Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
2 Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
6 Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
10 The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
11 When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
19 It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
