Proverbs 21
NASB — New American Standard Bible (NASB)
AMP — Amplified Bible (AMP)
Verse 1
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
He turns it wherever He wishes.
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.
Verse 2
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the hearts.
But the Lord weighs the hearts.
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].
Verse 3
To do righteousness and justice
Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed].
Verse 4
Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].
Verse 5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage,
But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.
Verse 6
Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of death.
Verse 7
The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
Because they refuse to act with justice.
Because they refuse to act with justice.
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.
Verse 8
The way of a guilty man is crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
The way of the guilty is [exceedingly] crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
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.
Verse 10
The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
The soul of the wicked desires evil [like an addictive substance];
His neighbor finds no compassion in his eyes.
Verse 11
When the scoffer is punished, the [c]naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
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.
Verse 12
The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the wicked to ruin.
Turning the wicked to ruin.
The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked—
How the wicked are cast down to ruin.
Verse 13
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered.
Will also cry himself and not be answered.
Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor
Will cry out himself and not be answered.
Verse 14
A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe [hidden] in the pocket, strong wrath.
Verse 15
The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
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.
Verse 16
A man who wanders from the way of understanding (godly wisdom)
Will remain in the assembly of the dead.
Verse 17
He who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
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.
Verse 18
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.
And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous in the place of the upright [for they fall into their own traps].
Verse 19
It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
It is better to dwell in a desert land
Than with a contentious and troublesome woman.
Verse 20
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man swallows it up.
But a foolish man swallows it up.
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.
Verse 21
He who pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyalty
Finds 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.
Verse 23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
Guards his soul from troubles.
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
Guards himself from troubles.
Verse 24
“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names,
Who acts with insolent pride.
Who acts with insolent pride.
“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names
Who acts with overbearing and insolent pride.
Verse 25
The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
For his hands refuse to work;
The desire of the lazy kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor;
Verse 26
He craves all the day long [and does no work],
But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].
Verse 27
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
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?
Verse 28
A false witness will perish,
But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
A false witness will perish,
But a man who listens to the truth will speak forever and go unchallenged.
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].
Verse 30
There is no wisdom and no understanding
And no counsel against the Lord.
And no counsel against the Lord.
There is no [human] wisdom or understanding
Or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.
Verse 31
The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But victory belongs to the Lord.
But victory belongs to the Lord.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance and victory belong to the Lord.