Proverbs 21

The king's heart is in his hand

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.a ²A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.b ³To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.c

⁴Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. ⁵The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.d ⁶A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.

⁷The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right. ⁸The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright. ⁹Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.e

¹⁰The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. ¹¹When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.f ¹²The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. ¹⁴A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. ¹⁵When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

¹⁶Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead. ¹⁷Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.g ¹⁸The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.h

¹⁹Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.i ²⁰The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.j ²¹Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.k

²²One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust. ²³Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.l ²⁴The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury.

²⁵The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. ²⁶All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with evil intent!

²⁸A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully. ²⁹The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways. ³⁰There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.m

³¹The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.n