Proverbs 21 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 21 ▼
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1 The king's heart is like streams of water. Both are under the LORD's control. He turns them in any direction 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 A person thinks everything he does is right, 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 right and fair is more acceptable to the LORD than offering a 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 A conceited look and an arrogant attitude, which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins. 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 a hard-working person lead to prosperity, but everyone who is [always] in a hurry ends up in poverty. 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 Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time. They are looking for 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 wicked people will drag them away since they refuse to do what is just. 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 a guilty person is crooked, but the behavior of those who are pure is moral. 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 a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling woman. 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 mind of a wicked person desires evil and 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, a gullible person becomes wise, and when a wise person is instructed, he gains 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 A righteous person wisely considers the house of a wicked person. He throws wicked people into disasters. 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 shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call 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 gift [given] in secret calms anger, and a secret bribe calms great fury. 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 When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted, but troublemakers are terrified. 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 person who wanders from the way of wise behavior will rest in the assembly 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 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor. Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become 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 Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people, and treacherous people will take the place of decent people. 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 desert than with a quarreling and angry 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 Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person, but a fool devours 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 Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy 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 man attacks a city of warriors and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust. 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 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 An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker. His arrogance knows no limits. “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 a lazy person 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 All day long he feels greedy, but a righteous person gives and does not 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 wicked people is disgusting, especially if they bring it with evil intent. 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 die, but a person who listens to advice will continue to speak. 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 up a bold front, but a decent person's way of life is his own security. 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 advice [can stand up] 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 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 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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