Proverbs 21

¹ The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.

² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.

³ To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart —
the lamp of the wicked is sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

⁶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.

⁸ The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.

⁹ It is better to live in a corner of a rooftop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

¹¹ When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when the wise is instructed, he gains knowledge.

¹² The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.

¹³ Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.

¹⁴ A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.

¹⁵ When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

¹⁶ One who wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.

¹⁹ It is better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

²⁰ Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.

²¹ Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.

²² A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³ Whoever keeps his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.

²⁴ Scoffer is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.

²⁵ The craving of the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.

²⁶ All day long the wicked covets,
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

²⁸ A lying witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.

²⁹ A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright gives thought to his ways.

³⁰ No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the LORD.

³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the LORD.