Proverbs 21
WEB·Proverbs 21
1The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
KJVThe king'sH4428 heartH3820 is in the handH3027 of the LORDH3068, as the riversH6388 of waterH4325: he turnethH5186(H8686) it whithersoever he willH2654(H8799).
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
KJVEvery wayH1870 of a manH376 is rightH3477 in his own eyesH5869: but the LORDH3068 ponderethH8505(H8802) the heartsH3826.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
KJVTo doH6213(H8800) justiceH6666 and judgmentH4941 is more acceptableH977(H8737) to the LORDH3068 than sacrificeH2077.
4 A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
KJVAn highH7312 lookH5869, and a proudH7342 heartH3820, and the plowingH5215 of the wickedH7563, is sinH2403.
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
KJVThe thoughtsH4284 of the diligentH2742 tend only to plenteousnessH4195; but of every one that is hastyH213(H8801) only to wantH4270.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
KJVThe gettingH6467 of treasuresH214 by a lyingH8267 tongueH3956 is a vanityH1892 tossed to and fro ofH5086(H8737) them that seekH1245(H8764) deathH4194.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
KJVThe robberyH7701 of the wickedH7563 shall destroyH1641(H8799) them; because they refuseH3985(H8765) to doH6213(H8800) judgmentH4941.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
KJVThe wayH1870 of manH376 is frowardH2019 and strangeH2054: but as for the pureH2134, his workH6467 is rightH3477.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
KJVIt is betterH2896 to dwellH3427(H8800) in a cornerH6438 of the housetopH1406, than with a brawlingH4079(H8675)H4066 womanH802 in a wideH2267 houseH1004.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
KJVThe soulH5315 of the wickedH7563 desirethH183(H8765) evilH7451: his neighbourH7453 findeth no favourH2603(H8717) in his eyesH5869.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
KJVWhen the scornerH3887(H8801) is punishedH6064(H8800), the simpleH6612 is made wiseH2449(H8799): and when the wiseH2450 is instructedH7919(H8687), he receivethH3947(H8799) knowledgeH1847.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
KJVThe righteousH6662 man wisely considerethH7919(H8688) the houseH1004 of the wickedH7563: but God overthrowethH5557(H8764) the wickedH7563 for their wickednessH7451.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
KJVWhoso stoppethH331(H8801) his earsH241 at the cryH2201 of the poorH1800, he also shall cryH7121(H8799) himself, but shall not be heardH6030(H8735).
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
KJVA giftH4976 in secretH5643 pacifiethH3711(H8799) angerH639: and a rewardH7810 in the bosomH2436 strongH5794 wrathH2534.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
KJVIt is joyH8057 to the justH6662 to doH6213(H8800) judgmentH4941: but destructionH4288 shall be to the workersH6466(H8802) of iniquityH205.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
KJVThe manH120 that wanderethH8582(H8802) out of the wayH1870 of understandingH7919(H8687) shall remainH5117(H8799) in the congregationH6951 of the deadH7496.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
KJVHe that lovethH157(H8802) pleasureH8057 shall be a poorH4270 manH376: he that lovethH157(H8802) wineH3196 and oilH8081 shall not be richH6238(H8686).
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
KJVThe wickedH7563 shall be a ransomH3724 for the righteousH6662, and the transgressorH898(H8802) for the uprightH3477.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
KJVIt is betterH2896 to dwellH3427(H8800) in the wildernessH776H4057, than with a contentiousH4079(H8675)H4066 and an angryH3708 womanH802.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
KJVThere is treasureH214 to be desiredH2530(H8737) and oilH8081 in the dwellingH5116 of the wiseH2450; but a foolishH3684 manH120 spendeth it upH1104(H8762).
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
KJVHe that followethH7291(H8802) after righteousnessH6666 and mercyH2617 findethH4672(H8799) lifeH2416, righteousnessH6666, and honourH3519.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
KJVA wiseH2450 man scalethH5927(H8804) the cityH5892 of the mightyH1368, and casteth downH3381(H8686) the strengthH5797 of the confidenceH4009 thereof.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
KJVWhoso keepethH8104(H8802) his mouthH6310 and his tongueH3956 keepethH8104(H8802) his soulH5315 from troublesH6869.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
KJVProudH2086 and haughtyH3093 scornerH3887(H8801) is his nameH8034, who dealethH6213(H8802) in proudH2087 wrathH5678.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
KJVThe desireH8378 of the slothfulH6102 killethH4191(H8686) him; for his handsH3027 refuseH3985(H8765) to labourH6213(H8800).
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
KJVHe covetethH183(H8694) greedilyH8378 all the dayH3117 long: but the righteousH6662 givethH5414(H8799) and sparethH2820(H8799) not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
KJVThe sacrificeH2077 of the wickedH7563 is abominationH8441: how much more, when he bringethH935(H8686) it with a wicked mindH2154?
28 A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
KJVA falseH3577 witnessH5707 shall perishH6(H8799): but the manH376 that hearethH8085(H8802) speakethH1696(H8762) constantlyH5331.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
KJVA wickedH7563 manH376 hardenethH5810(H8689) his faceH6440: but as for the uprightH3477, he directethH995(H8799)(H8675)H3559(H8686) his wayH1870.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
KJVThere is no wisdomH2451 nor understandingH8394 nor counselH6098 against the LORDH3068.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with Yahweh.
KJVThe horseH5483 is preparedH3559(H8716) against the dayH3117 of battleH4421: but safetyH8668 is of the LORDH3068.
Proverbs 21
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