Proverbs 21-22

New International Version

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.^(A)

² A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.^(B)

³ To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.^(C)

⁴ Haughty eyes^(D) and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit^(E)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

⁶ A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.^[a](F)

⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,^(G)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ The way of the guilty is devious,^(H)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.^(I)

¹⁰ The wicked crave evil;
    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.^(J)

¹² The Righteous One^[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
    and brings the wicked to ruin.^(K)

¹³ Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out^(L) and not be answered.^(M)

¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.^(N)

¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.^(O)

¹⁶ Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.^(P)

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.^(Q)

¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom^(R) for the righteous,
    and the unfaithful for the upright.

¹⁹ Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.^(S)

²⁰ The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

²¹ Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity^[c](T) and honor.^(U)

²² One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty^(V)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³ Those who guard their mouths^(W) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.^(X)

²⁴ The proud and arrogant person^(Y)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

²⁵ The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,^(Z)
    because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous^(AA) give without sparing.^(AB)

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable^(AC)—
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!^(AD)

²⁸ A false witness^(AE) will perish,^(AF)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

²⁹ The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.^(AG)

³⁰ There is no wisdom,^(AH) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.^(AI)

³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.^(AJ)

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.^(AK)

² Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.^(AL)

³ The prudent see danger and take refuge,^(AM)
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.^(AN)

⁴ Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor^(AO) and life.^(AP)

⁵ In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,^(AQ)
    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

⁶ Start^(AR) children off on the way they should go,^(AS)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.^(AT)

⁷ The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

⁸ Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,^(AU)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.^(AV)

⁹ The generous will themselves be blessed,^(AW)
    for they share their food with the poor.^(AX)

¹⁰ Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.^(AY)

¹¹ One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.^(AZ)

¹² The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

¹³ The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!^(BA)
    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

¹⁴ The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;^(BB)
    a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.^(BC)

¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.^(BD)

¹⁶ One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.