Proverbs 21
Living Bible
21 Just as water is turned into irrigation ditches, so the Lord directs the king’s thoughts. He turns them wherever he wants to.
2 We can justify our every deed, but God looks at our motives.
3 God is more pleased when we are just and fair than when we give him gifts.
4 Pride, lust, and evil actions[a] are all sin.
5 Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty.
6 Dishonest gain will never last, so why take the risk?
7 Because the wicked are unfair, their violence boomerangs and destroys them.
8 A man is known by his actions.[b] An evil man lives an evil life; a good man lives a godly life.
9 It is better to live in the corner of an attic than with a crabby woman in a lovely home.
10 An evil man loves to harm others; being a good neighbor is out of his line.
11 The wise man learns by listening; the simpleton can learn only by seeing scorners punished.
12 God, the Righteous One, knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked and will bring the wicked to judgment.
13 He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need.
14 An angry man is silenced by giving him a gift!
15 A good man loves justice, but it is a calamity to evildoers.
16 The man who strays away from common sense will end up dead!
17 A man who loves pleasure becomes poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches!
18 The wicked will finally lose; the righteous will finally win.[c]
19 Better to live in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining woman.
20 The wise man saves for the future,[d] but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.
21 The man who tries to be good, loving, and kind finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 The wise man conquers the strong man and levels his defenses.
23 Keep your mouth closed and you’ll stay out of trouble.
24 Mockers are proud, haughty, and arrogant.
25-26 The lazy man longs for many things, but his hands refuse to work. He is greedy to get, while the godly love to give!
27 God loathes the gifts of evil men, especially if they are trying to bribe him!
28 No one believes a liar, but everyone respects the words of an honest man.
29 An evil man is stubborn, but a godly man will reconsider.[e]
30 No one, regardless of how shrewd or well-advised he is, can stand against the Lord.
31 Go ahead and prepare for the conflict,[f] but victory comes from God.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:4 evil actions, literally, “the tillage of the wicked.”
- Proverbs 21:8 A man is known by his actions, implied.
- Proverbs 21:18 The wicked will finally lose; the righteous will finally win, literally, “The wicked is a ransom for the righteous.”
- Proverbs 21:20 The wise man saves for the future, literally, “There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise.”
- Proverbs 21:29 An evil man is stubborn, but a godly man will reconsider, or “The wicked man is brazen; the godly man is thoughtful.”
- Proverbs 21:31 Go ahead and prepare for the conflict, literally, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle.”
Proverbs 21
King James Version
21 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.
Proverbs 21
New King James Version
The Lord Considers the Heart
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the [a]rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
3 (C)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
5 (E)The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
7 The violence of the wicked will [d]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of [e]a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.
9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with (G)a contentious woman.
10 (H)The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the (I)wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
13 (J)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe [f]behind the back, strong wrath.
15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the (K)dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
And the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to dwell [g]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.
20 (L)There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.
21 (M)He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
23 (O)Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.
24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.
25 The (P)desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous (Q)gives and does not spare.
27 (R)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!
28 A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
29 A wicked man hardens his face,
But as for the upright, he [i]establishes his way.
30 (S)There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But (T)deliverance is of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:1 channels
- Proverbs 21:4 Or lamp
- Proverbs 21:6 LXX Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vg. Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Tg. They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death
- Proverbs 21:7 Lit. drag them away
- Proverbs 21:8 Or The way of a man is perverse and strange;
- Proverbs 21:14 Under cover, lit. in the bosom
- Proverbs 21:19 Lit. in the land of the desert
- Proverbs 21:22 Climbs over the walls of
- Proverbs 21:29 Qr., LXX understands
Proverbs 21
English Standard Version
21 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he (A)turns it wherever he will.
2 (B)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord (C)weighs the heart.
3 (D)To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 (E)Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
(F)the lamp[a] of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of (G)the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is (H)hasty comes (I)only to poverty.
6 (J)The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a (K)fleeting (L)vapor and a (M)snare of death.[b]
7 The violence of the wicked will (N)sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty (O)is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9 It is (P)better to live in a corner of the housetop
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 (Q)a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One (R)observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 (S)Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.
14 (T)A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe,[c] strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
(U)but terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
(V)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 (W)The wicked is a (X)ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is (Y)better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 (Z)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
but a foolish man (AA)devours it.
21 Whoever (AB)pursues righteousness and kindness
will find (AC)life, righteousness, and honor.
22 (AD)A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 (AE)Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
(AF)keeps himself out of (AG)trouble.
24 (AH)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of (AI)the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous (AJ)gives and does not hold back.
27 (AK)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more (AL)when he brings it with evil intent.
28 (AM)A false 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 (AN)gives thought to[d] his ways.
30 (AO)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.
31 (AP)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but (AQ)the victory belongs to the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:4 Or the plowing
- Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
- Proverbs 21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom
- Proverbs 21:29 Or establishes
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
