Proverbs 21

On Life and Conduct

1The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He 1turns it wherever He wishes.22Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord 3weighs the hearts.3To do 4righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The 5lamp of the wicked, is sin.5The plans of the 6diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone 7who is hasty comes surely to poverty.6The 8acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the 9pursuit of 10death.7The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they 11refuse to act with justice.8The way of a guilty man is 12crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.9It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than 13in a house shared with a contentious woman.10The soul of the wicked desires evil; His 14neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.11When the 15scoffer is punished, the 16naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.12The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the 17wicked to ruin.13He who 18shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be 19answered.14A 20gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.15The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is 21terror to the workers of iniquity.16A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will 22rest in the assembly of the 23dead.17He who 24loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.18The wicked is a 25ransom for the righteous, And the 26treacherous is in the place of the upright.1927It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.20There is precious 28treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man 29swallows it up.21He who 30pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.22A 31wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the 32stronghold in which they trust.23He who 33guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.24“Proud,” “Haughty,” “34Scoffer,” are his names, Who acts with 35insolent pride.25The 36desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;26All day long he 37is craving, While the righteous 38gives and does not hold back.27The 39sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!28A 40false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.29A wicked man 4142displays a bold face, But as for the 43upright, he makes his way sure.30There is 44no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.31The 45horse is prepared for the day of battle, But 46victory belongs to the Lord.