LEB PROV chapter 21

LEB PROV Chapter 21

21 Streams of water are the heart[fn] of a king in the hand of Yahweh;

wherever[fn] he will desire, he will turn.

2 Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes,

but Yahweh weighs hearts.[fn]

3 Doing righteousness and justice is more acceptable

to Yahweh than sacrifice.

4 Haughtiness of the eyes and pride of heart,

the lamp of the wicked are sin.

5 The plans of the diligent only lead to abundance,

but all who are hasty, only to want.

6 He who makes treasure by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and seeker[fn] of death.

7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,

for they refuse to do justice.

8 Crooked is the way of a man and a foreigner,

but the pure is upright in his conduct.

9 Better to dwell on the corner of a roof

than to share a house with a woman[fn] of contention.

10 The soul[fn] of the wicked desires evil;

his neighbor will not find mercy in his eyes.

11 With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise,

and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.

12 The righteous observes the house of the wicked;

he throws the wicked to ruin.

13 He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor,

he also will cry out and not be heard.

14 A gift in secret[fn] will avert anger ,[fn]

and a concealed bribe ,[fn] strong wrath.

15 It is a joy to the righteous to do justice,

but dismay to those who do evil.

16 Whoever wanders from the way of understanding,

in the assembly of the dead[fn] he will rest.

17 A man of want is he who loves pleasure;

he who loves wine and oil[fn] will not become rich.

18 A ransom for the righteous is the wicked,

and the faithless instead of the upright.

19 Better to live in a land of wilderness

than with a wife of quarrels and provocation.

20 Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise,

but the foolish person[fn] will devour them.[fn]

21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness

will find life, righteousness, and honor.

22 To a city of warriors, the wise ascends,

and he will bring down the stronghold—its object of trust.

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,

he guards his life[fn] from danger.

24 The proud, haughty one: “scoffer” is his name;

he acts with arrogance of pride.

25 The craving of a lazy person will kill him,

for his hands refuse to work.[fn]

26 All day[fn] he craves a craving,

but the righteous will give and not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more when he brings it in divisiveness!

28 A false witness will perish,

but a man who listens will testify with[fn] success.

29 A wicked man is strong in his countenance ,[fn]

but the upright will appoint his paths.

30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding,

nor counsel to oppose Yahweh.

31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but to Yahweh belongs the victory.

21:? Or “mind”

21:? Literally “upon all that”

21:? Or “minds”

21:? Hebrew “seekers”

21:? Or “wife”

21:? Or “soul, life, throat”

21:? Hebrew “the secret”

21:? Literally “nostril”

21:? Literally “bribe in the bosom”

21:? Or “Rephaim”

21:? Or “fat”

21:? Or “foolish of mankind”

21:? Literally “it”

21:? Or “soul,” or “inner self”

21:? Or “make”

21:? Literally “All the day”

21:? Hebrew “to the”

21:? Literally “his face”