Proverbs 21 - Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

21 To the Lord, a king’s mind is like a ditch used to water the fields. He can lead the king wherever he wants him to go.

2 People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges the reasons for everything they do.

3 Do what is right and fair. The Lord loves that more than sacrifices.

4 Proud looks and proud thoughts are sins. They show a person is evil.

5 Careful planning leads to profit. Acting too quickly leads to poverty.

6 Wealth that comes from telling lies disappears quickly and leads to death.

7 The bad things that evil people do will destroy them, because they refuse to do what is right.

8 Criminals cause trouble wherever they go, but good people are honest and fair.

9 It is better to live in a small corner on the roof than to share the house with a woman who is always arguing.

10 Evil people always want to do more evil, and they show no mercy to people around them.

11 When you punish a proud person who laughs at what is right, even fools will learn something.[a] But a little instruction is enough for the wise to learn what they should.

12 God is good. He knows what the wicked are doing, and he will punish them.

13 Those who refuse to help the poor will not receive help when they need it themselves.

14 If anyone is angry with you, give them a gift in private. A gift given in secret will calm even the strongest anger.

15 A decision that is fair makes good people happy, but it makes those who are evil very afraid.

16 Whoever leaves the path of wisdom will be on their way to an early death.

17 Loving pleasure leads to poverty. Wine and luxury will never make you wealthy.

18 The wicked must pay for what happens to good people—the cheaters will be taken in exchange for the honest.

19 It is better to live alone in the desert than with a quick-tempered wife who loves to argue.

20 Wise people save the nice things they have. Fools use up everything as soon as they get it.

21 People who try hard to do good and be faithful will find life, goodness, and honor.

22 A wise person can defeat a city full of warriors and tear down the defenses they trust in.

23 People who are careful about what they say will save themselves from trouble.

24 Proud people think they are better than others. They show they are evil by what they do.

25 Lazy people will cause their own destruction because they refuse to work.

26 Some people are greedy and never have enough. Good people are generous and have plenty.

27 God hates sacrifices from the wicked, especially when their reason for offering them is evil.

28 Witnesses who lie will be caught and punished. A careful listener will always be there to speak up.

29 Good people know they are right, but the wicked have to pretend.

30 There is no one wise enough to make a plan that can succeed if the Lord is against it.

31 You can prepare your horses for battle, but only the Lord can give you the victory.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:11 Or “Punish a rude, arrogant person, and the others will become wise.”

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Proverbs 21 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

21 Rivulets of waters [is] the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it. 2 Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts. 3 To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice. 4 Loftiness of eyes, and brea...
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Proverbs 21 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

21 As partings of waters, so the heart of the king is in the power of the Lord; whither ever he will, he shall bow it. (Like out-flowings of water, is the king’s heart in the Lord’s hand; he shall turn it wherever he will, or desireth.) 2 Each way of a man seemeth rightful to himself; but the Lord w...
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Proverbs 21 - World English Bible (WEB)

21 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.4 A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wi...
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Proverbs 21 - The Voice (VOICE)

21 The king’s heart is like a channel of water directed by the Eternal: He chooses which way He bends it.2 Everyone may think his own way of living is right, but the Eternal examines our hearts.3 To do what is right and to seek justice— these please Him more than sacrifice.4 The lamp of the wicked l...
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Proverbs 21 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Adonai Weighs the Heart21 A king’s heart is like a stream of water in the hand of Adonai;he directs it wherever He wants.[a]2 All a man’s ways seem right in his own eyes,but Adonai weighs the heart.3 To do righteousness and justiceis more acceptable to Adonai than sacrifice.4 Haughty eyes and a prou...
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Proverbs 21 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

21 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of th...
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Proverbs 21 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

21 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of th...
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Proverbs 21 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

21 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.2 All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart.3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of t...
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Proverbs 21 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

21 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.2 All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart.(A)3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(B)4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lam...
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Proverbs 21 - New Living Translation (NLT)

21 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases. 2 People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. 3 The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. 4 Haughty eyes, a proud he...
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Proverbs 21 - New Life Version (NLV)

21 The heart of the king is like rivers of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it where He wishes. 2 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord knows the hearts. 3 To do what is right and good and fair is more pleasing to the Lord than gifts given on the altar in worship. 4 Eyes lift...
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Proverbs 21 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Lord Considers the Heart21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,Like the [a]rivers of water;He turns it wherever He wishes. 2 (A)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,(B)But the Lord weighs the hearts. 3 (C)To do righteousness and justiceIs more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice...
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Proverbs 21 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels towards all who please him. 2 A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. 3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the ...
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Proverbs 21 - New International Version (NIV)

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 h...
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Proverbs 21 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is like a stream of water. The Lord directs it toward all those who please him. 2 A person might think their own ways are right. But the Lord knows what they are thinking. 3 Do what is right and fair. The Lord accepts that more than sacrifices. 4 The proud eyes...
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Proverbs 21 - New English Translation (NET)

21 The king’s heart[a] is in the hand[b] of the Lord like channels of water;[c]he turns it wherever he wants.2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,[d]but the Lord evaluates[e] his thoughts.[f]3 To do righteousness and justiceis more acceptable[g] to the Lord than sacrifice.[h]4 Haughty...
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