Berean Standard Bible

Proverbs 21

(Psalm 21:1–13)

1The king’sH4428 heartH3820 is a waterwayH6388 H4325 in the handH3027 of the LORDH3068;He directs itH5186 whereH5921 H3605 He pleasesH2654.

2AllH3605 a man’sH376 waysH1870 seemH5869 right to himH3477,but the LORDH3068 weighsH8505 the heartH3826.

3To doH6213 righteousnessH6666 and justiceH4941is more desirableH977 to the LORDH3068 than sacrificeH2077.

4HaughtyH7312 eyesH5869 and a proudH7342 heartH3820—the guidesH5216 of the wickedH7563—are sinH2403.

5The plansH4284 of the diligentH2742 bring plentyH4195,as surelyH389 as hasteH213 leads to povertyH4270.

6MakingH6467 a fortuneH214 by a lyingH8267 tongueH3956is a vanishingH5086 mistH1892, a deadlyH4194 pursuitH1245.

7The violenceH7701 of the wickedH7563 will sweep them awayH1641becauseH3588 they refuseH3985 to doH6213 what is justH4941.

8The wayH1870 of a guiltyH2054 manH376 is crookedH2019,but the conductH6467 of the innocentH2134 is uprightH3477.

9BetterH2896 to liveH3427 onH5921 a cornerH6438 of the roofH1406than to shareH2267 a houseH1004 with a quarrelsomeH4079 wifeH802.

10The soulH5315 of the wickedH7563 man cravesH183 evilH7451;his neighborH7453 finds no favorH2603 H3808 in his eyesH5869.

11When a mockerH3887 is punishedH6064, the simpleH6612 gain wisdomH2449;and when a wise manH2450 is instructedH7919, he acquiresH3947 knowledgeH1847.

12The Righteous OneH6662 1 considersH7919 the houseH1004 of the wickedH7563and bringsH5557 the wickedH7563 to ruinH7451.

13Whoever shutsH331 his earsH241 to the cryH2201 of the poorH1800,heH1931 tooH1571 shall cry outH7121 and receive no answerH3808 H6030.

14A giftH4976 in secretH5643 soothesH3711 angerH639,and a covertH2436 bribeH7810 2 pacifies greatH5794 wrathH2534.

15JusticeH4941 executedH6213 is a joyH8057 to the righteousH6662,but a terrorH4288 to the workersH6466 of iniquityH205.

16The manH120 who straysH8582 from the pathH1870 of understandingH7919will restH5117 in the assemblyH6951 of the deadH7496.

17He who lovesH157 pleasureH8057 will become poorH4270 H376;the one who lovesH157 wineH3196 and oilH8081 will neverH3808 be richH6238.

18The wickedH7563 become a ransomH3724 for the righteousH6662,and the faithlessH898 forH8478 the uprightH3477.

19BetterH2896 to liveH3427 in the desertH776 H4057than with a contentiousH4066 and ill-temperedH3708 wifeH802.

20PreciousH2530 treasuresH214 and oilH8081 are in the dwellingH5116 of the wiseH2450,but a foolishH3684 manH120 consumes themH1104.

21He who pursuesH7291 righteousnessH6666 and loving devotionH2617findsH4672 lifeH2416, righteousnessH6666, and honorH3519.

22A wiseH2450 man scalesH5927 the cityH5892 of the mightyH1368and pulls downH3381 the strongholdH5797 in which they trustH4009.

23He who guardsH8104 his mouthH6310 and tongueH3956keepsH8104 his soulH5315 from distressH6869.

24MockerH3887 is the nameH8034 of the proudH2086 and arrogant manH3093—of him who actsH6213 with excessiveH5678 prideH2087.

25The cravingH8378 of the slackerH6102 kills himH4191becauseH3588 his handsH3027 refuseH3985 to workH6213.26AllH3605 day longH3117 he covetsH183 moreH8378,but the righteousH6662 giveH5414 withoutH3808 restraintH2820.

27The sacrificeH2077 of the wickedH7563 is detestableH8441—how much more soH637 whenH3588 broughtH935 with ill intentH2154!

28A lyingH3577 witnessH5707 will perishH6,but the manH376 who listensH8085 to truth will speakH1696 foreverH5331.

29A wickedH7563 manH376 hardensH5810 his faceH6440,3but the uprightH3477 H1931 man makesH3559 his way sureH1870.

30There is noH369 wisdomH2451, noH369 understandingH8394, noH369 counselH6098that can prevail againstH5048 the LORDH3068.

31A horseH5483 is preparedH3559 for the dayH3117 of battleH4421,but victoryH8668 is of the LORDH3068.