Proverbs 21

Amplified Bible

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it whichever way He wishes.^(A)
2 
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].^(B)
3 
To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed].^(C)
4 
Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].
⁵ 
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage,
But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.
⁶ 
Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of death.
⁷ 
The violence of the wicked will [return to them and] drag them away [like fish caught in a net],
Because they refuse to act with justice.
⁸ 
The way of the guilty is [exceedingly] crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
⁹ 
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather]
Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.
¹⁰ 
The soul of the wicked desires evil [like an addictive substance];
His neighbor finds no compassion in his eyes.^(D)
11 
When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise;
But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.^(E)
12 
The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked—
How the wicked are cast down to ruin.
¹³ 
Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor
Will cry out himself and not be answered.^(F)
14 
A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe [hidden] in the pocket, strong wrath.
¹⁵ 
When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, the one in right standing with God),
But to the evildoers it is disaster.
¹⁶ 
A man who wanders from the way of understanding (godly wisdom)
Will remain in the assembly of the dead.
¹⁷ 
He who loves [only selfish] pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves and is devoted to ^[a]wine and [olive] oil will not become rich.
¹⁸ 
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous in the place of the upright [for they fall into their own traps].
¹⁹ 
It is better to dwell in a desert land
Than with a contentious and troublesome woman.
²⁰ 
There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future],
But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.
²¹ 
He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.^(G)
22 
A wise man scales the city [walls] of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
²³ 
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
Guards himself from troubles.^(H)
24 
“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names
Who acts with overbearing and insolent pride.
²⁵ 
The desire of the lazy kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor;
²⁶ 
He craves all the day long [and does no work],
But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].^(I)
27 
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable and offensive [to the Lord].
How much more [unacceptable and insulting can it be] when he brings it with evil intention?
²⁸ 
A false witness will perish,
But a man who listens to the truth will speak forever and go unchallenged.
²⁹ 
A wicked man puts on a bold face,
But as for the upright, he considers, directs, and establishes his way [with the confidence of integrity].
³⁰ 
There is no [human] wisdom or understanding
Or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.
³¹ 
The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance and victory belong to the Lord.