Proverbs 21

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

1Rivulets of waters <FI>is<Fi> the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth 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.

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

2Every way of a man <FI>is<Fi> right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.

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

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

3To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.

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

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

4Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked <FI>is<Fi> sin.

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

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

5The purposes of the diligent <FI>are<Fi> only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to 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.

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

6The making of treasures by a lying tongue, <FI>Is<Fi> a vanity driven away of those seeking death.

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

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

7The spoil of the wicked catcheth them, Because they have refused to do judgment.

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

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

8Froward <FI>is<Fi> the way of a man who is vile, And the pure--upright <FI>is<Fi> his work.

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

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

9Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than <FI>with<Fi> a woman of contentions and a house of company.

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

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

10The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.

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

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

11When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.

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

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

12The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.

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

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

13Whoso is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also doth cry, and is not answered.

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

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

14A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a bribe in the bosom strong fury.

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

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

15To do justice <FI>is<Fi> joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.

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

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

16A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.

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

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

17Whoso <FI>is<Fi> loving mirth <FI>is<Fi> a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.

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

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

18The wicked <FI>is<Fi> an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.

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.

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

19Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than <FI>with<Fi> a woman of contentions and anger.

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

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

20A treasure to be desired, and oil, <FI>Is<Fi> in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.

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

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

21Whoso is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

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

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

22A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.

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

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

23Whoso is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping from adversities his soul.

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

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

24Proud, haughty, scorner <FI>is<Fi> his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.

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

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

25The desire of the slothful slayeth him, For his hands have refused to work.

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

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

26All the day desiring he hath desired, And the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.

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

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

27The sacrifice of the wicked <FI>is<Fi> abomination, Much more when in wickedness he bringeth it.

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

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

28A false witness doth perish, And an attentive man for ever speaketh.

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

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

29A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright--he prepareth his way.

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

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

30There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel, over-against Jehovah.

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

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

31A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance <FI>is<Fi> of Jehovah!

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