Proverbs Chapter 21

¹ A king’s heart in the LORD’s hand

is like a stream he can direct where he wants.

                  ²Your own way seems right to you,

            but the LORD weighs your heart.

³ The LORD wants goodness and justice

more than sacrifice.

                  ⁴Arrogant eyes and a proud heart

            are wicked people’s lamp—and sin.

⁵ Diligent planning gives you an advantage;  

getting in a hurry gets you poverty.

                  ⁶Getting rich by lying is a dissipating vapor

            that ends in death.                                                      

Prov 21:1-6

⁷ Sinful people’s violence sweeps them away

because they refuse to do what’s right.

                  ⁸A guilty person’s road is full of curves,

            but the conduct of the pure makes a straight path.

⁹ It’s better to live in the corner of a housetop

than inside the house with a contentious woman.

                  ¹⁰Evil people desire evil

            and don’t show compassion to anyone.

¹¹ Punishing scoffers makes them wise;

instructing the wise makes them wiser still.

                  ¹²Good people watch out for the sinful

            and turn them to ruin.

Prov 21:7-12

¹³ If you shut out the cry from the poor,

you’ll cry out yourself and not be heard.

                  ¹⁴A secret gift calms anger;

            a present turns it away.

¹⁵ Good people enjoy carrying out justice;

justice distresses sinners.

                  ¹⁶If you stray from understanding,

            you’ll end up among the dead.

¹⁷ People that love pleasure become poor;

they who love wine and comfort never get rich.

                  ¹⁸Sinners are ransoms for the righteous;

            the unfaithful replace the good.                                 

Prov 21:13-18

¹⁹ It’s better to live in the desert

than with a contentious, “complainy” woman.

                  ²⁰Precious treasure and oil are in the houses of the wise,

            but foolish people waste them.

²¹ Pursue goodness and loyalty,

and you’ll arrive at life, goodness, and honor.

                  ²²The wise scale the walls of the powerful

            and bring down the fortress they trust in.

²³ Watch your mouth and guard your tongue,

and you’ll stay out of trouble.

                  ²⁴“Scoffers” is the name for proud, haughty people

            that conduct themselves with arrogance.                   

Prov 21:19-24

²⁵ Lazy people’s desires end up killing them

            because they refuse to work.

      ²⁶ The greedy never get enough

            while the godly give liberally.

²⁷ God despises sinners’ sacrifices,

                  especially when they bring them with selfish motives.

                  ²⁸False witnesses perish,

            but good listeners testify forever.

²⁹ Sinners bluff,

but the godly think before they act.

                  ³⁰No wisdom, insight, or counsel

            can prevail against the LORD.

³¹ A horse is trained for battle,

but victory comes from the LORD.                                         

Prov 21:25-31