Font Size
Mishle 21
Orthodox Jewish Bible
Mishle 21
Orthodox Jewish Bible
21 The lev melech is in the yad Hashem, as the channels of mayim; He directeth it wherever He will.
2 Every derech ish is yashar (right) in his own eynayim, but Hashem weigheth the hearts.
3 To do tzedakah and mishpat is more acceptable to Hashem than zevach.
4 A high and haughty eye, and a proud lev—ner resha’im (the lamp of the wicked ones)—are chattat (sin).
5 The plans of the kharutz (diligent) lead surely to profit; but of every one that is hasty surely to machsor (poverty, want).
6 The getting of otzarot by a lashon sheker is hevel (vain, empty, meaningless) and fleeting for them that seek mavet.
7 The violence of the resha’im shall drag them away; because they refuse to do mishpat (justice).
8 The derech of the guilty ish is hafachpach (crooked, tortuous), but as for the pure, his conduct is yashar (right).
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the gag (roof), than with a quarrelsome isha in a shared bais.
10 The nefesh of the rashah desireth rah; his re’a findeth no mercy in his eynayim.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise, and when insight is disclosed to the chacham, he receiveth da’as.
12 The tzaddik (righteous one) wisely considereth the bais of the rashah, and hurleth the resha’im to rah.
13 He who stoppeth his ozen at the cry of the dal (poor), he also shall cry out himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A mattan (gift) in secret pacifieth af (anger), and a shochad (bribe) in the kheyk (bosom, i.e., a concealed bribe) strong wrath.
15 It is simchah to the tzaddik to do mishpat, but terror for the po’alei aven (workers of iniquity).
16 The adam that wandereth astray from the derech haseichel (road of understanding) shall rest in the kahal of the refa’im (congregation of the dead).
17 The ohev simchah (lover of pleasure) shall be an ish machsor (man of poverty, want, shortage); he that loveth yayin and shemen shall not be rich.
18 The reshah shall be a kofer (ransom) for the tzaddik, and the boged (the unfaithful) for the yesharim.
19 It is better to dwell in eretz midbar, than with a quarrelsome and an angry isha.
20 There is otzar to be desired and shemen in the naveh (dwelling) of the chacham; but a kesil adam squanders it.
21 He that pursueth tzedakah and chesed findeth chayyim, tzedakah, and kavod.
22 A chacham scaleth the city of the gibborim (mighty ones), and casteth down the trusted stronghold thereof.
23 He who is shomer over his peh (mouth) and his lashon (tongue) is shomer over his nefesh from tzoros.
24 Proud and haughty scoffer is shmo, who acteth in superfluity of zadon (pride).
25 The ta’avah (desire, craving) of the atzel (sluggard, lazy one) killeth him, for his yadayim refuse to work.
26 He craveth greedily kol hayom, but the tzaddik giveth and spareth not.
27 The zevach of the resha’im is to’evah (detestable, abomination); how much more, when he bringeth it with zimmah (evil intent).
28 An ed kezavim (lying witness) shall perish, but the ish that heareth [emes] speaketh lanetzach (unto eternity).
29 An ish rasha defiantly hardeneth his face, but as for the yashar (upright) he maketh his derech (road) sure.
30 There is no chochmah nor tevunah (understanding) nor etzah against Hashem.
31 The sus is prepared against the yom milchamah, but teshuah (victory, deliverance) is from Hashem.
Proverbs 21
New International Version
Proverbs 21
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.
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)
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.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(V)
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
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)
29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.(AG)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.(AJ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
- Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
- Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.