21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
21:2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
21:6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
21:7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
21:8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
21:9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
21:10 The wicked man craves evil; his neighbor gets no mercy from him.
21:11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
21:12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
21:13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
21:14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
21:15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
21:16 A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead.
21:17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
21:18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
21:19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.
21:20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
21:21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
21:22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
21:24 The proud and arrogant man–“Mocker” is his name; he behaves with overweening pride.
21:25 The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
21:26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable–how much more so when brought with evil intent!
21:28 A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.
21:29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways.
21:30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
21:1 The king s heart is like streams of water in the hand of Jehovah; / He turns it wherever He wishes.
21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, / But Jehovah weighs the hearts.
21:3 To do righteousness and justice / Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
21:4 A high look and a proud heart ? / The lamp of the wicked ? is sin.
21:5 The plans of the diligent lead only to plentifulness, / But everyone who is hasty comes only to want.
21:6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue / Is a fleeting vapor, a snare of death.
21:7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away / Because they refuse to do justice.
21:8 The way of a guilty man is crooked; / But as for the pure, his work is right.
21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop / Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
21:10 The soul of the wicked man desires evil; / His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
21:11 When the scorner is punished, the simple man becomes wise; / And when the wise man is instructed, he receives knowledge.
21:12 The righteous One considers the house of the wicked man, / Overthrowing the wicked to their ruin.
21:13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor man / Also will cry and will not be heard.
21:14 A gift in secret pacifies anger; / And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
21:15 It is joy to the righteous man to do justice, / But it is destruction to the workers of iniquity.
21:16 The man who wanders from the way of understanding / Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
21:17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; / He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
21:18 The wicked man is a ransom for the righteous man, / And the treacherous man is in the place of the upright.
21:19 It is better to dwell in a desert land / Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
21:20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise man, / But a foolish man swallows it up.
21:21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness / Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
21:22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty / And brings down the strength in which they trust.
21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue / Keeps his soul from troubles.
21:24 Proud, Haughty, Scorner are the names / Of him who works in the arrogance of pride.
21:25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, / For his hands refuse to work.
21:26 All day long one covets greedily, / But the righteous man gives and does not hold back.
21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; / How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
21:28 A false witness will perish, / But the man who hears will speak so as to endure.
21:29 A wicked man hardens his face; / But as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding / Nor counsel that can avail against Jehovah.
21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, / But victory belongs to Jehovah.