Proverbs 21 - Christian Standard Bible Anglicised Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Proverbs 21

¹ A king’s heart is like channelled water in the  Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses.

² All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs hearts.

³ Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the  Lord than sacrifice.

⁴ The lamp that guides the wicked – haughty eyes and an arrogant heart   #– #is sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.

⁶ Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist,  a pursuit of death.  ,,

⁷ The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly.

⁸ A guilty one’s conduct is crooked, but the behaviour of the innocent is upright.

⁹ Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.

¹⁰ A wicked person desires evil; he has no consideration  for his neighbour.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the inexperienced become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires knowledge.

¹² The Righteous One  considers the house of the wicked; he brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³ The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered.

¹⁴ A secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage.

¹⁵ Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to evildoers.

¹⁶ The person who strays from the way of prudence will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.

¹⁷ The one who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.

¹⁸ The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for   the upright.

¹⁹ Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.

²⁰ Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a fool consumes them.  ,

²¹ The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honour.

²² A wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down its secure fortress.

²³ The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

²⁴ The arrogant and proud person, named ‘Mocker,’ acts with excessive arrogance.

²⁵ A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work.

²⁶ He is filled with craving  all day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back.

²⁷ The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable  – how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives!

²⁸ A lying witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak successfully.

²⁹ A wicked person puts on a bold face, but the upright one considers his way.

³⁰ No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the  Lord.

³¹ A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the  Lord.