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.
2 Every man’s lifestyle is proper in his own view,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A proud attitude,[a] accompanied by[b] a haughty look, is sin;
they reveal[c] wicked people.
5 Plans of the persistent surely lead to productivity,
but all who are hasty will surely become poor.
6 A fortune gained by deceit[d]
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[e]
7 Devastation caused by the wicked will drag them away
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The conduct[f] of a guilty man is perverse,
but the behavior of the pure is upright.
9 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
- Proverbs 21:4 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 21:4 Lit. proud heart and
- Proverbs 21:4 Lit. sin; the lamp of
- Proverbs 21:6 Lit. by a lying tongue
- Proverbs 21:6 So MT; LXX reads is pursuing worthlessness into deadly snares
- Proverbs 21:8 Lit. way
- Proverbs 21:12 The Heb. lacks God
- Proverbs 21:14 Lit. made under the cloak
- Proverbs 21:14 The Heb. lacks appease
- Proverbs 21:16 Lit. the departed spirits
- Proverbs 21:20 So MT; LXX reads A desirable treasure will rest
- Proverbs 21:28 Lit. testify forever
- Proverbs 21:29 Lit. about his ways
- Proverbs 21:30 The Heb. lacks can prevail