Proverbs 21 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 21 ▼
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1 Steams of waters the heart of the king, in the hand of Jehovah: upon all which he shall delight in he will turn it. 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 right in his eyes: and Jehovah will prepare 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 justice and judgment was chosen by Jehovah above gold. 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 Lifting up the eyes and enlarging the heart, the light of the unjust 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 purposes of the active only to abundance; and every one hastening only to want. 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 The making treasures by the tongue of falsehood is vanity scattered from those seeking 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 unjust shall sweep them away, for they refuse 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 way of man is crooked and strange: and the pure his work 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 Good to dwell upon the corner of the roof rather than with a woman of strifes and a house of community. 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 unjust one desired evil: his neighbor shall not be compassionated 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 In punishing him mocking, the simple shall become wise: and in instruction to the wise one he will take 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 one being circumspect for the house of the unjust one: overthrowing the unjust for 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 He stopping his ear from the cry of the poor one also himself shall call and shall 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 Giving in secret will subdue anger: and a gift in the bosom, strong wrath. 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 Joy to the just one to do judgment: and destruction to those working 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 wandering from the way of understanding shall rest in the convocation of the shades. 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 A man of poverty loving joy: he loving wine and oil shall not be 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 unjust one a ransom for the just one, and he transgressing, instead 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 Good to dwell in the land of the desert rather than with a woman of contentions and anger. 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 A treasure desired, and oil in the house of the wise one; and the foolish man will swallow it down. 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 He pursuing justice and mercy shall find life, justice and honor. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
22 The wise one ascended the city of the strong, and he will bring down the strength 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 He watching his mouth and his tongue watches his soul from straits. 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 Proud, arrogant, mocking, is his name doing in the wrath of 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 The desire of the slothful shall kill him, for his hands refused 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 longed a longing all the day: and the just one shall give and not keep 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 the unjust is an abomination, for also he will bring it in mischief. 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 witness of lies shall perish: and a man hearing, shall speak clearly. 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 unjust man strengthened with his face: and the upright he will prepare his ways. 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 and no understanding, and no counsel against Jehovah. 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 war and salvation is to Jehovah. 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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