Proverbs 21
The King’s Heart
(Psalms 21:1–13)
¹ The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
² All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
³ To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
⁵ The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
⁶ Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
⁸ The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
¹⁰ The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
¹² The Righteous One 1 considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
¹³ Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
¹⁴ A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe 2 pacifies great wrath.
¹⁵ Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
¹⁶ The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
¹⁷ He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
¹⁹ Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
²⁰ Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
²¹ He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
²² A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
²³ He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
²⁴ Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
²⁵ The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
²⁸ A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
²⁹ A wicked man hardens his face,3 but the upright man makes his way sure.
³⁰ There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
³¹ A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.