Proverbs 21
1 As a rush of water, so is the king’s heart in God’s hand:
he turneth it whithersoever he may desire to point out.
2 Every man seemeth to himself righteous;
but the Lord directeth 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 gathereth treasures with a lying tongue
pursueth 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 sendeth froward ways;
for his works are pure and right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner [1]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 becometh wiser:
and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 A righteous man understandeth the hearts of the ungodly:
and despiseth the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 He that stoppeth his ears from hearing the poor,
himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear him.
14 A secret gift calmeth anger:
but he that forbeareth to give stirreth 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 wandereth out of the way of righteousness,
shall rest in the congregation of [2]giants.
17 A poor man loveth mirth,
loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 and a transgressor is the [3]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 assaulteth strong cities,
and demolisheth the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue
keepeth his soul from trouble.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent man is called a pest:
and he that remembereth injuries is a transgressor.
25 Desires kill the sluggard;
for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 An ungodly man entertaineth 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.[4]
28 A false witness shall perish;
but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 An ungodly man [5]impudently withstandeth with his face;
but the upright man himself understandeth 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.