Proverbs 21 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 21 ▼
swipe to see more →
CPDV
Catholic Public Domain Version
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills. 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 Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts. 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 mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices. 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 To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin. 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 intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need. 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 Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of 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 impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment. 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 perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright. 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 sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared 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 soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor. 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 pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge. 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 just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil. 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 Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded. 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 surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation. 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 It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity. 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 A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants. 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 Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched. 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 impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright. 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 live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional 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 There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it. 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 Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
22 The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence. 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 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish. 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 A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride. “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 Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all. 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 covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease. 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 sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness. 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 lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory. 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 The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own 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 wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord. 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 for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation. 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.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page