Proverbs 21

¹The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will .

²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes , but the Lord weighs the heart .

³To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice .

⁴Haughty eyes and a proud heart , the lamp of the wicked , are sin .

⁵The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance , but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty .

⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor and a snare of death .

⁷The violence of the wicked will sweep them away , because they refuse to do what is just .

⁸The way of the guilty is crooked , but the conduct of the pure is upright .

⁹It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife .

¹⁰The soul of the wicked desires evil ; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes .

¹¹When a scoffer is punished , the simple becomes wise ; when a wise man is instructed , he gains knowledge .

¹²The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked ; he throws the wicked down to ruin .

¹³Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered .

¹⁴A gift in secret averts anger , and a concealed bribe , strong wrath .

¹⁵When justice is done , it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers .

¹⁶One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead .

¹⁷Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man ; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich .

¹⁸The wicked is a ransom for the righteous , and the traitor for the upright .

¹⁹It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman .

²⁰Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling , but a foolish man devours it.

²¹Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life , righteousness , and honor .

²²A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust .

²³Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble .

²⁴Scoffer is the name of the arrogant , haughty man who acts with arrogant pride .

²⁵The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor .

²⁶All day long he craves and craves , but the righteous gives and does not hold back .

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination ; how much more when he brings it with evil intent .

²⁸A false witness will perish , but the word of a man who hears will endure .

²⁹A wicked man puts on a bold face , but the upright gives thought to his ways .

³⁰No wisdom , no understanding , no counsel can avail against the Lord.

³¹The horse is made ready for the day of battle , but the victory belongs to the Lord.