PROVERBS 21 [†] The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;

he  y turns it wherever he will.

2  z Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

but the LORD  a weighs the heart.

3[^]  b To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4  c Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

 d the lamp [1] of the wicked, are sin.

5 The plans of  e the diligent lead surely to abundance,

but everyone who is  f hasty comes  g only to poverty.

6  h The getting of treasures by a lying tongue

is a  i fleeting  j vapor and a  k snare of death. [2]

7 The violence of the wicked will  l sweep them away,

because they refuse to do what is just.

8 The way of the guilty  m is crooked,

but the conduct of the pure is upright.

9[†] It is  n better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

10[†] The soul of the wicked desires evil;

his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

11 When  o a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;

when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

12 The Righteous One  p observes the house of the wicked;

he throws the wicked down to ruin.

13  q Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

will himself call out and not be answered.

14[†]  r A gift in secret averts anger,

and a concealed bribe, [3] strong wrath.

15[†] When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous

 s but terror to evildoers.

16 One who wanders from the way of good sense

 t will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17[†] Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;

he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18  u The wicked is a  v ransom for the righteous,

and the traitor for the upright.

19[†] It is  w better to live in a desert land

than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

20[†]  x Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,

but a foolish man  y devours it.

21 Whoever  z pursues righteousness and kindness

will find  a life, righteousness, and honor.

22  b A wise man scales the city of the mighty

and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23[†]  c Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue

 d keeps himself out of  e trouble.

24  f “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man

who acts with arrogant pride.

25[†] The desire of  g the sluggard kills him,

for his hands refuse to labor.

26 All day long he craves and craves,

but the righteous  h gives and does not hold back.

27[†]  i The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more  j when he brings it with evil intent.

28[†]  k 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 the upright  l gives thought to [4] his ways.

30[†]  m No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel

can avail against the LORD.

31  n The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but  o the victory belongs to the LORD.