Proverbs 21:1-15

New American Standard Bible

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He ^(A)turns it wherever He pleases.
^2 (B)Every person’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord ^(C)examines the hearts.
³ To do ^(D)righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The ^(E)lamp of the wicked, is sin.
⁵ The plans of the ^(F)diligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone ^(G)who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
⁶ The ^(H)acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the ^[a]pursuit of ^(I)death.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they ^(J)refuse to act with justice.
⁸ The way of a guilty person is ^(K)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
⁹ It is better to live on a corner of a roof
Than ^[b]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His ^(L)neighbor is shown no compassion in his eyes.
¹¹ When the ^(M)scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
¹² The ^[c]righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Bringing the ^(N)wicked to ruin.
¹³ One who ^(O)shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will also call out himself, and not be ^(P)answered.
¹⁴ A ^(Q)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe ^[d]in an inside pocket, strong wrath.
¹⁵ The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But ^(R)terror to those who practice injustice.