Proverbs 21 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 21 ▼
swipe to see more →
CSB
Christian Standard Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 A king’s heart is like channeled water in the LORD’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses. 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 All a person’s ways seem right to him, 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 Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the LORD than 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 The lamp that guides the wicked — haughty eyes and an arrogant heart —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 plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor. 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 Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a pursuit 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 violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly. 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 A guilty one’s conduct is crooked, but the behavior of the innocent 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 Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. 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 A wicked person desires evil; he has no consideration for 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 a mocker is punished, the inexperienced become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires 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 Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; he brings the wicked to ruin. 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 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered. 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 secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage. 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 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to evildoers. 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 person who strays from the way of prudence will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits. 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 The one who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich. 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 wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for 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 Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife. 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 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a fool consumes them. 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 The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
22 A wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down its secure fortress. 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 The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble. 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 The arrogant and proud person, named “Mocker,” acts with excessive arrogance. “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 A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work. 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 is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back. 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 a wicked person is detestable”8239;— how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives! 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, but the one who listens will speak successfully. 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 A wicked person puts on a bold face, but the upright one considers his 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 No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail 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 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the LORD. 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