Proverbs 21

1As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will, he shall turn it.

1The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.

1The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

2Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts.

2Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

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

3To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims.

3To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.

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

4Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin.

4A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer is sin.

4An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

5The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want.

5The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.

5The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

6He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death.

6He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.

6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

7The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not do judgment.

7By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.

7The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

8The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.

8Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.

8The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

9It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.

9It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.

9It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

10The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour.

10The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.

10The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

11When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.

11When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.

11When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

12The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked from evil.

12The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.

12The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

13He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself, and shall not be heard.

13He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.

13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

14A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom, the greatest wrath.

14By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.

14A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

15It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that work iniquity.

15It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.

15It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide in the company of the giants.

16The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.

16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

17He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.

17The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.

17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

18The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.

18The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.

18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

19It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman.

19It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.

19It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

20There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.

20There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.

20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

21He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory.

21He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.

21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

22The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.

22A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.

22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.

23He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

24The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride.

24The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.

24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

25Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all.

25The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.

25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

26He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will not cease.

26All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.

26He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

27The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness.

27The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!

27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

28A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of victory.

28A false witness will be cut off, ...

28A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

29The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his way.

29The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.

29A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

30There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord.

30Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.

30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

31The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth safety.

31The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.

31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.