21 A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses.

² All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.^[a]

³ Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴ The lamp^[b] that guides the wicked—
haughty eyes and an arrogant heart—is sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.

⁶ Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist,^[c] a pursuit of death.^[d][e]

⁷ The violence of the wicked sweeps them away
because they refuse to act justly.

⁸ A guilty man’s conduct is crooked,
but the behavior of the innocent is upright.

⁹ Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.

¹⁰ A wicked person desires evil;
he has no consideration^[f] for his neighbor.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge.

¹² The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked;
He brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³ The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
will himself also call out and not be answered.

¹⁴ A secret gift soothes anger,
and a covert bribe,^[g] fierce rage.

¹⁵ Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to those who practice iniquity.

¹⁶ The man who strays from the way of wisdom
will come to rest
in the assembly of the departed spirits.

¹⁷ The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.

¹⁸ The wicked are a ransom for the righteous,
and the treacherous, for^[h] the upright.

¹⁹ Better to live in a wilderness
than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.

²⁰ Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person,
but a foolish man consumes them.^[i]

²¹ The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.

²² A wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down its secure fortress.

²³ The one who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.

²⁴ The proud and arrogant person, named “Mocker,”
acts with excessive pride.

²⁵ A slacker’s craving will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ He is filled with craving^[j] all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back.

²⁷ The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable—
how much more so
when he brings it with ulterior motives!

²⁸ A lying witness will perish,
but the one who listens will speak successfully.

²⁹ A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright man considers his way.

³⁰ No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel
will prevail against the Lord.

³¹ A horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but victory comes from the Lord.