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Thoughts on the Sovereignty of God

21 A king’s heart is a water stream that the Lord controls;
he directs it wherever he pleases.

Every man’s lifestyle is proper in his own view,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.

To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
A proud attitude,[a] accompanied by[b] a haughty look, is sin;
    they reveal[c] wicked people.

Plans of the persistent surely lead to productivity,
    but all who are hasty will surely become poor.

A fortune gained by deceit[d]
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[e]

Devastation caused by the wicked will drag them away
    because they refuse to do what is just.

The conduct[f] of a guilty man is perverse,
    but the behavior of the pure is upright.

It’s better to live in a corner on the roof
    than to share a house with a contentious woman.

10 The soul of the wicked craves evil;
    he extends no mercy to his neighbor.

11 When a mocker is punished, the fool gains wisdom;
    but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous God[g] considers the house of the wicked,
    bringing the wicked to ruin.

13 Whoever refuses to hear the cry of the poor
    will also cry himself, but he won’t be answered.

14 Privately given gifts pacify wrath,
    and payments made secretly[h] appease[i] great anger.

15 Administering justice brings joy to the righteous,
    but terror to those who practice iniquity.

16 Whoever wanders from the path of understanding
    will end up where the dead[j] are gathered.

17 Pleasure lovers become poor;
    loving wine and oil doesn’t bring riches.

18 The wicked are ransom for the righteous,
    and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 It’s better to live in the wilderness
    than to live with a contentious and irritable woman.

20 Precious treasures and oil are found[k] where the wise live,
    but a foolish man devours them.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and gracious love
    finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty,
    bringing down the fortress in which they trust.

23 Whoever watches his mouth and tongue
    keeps himself from trouble.

24 The names “Proud,” “Arrogant,” and “Mocker”
    fit whoever acts with presumptuous conceit.

25 What the lazy person craves will kill him,
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he continues to crave,
    while the righteous person gives without holding back.

27 What the wicked person sacrifices is detestable—
    how much more when he offers it with vile motives!

28 A false witness will perish,
    but whoever listens will testify successfully.[l]

29 The wicked man puts up a bold appearance,
    but the upright thinks about what he is doing.[m]

30 No wisdom, insight, or counsel
    can prevail[n] against the Lord.

31 The horse may be prepared for the day of battle,
    but to the Lord goes the victory.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:4 Lit. heart
  2. Proverbs 21:4 Lit. proud heart and
  3. Proverbs 21:4 Lit. sin; the lamp of
  4. Proverbs 21:6 Lit. by a lying tongue
  5. Proverbs 21:6 So MT; LXX reads is pursuing worthlessness into deadly snares
  6. Proverbs 21:8 Lit. way
  7. Proverbs 21:12 The Heb. lacks God
  8. Proverbs 21:14 Lit. made under the cloak
  9. Proverbs 21:14 The Heb. lacks appease
  10. Proverbs 21:16 Lit. the departed spirits
  11. Proverbs 21:20 So MT; LXX reads A desirable treasure will rest
  12. Proverbs 21:28 Lit. testify forever
  13. Proverbs 21:29 Lit. about his ways
  14. Proverbs 21:30 The Heb. lacks can prevail

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
  2. Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
  3. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness