Proverbs 21

¹Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills

²Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts

³To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices

⁴To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin

⁵The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need

⁶Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death

⁷The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment

⁸The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright

⁹It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house

¹⁰The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor

¹¹When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge

¹²The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil

¹³Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded

¹⁴A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation

¹⁵It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity

¹⁶A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants

¹⁷Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched

¹⁸The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright

¹⁹It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman

²⁰There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it

²¹Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory

²²The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence

²³Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish

²⁴A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride

²⁵Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all

²⁶He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease

²⁷The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness

²⁸A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory

²⁹The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way

³⁰There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord

³¹The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation