Proverbs 21
AMP — Amplified Bible (AMP)
NLT — New Living Translation Bible (NLT)
Verse 1
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it whichever way He wishes.
He turns it whichever way He wishes.
The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases.
he guides it wherever he pleases.
Verse 2
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].
People may be right in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their heart.
but the Lord examines their heart.
Verse 3
To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed].
The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.
than when we offer him sacrifices.
Verse 4
Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].
Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
and evil actions are all sin.
and evil actions are all sin.
Verse 5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage,
But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
Verse 6
Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of death.
Wealth created by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.[a]
is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.[a]
Verse 7
The violence of the wicked will [return to them and] drag them away [like fish caught in a net],
Because they refuse to act with justice.
The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
because they refuse to do what is just.
Verse 8
The way of the guilty is [exceedingly] crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
The guilty walk a crooked path;
the innocent travel a straight road.
the innocent travel a straight road.
Verse 9
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather]
Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.
It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
Verse 10
The soul of the wicked desires evil [like an addictive substance];
His neighbor finds no compassion in his eyes.
Evil people desire evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
Verse 11
When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise;
But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.
If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
Verse 12
The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked—
How the wicked are cast down to ruin.
The Righteous One[b] knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;
he will bring disaster on them.
he will bring disaster on them.
Verse 13
Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor
Will cry out himself and not be answered.
Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.
will be ignored in their own time of need.
Verse 14
A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe [hidden] in the pocket, strong wrath.
A secret gift calms anger;
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
Verse 15
When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, the one in right standing with God),
But to the evildoers it is disaster.
Justice is a joy to the godly,
but it terrifies evildoers.
but it terrifies evildoers.
Verse 16
A man who wanders from the way of understanding (godly wisdom)
Will remain in the assembly of the dead.
The person who strays from common sense
will end up in the company of the dead.
will end up in the company of the dead.
Verse 17
He who loves [only selfish] pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves and is devoted to [a]wine and [olive] oil will not become rich.
Those who love pleasure become poor;
those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
Verse 18
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous in the place of the upright [for they fall into their own traps].
The wicked are punished in place of the godly,
and traitors in place of the honest.
and traitors in place of the honest.
Verse 19
It is better to dwell in a desert land
Than with a contentious and troublesome woman.
It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
Verse 20
There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future],
But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.
The wise have wealth and luxury,
but fools spend whatever they get.
but fools spend whatever they get.
Verse 21
He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Verse 22
A wise man scales the city [walls] of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
The wise conquer the city of the strong
and level the fortress in which they trust.
and level the fortress in which they trust.
Verse 23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
Guards himself from troubles.
Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.
and you will stay out of trouble.
Verse 24
“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names
Who acts with overbearing and insolent pride.
Mockers are proud and haughty;
they act with boundless arrogance.
they act with boundless arrogance.
Verse 25
The desire of the lazy kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor;
Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
for their hands refuse to work.
for their hands refuse to work.
Verse 26
He craves all the day long [and does no work],
But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].
Some people are always greedy for more,
but the godly love to give!
but the godly love to give!
Verse 27
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable and offensive [to the Lord].
How much more [unacceptable and insulting can it be] when he brings it with evil intention?
The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,
especially when it is offered with wrong motives.
especially when it is offered with wrong motives.
Verse 28
A false witness will perish,
But a man who listens to the truth will speak forever and go unchallenged.
A false witness will be cut off,
but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
Verse 29
A wicked man puts on a bold face,
But as for the upright, he considers, directs, and establishes his way [with the confidence of integrity].
The wicked bluff their way through,
but the virtuous think before they act.
but the virtuous think before they act.
Verse 30
There is no [human] wisdom or understanding
Or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.
No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.
can stand against the Lord.
Verse 31
The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance and victory belong to the Lord.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
but the victory belongs to the Lord.