Proverbs 21
1 As a rush of water, so is the king's
heart in God's hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out.
2 Every man seems to himself
righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are
more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted
in his pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
6 He that gathers treasures with a
lying tongue pursues vanity on to the snares of
death. 7 Destruction shall lodge with
the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 To the froward God sends froward
ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner
aGr. in the open air.on the house-top, than in plastered rooms with
unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not
be pitied by any man. 11 When an
intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man
understanding will receive knowledge.
12 A righteous man understands the
hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 He that stops his ears from
hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear
him. 14 A
secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 It is the
joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy
man is abominable with evil-doers.
16 A man that wanders out of the way
of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of
bHeb. Rephaim. see Appendix. Note on 2 Kings 5. 18.giants. 17 A poor man loves mirth,
loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 and a transgressor is the
cGr. `off-scouring;' perhaps `ransom,' q. d. that which cleans.abomination of a righteous man. 19 It is better to dwell in a wilderness than with a
quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on
the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy
will find life and glory. 22 A wise
man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly
trusted. 23 He that keeps his mouth
and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 A bold and self-willed and
insolent man is called a pest: and he that remembers
injuries is a transgressor.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his
hands do not choose to do anything.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil
desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and
compassionate. 27 The sacrifices of
the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.dOr, unlawfully.
28 A false witness shall perish; but
an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 An ungodly man
eSee Alex. ungodly.impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands
his ways. 30 There is no wisdom,
there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of
battle; but help is of the Lord.