Proverbs 21

1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.

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

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.

5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.

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

8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

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

10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.

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

13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.

14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.

15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.

16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.

18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.

19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.

21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.

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

23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.

25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.

26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!

28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.

29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.

30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.

1 ¶ 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.

1 The . The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water; and he inclineth it whithersoever he will.

2 Every man's way seemeth right unto him: but the LORD only maketh hearts sure.

3 To do good and to do right is better in the sight of the LORD than sacrifice.

4 Prideful eyes, and proud courage, and the light of the wicked, is sin.

5 The smitings of an endued one bring abundance: but he that is too light shall be in want.

6 He that gathereth treasure with lies shall fall short, and fall among them that seek death.

7 The robbery of the wicked shall be a reproach unto them: for they would not do that which was right.

8 He that walketh in another way is perverse: but he that walketh in his commandment is righteous.

9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the house upon the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a house together.

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil, and grudgeth not his neighbour.

11 When the scoffer is punished, the foolish become wise; and when a wise man is taught, he becomes sensible.

12 The righteous keepeth himself wisely against the house of the wicked: but the wicked thinketh only to do harm.

13 He that stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, the same shall cry, and not be heard.

14 A secret gift quencheth wrath; and a gift in the bosom quencheth fierce anger.

15 It is a joy to the righteous to do what is right, but a fear to evildoers.

16 A man that erreth from the way of wisdom abideth in the congregation of the dead.

17 He that loveth lust shall lack; and he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

18 The wicked must be given for the righteous, and the scornful for the pious.

19 It is better to dwell in a desolate land than with a contentious and angry woman.

20 In the house of the wise is a goodly treasure and oil, but a fool maketh it waste.

21 He who pursues mercy and goodness finds life, mercy and honor.

22 A wise man taketh the city of the mighty, and overthroweth their power by their safety.

23 He that keepeth his mouth and tongue keepeth his soul from fear.

24 He that is proud and presumptuous is called a loose man, that showeth pride in anger.

25 The slothful man dieth over his desires: for his hands will do nothing.

26 He desireth daily; but the righteous giveth, and faileth not.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: for they are offered in sins.

28 A lying witness shall perish: but he that obeyeth shall always be heard again.

29 The wicked goeth through with his head: but he that is righteous shall stand.

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

31 Horses are prepared for the day of battle: but the victory is of the LORD.