Proverbs 21 - Modern English Version

¹ As rivulets of water is the heart of a king in the hand of the Lord; wherever He pleases is where He directs it.

² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.

³ To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴ A haughty eye and a proud heart, and the lamp of the wicked are sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead surely to profit, but of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

⁶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away, because they refuse to do justice.

⁸ Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but as for the pure, his conduct is right.

⁹ It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple becomes wise; when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

¹² The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; He hurls the wicked down to ruin.

¹³ He who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but will not be heard.

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe under cover, strong wrath.

¹⁵ To do justice is joy to the righteous, but terror to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ A man who strays from the road of understanding will rest in the congregation of the dead.

¹⁷ The lover of pleasure will be a man of poverty; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked will be a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.

¹⁹ It is better to live in the wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and angry wife.

²⁰ Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it.

²¹ He who pursues righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.

²² A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and casts down its stronghold.

²³ He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.

²⁴ A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name, who acts with insolent pride.

²⁵ The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to work.

²⁶ He covets greedily all day long, but the righteous gives and does not spare.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent!

²⁸ A lying witness will perish, but a man who listens will speak forever.

²⁹ A wicked man defiantly hardens his face, but the upright establishes his way.

³⁰ No wisdom or understanding or counsel can stand against the Lord.

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