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 the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but every one who is hasty comes only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is right.
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The righteous observes the house of the wicked;
the wicked are cast down to ruin.
13 He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself cry out and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret averts anger;
and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,
but dismay to evildoers.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Precious treasure remains[a] in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.
21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life[b] and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
24 “Scoffer” is the name of the proud, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him
for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long the wicked covets,[c]
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
28 A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but an upright man considers[d] his ways.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel,
can avail against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:20 Gk: Heb and oil
  2. Proverbs 21:21 Gk: Heb life and righteousness
  3. Proverbs 21:26 Gk: Heb all day long he covets covetously
  4. Proverbs 21:29 Another reading is establishes

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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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