Chapter 21

¹The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like streams of water; He turns it wherever He wills.

²Every way of a person seems right in their own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.

³To do righteousness and justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the lamp of the wicked—are sin.

⁵The plans of the diligent lead to abundance, but haste brings poverty.

⁶Wealth gained by deceit is fleeting; it becomes a snare for those who seek death.

⁷The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, for they refuse to do justice.

⁸The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.

⁹Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome person.

¹⁰The soul of the wicked craves evil; their neighbor finds no mercy.

¹¹When a scoffer is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise person is instructed, they gain knowledge.

¹²The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked and casts them down to ruin.

¹³Whoever shuts their ear to the cry of the poor will themselves cry out and not be heard.

¹⁴A gift in secret soothes anger, and a bribe in private calms strong wrath.

¹⁵Justice done is joy to the righteous, but terror to evildoers.

¹⁶A person who strays from the way of insight will rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will not grow rich.

¹⁸The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.

¹⁹Better to dwell in a desert than with a quarrelsome and vexing person.

²⁰Precious treasure and oil are in the wise person’s home, but a fool consumes them.

²¹Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

²²A wise person scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold of their confidence.

²³Whoever guards their mouth and tongue keeps their soul from trouble.

²⁴The proud, haughty scoffer—“Arrogant” is their name—acts with overbearing pride.

²⁵The desire of the sluggard kills them, for their hands refuse to work.

²⁶All day long they crave greedily, but the righteous give and do not hold back.

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, even more when offered with evil intent.

²⁸A false witness will perish, but the word of one who hears endures.

²⁹A wicked person hardens their face, but the upright establish their way.

³⁰No wisdom, no insight, no plan can succeed against the Lord.

³¹The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord. Proverbs 22 The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 22 – VKJV