Proverbs - Chapter 21

1The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure. 2Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. 3To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering. 4A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer is sin. 5The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need. 6He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death. 7By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right. 8Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright. 9It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house. 10The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour. 11When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge. 12The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction. 13He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help. 14By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe. 15It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil. 16The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades. 17The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth. 18The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright. 19It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman. 20There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man. 21He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour. 22A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith. 23He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. 24The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride. 25The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work. 26All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back. 27The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose! 28A false witness will be cut off, ... 29The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way. 30Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord. 31The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.