21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills.

² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts.^(A)

³ To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.^(B)

⁴ Haughtiness of eyes and a proud heart, even the tillage of the wicked or the lamp [of joy] to them [whatever it may be], are sin [in the eyes of God].

⁵ The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want.

⁶ Securing treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to and fro; those who seek them seek death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, because they refuse to do justice.

⁸ The way of the guilty is exceedingly crooked, but as for the pure, his work is right and his conduct is straight.

⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop [on the flat oriental roof, exposed to all kinds of weather] than in a house shared with a nagging, quarrelsome, and faultfinding woman.

¹⁰ The soul or life of the wicked craves and seeks evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.^(C)

¹¹ When the scoffer is punished, the fool gets a lesson in being wise; but men of [godly] Wisdom and good sense learn by being instructed.

¹² The [uncompromisingly] righteous man considers well the house of the wicked—how the wicked are cast down to ruin.

¹³ Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will cry out himself and not be heard.^(D)

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifies and turns away anger, and a bribe in the lap, strong wrath.

¹⁵ When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God), but to the evildoers it is dismay, calamity, and ruin.

¹⁶ A man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall abide in the congregation of the spirits (of the dead).

¹⁷ He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom for the [uncompromisingly] righteous, and the treacherous for the upright [because the wicked themselves fall into the traps and pits they have dug for the good].

¹⁹ It is better to dwell in a desert land than with a contentious woman and with vexation.

²⁰ There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a self-confident and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.

²¹ He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor.^(E)

²² A wise man scales the city walls of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³ He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles.^(F)

²⁴ The proud and haughty man—Scoffer is his name—deals and acts with overbearing pride.

²⁵ The desire of the slothful kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

²⁶ He covets greedily all the day long, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous gives and does not withhold.^(G)

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is exceedingly disgusting and abhorrent [to the Lord]—how much more when he brings it with evil intention?

²⁸ A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears attentively will endure and go unchallenged.

²⁹ A wicked man puts on the bold, unfeeling face [of guilt], but as for the upright, he considers, directs, and establishes his way [with the confidence of integrity].

³⁰ There is no [human] wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory are of the Lord.