Proverbs 21
21
1The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he #[Ezra 6:22]turns it wherever he will.
2 # ch. 16:2; [ch. 12:15] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord #ch. 24:12; [Luke 16:15; 1 Cor. 4:4]; See 1 Sam. 16:7weighs the heart.
3 # See ch. 15:8; 1 Sam. 15:22 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 # See ch. 6:17; Ps. 101:5 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
#
1 Kgs. 11:36
the lamp#21:4 Or the plowing of the wicked, are sin.
5The plans of #ch. 10:4 the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is #[ch. 19:2] hasty comes #[ch. 11:24; 14:23; 22:16]only to poverty.
6 # ch. 20:21; See ch. 10:2 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a #[ch. 13:11] fleeting #Job 13:25 vapor and a #[ch. 8:36]snare of death.#21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
7The violence of the wicked will #[Jer. 30:23]sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8The way of the guilty #[ch. 2:15]is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9It is #ch. 25:24; [ver. 19; ch. 19:13; 27:15]better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11When #ch. 19:25; See Ps. 1:1a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12The Righteous One #Ps. 37:35, 36observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 # [James 2:13]; See Matt. 18:30-34 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.
14 # [ch. 17:8; 18:16] A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe,#21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom strong wrath.
15When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
# [ch. 10:29] but terror to evildoers.
16One who wanders from the way of good sense
# [Ps. 49:14] will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 # [ch. 11:8] The wicked is a #Isa. 43:3ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.
19It is #[ver. 9]better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 # [Ps. 112:3] Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man #[Job 20:15, 18]devours it.
21Whoever #ch. 15:9; Matt. 5:6; [ch. 3:3] pursues righteousness and kindness
will find #ch. 3:16; 1 Kgs. 3:11; Matt. 6:33; See ch. 4:22life, righteousness, and honor.
22 # [ch. 24:5; Eccles. 7:19]; See 2 Sam. 5:6-9; Eccles. 9:14-18 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 # See ch. 13:3 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
# ch. 22:5 keeps himself out of #ch. 12:13trouble.
24 # ch. 1:22; See Ps. 1:1 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25The desire of #[ch. 13:4]the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous #See Ps. 37:26gives and does not hold back.
27 #
Isa. 66:3; See ch. 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more #[ch. 24:9]when he brings it with evil intent.
28 # ch. 19:5, 9 A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright #Ps. 119:5gives thought to#21:29 Or establishes his ways.
30 #
Isa. 8:9, 10; 1 Cor. 3:19, 20; [ch. 19:21] No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.
31 # [Ps. 20:7; 33:17; Isa. 31:1] The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but #Jer. 3:23the victory belongs to the Lord.
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Proverbs 21: ESV
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