Proverbs 21

The king's heart is in the LORD's hand, like a stream of water. He turns it wherever he wants.

1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

NoteThe King James "rivers of water" and the rendering's "stream" translate a Hebrew phrase for irrigation channels, the ditches a farmer cuts through a field and blocks or opens with his foot to send the water wherever he wants it.

2People think that whatever they do is right. But the LORD weighs what is in their hearts.

2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Note"Heart" in Hebrew means the inner person as a whole (mind, will, and motive), not feeling as opposed to thought. "Weighs" is the image of putting something on a balance scale to test what it is actually worth.

3Doing what is right and fair pleases the LORD more than bringing him a sacrifice.

3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

NoteSacrifice here means the animal and grain offerings brought to God's sanctuary, the standard, expensive, publicly visible act of worship in Israel.

4Proud eyes, a proud heart, and whatever the wicked do to get ahead: all of it is sin.

4An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

NoteThe King James "the plowing of the wicked" reflects a genuinely uncertain Hebrew word, which can mean either "lamp" (the wicked person's lamp, i.e. his life or prosperity) or "newly broken ground" (his enterprise or output). Translations differ because the word itself is ambiguous.

5The plans of people who work steadily lead to plenty. But rushing leads only to being poor.

5The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

6A fortune gained by lying is a mist that blows away. Those who chase it are chasing death.

6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

NoteThe King James "a vanity tossed to and fro" uses a Hebrew word for breath or vapor, something real but with no substance, gone as you look at it. The last phrase is also read two ways in the manuscripts: "those who seek it seek death," or "a snare of death."

7The violence of the wicked will drag them away, because they refuse to do what is fair.

7The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

8The path of a guilty person is crooked and twisted. But what an innocent person does is straight.

8The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

9It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a whole house with a woman who fights all the time.

9It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

NoteHouses had flat roofs used for sleeping, drying food, and storage, reached by an outside stair; a corner of one was exposed to sun, wind, and rain. The "wide house" is the large main house shared with the whole extended family.

10A wicked person wants to do evil. He shows no kindness even to the neighbor next door.

10The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

11When a mocker is punished, people who are easily fooled learn to be wise. When a wise person is taught, he gains more knowledge.

11When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

Note"Mocker" (King James "scorner") and "simple" are stock characters throughout Proverbs. The mocker is someone who refuses correction and ridicules those who offer it. The simple person is not stupid but untaught and easily talked into anything.

12The Righteous One pays close attention to the house of the wicked, and he brings the wicked to ruin.

12The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

NoteThe Hebrew is ambiguous. It can mean a righteous person observes the house of the wicked and sees where it ends, or that the Righteous One, God, takes note of that house and pulls it down. Ancient and modern translators split on it.

13If you close your ears to the cry of the poor, then one day you will cry out and no one will answer you.

13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

14A gift given quietly calms down anger. A payment slipped under a robe calms down great rage.

14A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

NoteThe King James "a reward in the bosom" refers to the fold of the outer garment above the belt, which people used as a pocket. A payment handed over there passed unseen. Both lines describe what we would call a bribe.

15When justice is done, honest people are glad, but those who do wrong are terrified.

15It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16The person who wanders off the road of understanding will come to rest among the dead.

16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

NoteThe King James "the congregation of the dead" uses a Hebrew term for the shades, the weakened, ghost-like inhabitants of Sheol, the place where all the dead were thought to gather.

17Whoever loves having a good time will end up poor. Whoever loves wine and fine oil will never be rich.

17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

NoteThe oil is perfumed olive oil, rubbed on skin and hair at feasts and celebrations. Together with wine it stands for expensive living, not for cooking supplies.

18The wicked become the ransom paid for the righteous, and the unfaithful for those who live honestly.

18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

NoteA ransom was the price paid to buy back a captive, or the sum accepted instead of the punishment someone else was owed. The proverb uses that legal image without explaining how the exchange works.

19It is better to live out in the desert than with a woman who argues and loses her temper.

19It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

NoteThe wilderness is dry, uninhabited scrubland, no house, no neighbors, no supplies. It is named as the worst place a person could live.

20The home of a wise person holds fine treasure and oil. But a foolish person uses it all up.

20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

NoteOlive oil kept in storage jars was ordinary household wealth: food, lamp fuel, medicine, and trade goods all at once. A stocked house meant a household that planned ahead.

21Whoever keeps chasing after what is right and after faithful love will find life, right standing, and honor.

21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Note"Faithful love" (King James "mercy") translates the Hebrew word hesed: steady, committed loyalty to someone you are bound to, expressed in action rather than feeling.

22A wise man can climb the walls of a city full of strong warriors and tear down the fortress they trusted in.

22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

NoteCities of any size were ringed by high walls, and a walled stronghold inside was the last defense. Taking one normally required a besieging army, hence the surprise of one wise man doing it.

23Whoever watches his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

24"Mocker" is the name for a proud, arrogant person, for anyone who acts with raging pride.

24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

Note"Is his name" is a Hebrew way of saying this is what the person actually is, not merely what people call him.

25What a lazy person craves will kill him, because his hands refuse to work.

25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

26All day long he wants more and more. But honest people give, and hold nothing back.

26He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

27The sacrifice a wicked person brings is disgusting to God. It is even worse when he brings it planning to do evil.

27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

Note"Abomination" translates a Hebrew word for something repulsive and unfit to be brought near God. The "wicked mind" of the second line is a word for a deliberate scheme, the worshiper is bringing the offering while planning the crime.

28A witness who lies will be destroyed. But the man who listens carefully will still be speaking long after.

28A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

NoteThe last word of the Hebrew means "forever," "enduringly," or "successfully," and translators differ over whether the point is that such a witness keeps speaking, or that his testimony stands.

29A wicked man puts on a bold, shameless face. But an honest man makes his own way sure.

29A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

Note"Hardens his face" is a Hebrew idiom for brazenness, putting on an expression that shows no shame and gives nothing away. In the second line the manuscripts differ: some read that the upright man makes his way secure, others that he gives thought to his way.

30No wisdom, no understanding, and no plan can stand against the LORD.

30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

31The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.

31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

NoteHorses meant chariot forces, imported, expensive, and the most powerful military equipment an ancient state could field. Preparing the horse stands for taking every practical precaution available.