, but a good man is sure of himself.
30 There is no wisdom and no understanding and no words that can stand against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for war, but winning the fight belongs to the Lord.
Proverbs 21
New International Version
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
Proverbs 21
King James Version
Proverbs 21
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.
New Life Version (NLV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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