Proverbs 21 - International Children’s Bible (ICB)

21 The Lord can control a king’s mind as easily as he controls a river.
He can direct it as he pleases.

2 A person may believe he is doing right.
But the Lord judges his reasons.

3 Do what is right and fair.
That is more important to the Lord than animal sacrifices.

4 Proud looks, proud thoughts
and evil actions are sin.

5 Those who plan and work hard earn a profit.
But those who act too quickly become poor.

6 Wealth that comes from telling lies
vanishes like a mist and leads to death.

7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them
because they refuse to do what is right.

8 Guilty people live dishonest lives.
But honest people do what is right.

9 It is better to live in a corner on the roof[a]
than inside the house with a quarreling wife.

10 An evil person only wants to harm others.
His neighbor will get no mercy from him.

11 Punish a person who makes fun of wisdom, and he will become wise.
But just teach a wise person, and he will get knowledge.

12 God, who is always right, sees the house of the wicked.
And he brings about the ruin of every evil person.

13 If you ignore the poor when they cry for help,
you also will cry for help and not be answered.

14 A gift given secretly will calm an angry man.
A present given in secrecy will calm even great anger.

15 When things are done fairly, good people are happy,
but evil people are frightened.

16 A person who does not use understanding
will join the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.
Whoever loves wine and rich food will never be wealthy.

18 Wicked people will suffer instead of good people.
And those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who can.

19 It is better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarreling and complaining wife.

20 Wise people store up the best foods and olive oil.
But a foolish person eats up everything he has.

21 A person who tries to live right and be loyal
finds life, success and honor.

22 A wise person can defeat a city full of strong men.
He can tear down the defenses they trust.

23 A person who is careful about what he says
keeps himself out of trouble.

24 People who act with stubborn pride
are called “proud” and “bragger.”

25 The lazy person’s desire for sleep will kill him
because he refuses to work.
26 All day long the lazy person wishes for more.
But the good person gives without holding back.

27 The Lord hates sacrifices made by evil people,
particularly when they make them for the wrong reasons.

28 The words of a lying witness will die.
But the words of an obedient man will always be remembered.

29 A wicked person is stubborn.
But an honest person thinks carefully about what he does.

30 There is no wisdom, understanding or advice
that can succeed against the Lord.

31 You can get the horses ready for battle.
But it is the Lord who gives the victory.

Footnotes

  1. 21:9 roof In Bible times houses were built with flat roofs. The roof was used for drying things such as flax and fruit. And it was used as an extra room, as a place for worship and as a place to sleep in the summer.

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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 English Translation (NET)

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