Proverbs 21
New International Version - Proverbs 21 << | >> 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord ; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. 21:2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. 21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin! 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. 21:6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. 21:7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right. 21:8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright. 21:9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. 21:10 The wicked man craves evil; his neighbor gets no mercy from him. 21:11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge. 21:12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. 21:13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. 21:14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. 21:15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. 21:16 A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead. 21:17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. 21:18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. 21:19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. 21:20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. 21:22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. 21:24 The proud and arrogant man-'Mocker' is his name; he behaves with overweening pride. 21:25 The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. 21:26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable- how much more so when brought with evil intent! 21:28 A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever. 21:29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways. 21:30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.