Chapter 21
1 A king’s heart is channeled water in the hand of the Lord;
God directs it where he pleases.
2 All your ways may be straight in your own eyes,
but it is the Lord who weighs hearts.(A)
3 To do what is right and just(B)
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the lamp of the wicked will fail.
5 The plans of the diligent end in profit,
but those of the hasty end in loss.
6 Trying to get rich by lying
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is right.
8 One’s path may be winding and unfamiliar,
but one’s conduct is blameless and right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop
than in a mansion with a quarrelsome woman.(C)
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
their neighbor finds no pity in their eyes.
11 When scoffers are punished the naive become wise;
when the wise succeed, they gain knowledge.(D)
12 The Righteous One appraises the house of the wicked,
bringing down the wicked to ruin.
13 Those who shut their ears to the cry of the poor
will themselves call out and not be answered.
14 A secret gift allays anger,
and a present concealed, violent wrath.
15 When justice is done it is a joy for the just,
downfall for evildoers.(E)
16 Whoever strays from the way of good sense
will abide in the assembly of the shades.
17 The lover of pleasure will suffer want;
the lover of wine and perfume will never be rich.
18 The wicked serve as ransom for the just,
and the faithless for the upright.(F)
19 It is better to dwell in a wilderness
than with a quarrelsome wife and trouble.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise,
but the fool consumes them.
21 Whoever pursues justice and kindness
will find life and honor.
22 The wise person storms the city of the mighty,
and overthrows the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Those who guard mouth and tongue
guard themselves from trouble.(G)
24 Proud, boastful—scoffer is the name:
those who act with overbearing pride.
25 The desire of sluggards will slay them,
for their hands refuse to work.
26 Some are consumed with avarice all the day,
but the just give unsparingly.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
the more so when they offer it with bad intent.(H)
28 The false witness will perish,(I)
but one who listens will give lasting testimony.
29 The face of the wicked hardens,
but the upright maintains a straight course.
30 No wisdom, no understanding,
no counsel prevail against the Lord.
31 The horse is equipped for the day of battle,
but victory is the Lord’s.
Footnotes
- 21:1
- 21:3
- 21:4
- 21:5
- 21:8
- 21:9
- 21:12
- 21:14
- 21:15
- 21:16
- 21:18
- 21:21
- 21:23
- 21:25
- 21:29
Cross references
- 21:2 : Prv 16:2.
- 21:3 : 1 Sm 15:22; Hos 6:6.
- 21:9 : Prv 21:19; 25:24; 27:15; Sir 25:23.
- 21:11 : Prv 19:25.
- 21:15 : Prv 10:29.
- 21:18 : Prv 11:8.
- 21:23 : Prv 13:3.
- 21:27 : Prv 15:8; Sir 34:21–23.
- 21:28 : Prv 19:5, 9.
