Proverbs 21 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 21 ▼
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BISHOPS
Bishops' Bible of 1568
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 The kynges heart is in the hand of the Lord, lyke as are the riuers of water, he maye turne it whyther soeuer he wyll. The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
2 Euery mans way seemeth right in his owne eyes: but the Lorde pondereth the heart. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousnes and iudgement, is more acceptable to the Lorde then sacrifice. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 An high looke, a proude heart, and the plowing of the vngodly is sinne. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
5 The deuises of one that is diligent, bring plenteousnesse: but he that is vnaduised, commeth vnto pouertie. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 To hoorde vp riches with a deceiptfull tongue, is vanitie tossed to and fro of them that seeke death. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
7 The robberies of the vngodly shalbe their owne destruction: for they wyll not do the thing that is right. The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the vngodly is frowarde and straunge: but of the pure man his worke is right. The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 It is better to dwel in a corner on the house toppe, then with a brawling woman in a wide house. It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soule of the vngodly wisheth euyll, and his neighbour findeth no fauour in his eyes. The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes. The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11 When the scornefull is punished, the ignoraunt take the better heede: and when the wyse is instructed, he wyll receaue vnderstanding. When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
12 The righteous man wysely considereth the house of the wicked, and for their wickednesse God ouerthroweth the vngodly. The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin. The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Who so stoppeth his eares at the crying of the poore, he shall crye hym selfe and not be hearde. Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
14 A priuie rewarde pacifieth displeasure: and a gyft in the bosome stylleth furiousnesse. A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath. A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
15 The iust delighteth in doing the thing that is right: but destruction shalbe to the workers of wickednesse. When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of wysdome, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead. One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead. Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
17 He that hath pleasure in bankettes shalbe a poore man: and whoso delighteth in wyne and delicates, shall not be riche. Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18 The vngodly shalbe a raunsome for the righteous: and the wicked for the iust. The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright. The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wyldernesse, then with a chydyng and an angrye woman. It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman. Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
20 In a wise mans house there is a great treasure and oyle: but a foolishe body spendeth vp all. Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
21 Who so foloweth righteousnesse and mercy, findeth both life, righteousnesse, and honour. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
22 A wyse man skaleth the citie of the mightie, & ouerthroweth the strength wherein they trusted. A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Who so kepeth his mouth and his tongue, the same kepeth his soule from troubles. Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
24 He that is proude and arrogant; is called a scorner, whiche in his wrath worketh presumptuously. “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. The proud and arrogant person—|Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury.
25 The desire of the slouthfull kylleth him: for his handes wyll not labour. The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
26 He coueteth greedyly all day long: but the righteous geueth and spareth not. All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
27 The sacrifice of the vngodly is abhomination: howe muche more when they offer the thing that is gotten with wickednesse? The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with evil intent!
28 A false witnesse shall perishe: but a good man speaketh constantly what he hath hearde. A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.
29 An vngodly man hardeneth his face: but the iust refourmeth his owne way. A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways. The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.
30 There is no wysdome, there is no vnderstanding, there is no counsayle against the Lorde. No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battayle: but the Lorde geueth victorie. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
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