Proverbs

The Proverbs, chapter 21, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 21 New English Translation

   1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants.
   2 All of a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives.
   3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
   4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart - the agricultural product of the wicked is sin.
   5 The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
   6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death.
   7 The violence done by the wicked will drag them away because they refuse to do what is right.
   8 The way of the guilty person is devious, but as for the pure, his way is upright.
   9 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.
   10 The appetite of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor is shown no favor in his eyes.
   11 When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise; when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
   12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.
   13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered.
   14 A gift given in secret subdues anger, and a bribe given secretly subdues strong wrath.
   15 Doing justice brings joy to the righteous and terror to those who do evil.
   16 The one who wanders from the way of wisdom will end up in the company of the departed.
   17 The one who loves pleasure will be a poor person; whoever loves wine and anointing oil will not be rich.
   18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless are taken in the place of the upright.
   19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and easily-provoked woman.
   20 There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person devours all he has.
   21 The one who pursues righteousness and love finds life, bounty, and honor.
   22 The wise person can scale the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold in which they trust.
   23 The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from troubles.
   24 A proud and arrogant person, whose name is "Scoffer," acts with overbearing pride.
   25 What the sluggard desires will kill him, for his hands refuse to work.
   26 All day long he craves greedily, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
   27 The wicked person's sacrifice is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent!
   28 A lying witness will perish, but the one who reports accurately speaks forever.
   29 A wicked person shows boldness with his face, but as for the upright, he discerns his ways.
   30 There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the LORD.
   31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is from the LORD.

King James Version

   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.