Proverbs 21 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Proverbs 21 (WEBP)

[1] The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
[2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
[3] To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
[4] A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
[5] The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
[6] Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
[7] The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
[8] The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
[9] It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
[10] The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
[11] When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
[12] The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
[13] Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
[14] A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
[15] It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
[16] The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
[17] He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
[18] The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
[19] It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
[20] There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
[21] He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
[22] A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
[23] Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
[24] The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
[25] The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
[26] There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
[27] The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
[28] A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
[29] A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
[30] There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
[31] The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with Yahweh.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Proverbs 21 (KJVS)

[1] The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, As the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
[2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the Lord pondereth the hearts.
[3] To do justice and judgment Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
[4] An high look, and a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
[5] The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But of every one that is hasty only to want.
[6] The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
[7] The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; Because they refuse to do judgment.
[8] The way of man is froward and strange: But as for the pure, his work is right.
[9] It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
[10] The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
[11] When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
[12] The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: But God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
[13] Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
[14] A gift in secret pacifieth anger: And a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
[15] It is joy to the just to do judgment: But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
[16] The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
[17] He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
[18] The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the transgressor for the upright.
[19] It is better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and an angry woman.
[20] There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man spendeth it up.
[21] He that followeth after righteousness and mercy Findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
[22] A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
[23] Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.
[24] Proud and haughty scorner is his name, Who dealeth in proud wrath.
[25] The desire of the slothful killeth him; For his hands refuse to labour.
[26] He coveteth greedily all the day long: But the righteous giveth and spareth not.
[27] The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
[28] A false witness shall perish: But the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
[29] A wicked man hardeneth his face: But as for the upright, he directeth his way.
[30] There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against the Lord.
[31] The horse is prepared against the day of battle: But safety is of the Lord.

Proverbs 21:4a Heb. haughtiness of eyes
Proverbs 21:4b Or, the light of the wicked
Proverbs 21:7 Heb. saw them, or, dwell with them
Proverbs 21:9a Heb. a woman of contentions
Proverbs 21:9b Heb. an house of society
Proverbs 21:17 Or, sport
Proverbs 21:19 Heb. in the land of the desert
Proverbs 21:24 Heb. in the wrath of pride
Proverbs 21:27 Heb. in wickedness
Proverbs 21:28 Heb. a witness of lies
Proverbs 21:29 Or, considereth
Proverbs 21:31 Or, victory

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

Proverbs 21 (BYZ)

[1] Ὥσπερ () ὁρμὴ () ὕδατος, () οὕτως () καρδία () βασιλέως () ἐν () χειρὶ () θεοῦ· () οὗ () ἐὰν () θέλων () νεύσῃ, () ἐκεῖ () ἔκλινεν () αὐτήν. ()
[2] Πᾶς () ἀνὴρ () φαίνεται () ἑαυτῷ () δίκαιος, () κατευθύνει () δὲ () καρδίας () κύριος. ()
[3] Ποιεῖν () δίκαια () καὶ () ἀληθεύειν () ἀρεστὰ () παρὰ () θεῷ () μᾶλλον () ἢ () θυσιῶν () αἷμα. ()
[4] Μεγαλόφρων ἐφ’ () ὕβρει () θρασυκάρδιος, λαμπτὴρ δὲ () ἀσεβῶν () ἁμαρτία. () …
[6] Ὁ () ἐνεργῶν () θησαυρίσματα γλώσσῃ () ψευδεῖ () μάταια () διώκει () ἐπὶ () παγίδας () θανάτου. ()
[7] Ὄλεθρος () ἀσεβέσιν () ἐπιξενωθήσεται· οὐ () γὰρ () βούλονται () πράσσειν () τὰ () δίκαια. ()
[8] Πρὸς () τοὺς () σκολιοὺς () σκολιὰς () ὁδοὺς () ἀποστέλλει () ὁ () θεός· () ἁγνὰ () γὰρ () καὶ () ὀρθὰ () τὰ () ἔργα () αὐτοῦ. ()
[9] Κρεῖσσον () οἰκεῖν () ἐπὶ () γωνίας () ὑπαίθρου ἢ () ἐν () κεκονιαμένοις () μετὰ () ἀδικίας () καὶ () ἐν () οἴκῳ () κοινῷ. ()
[10] Ψυχὴ () ἀσεβοῦς () οὐκ () ἐλεηθήσεται () ὑπ’ () οὐδενὸς () τῶν () ἀνθρώπων. ()
[11] Ζημιουμένου () ἀκολάστου πανουργότερος () γίνεται () ὁ () ἄκακος, () συνίων () δὲ () σοφὸς () δέξεται () γνῶσιν. ()
[12] Συνίει () δίκαιος () καρδίας () ἀσεβῶν () καὶ () φαυλίζει ἀσεβεῖς () ἐν () κακοῖς. ()
[13] Ὃς () φράσσει () τὰ () ὦτα () τοῦ () μὴ () ἐπακοῦσαι () ἀσθενοῦς, () καὶ () αὐτὸς () ἐπικαλέσεται, () καὶ () οὐκ () ἔσται () ὁ () εἰσακούων. ()
[14] Δόσις () λάθριος ἀνατρέπει () ὀργάς, () δώρων () δὲ () ὁ () φειδόμενος () θυμὸν () ἐγείρει () ἰσχυρόν. ()
[15] Εὐφροσύνη () δικαίων () ποιεῖν () κρίμα, () ὅσιος () δὲ () ἀκάθαρτος () παρὰ () κακούργοις. ()
[16] Ἀνὴρ () πλανώμενος () ἐξ () ὁδοῦ () δικαιοσύνης () ἐν () συναγωγῇ () γιγάντων ἀναπαύσεται. ()
[17] Ἀνὴρ () ἐνδεὴς () ἀγαπᾷ () εὐφροσύνην () φιλῶν () οἶνον () καὶ () ἔλαιον () εἰς () πλοῦτον· ()
[18] περικάθαρμα () δὲ () δικαίου () ἄνομος. ()
[19] Κρεῖσσον () οἰκεῖν () ἐν () γῇ () ἐρήμῳ () ἢ () μετὰ () γυναικὸς () μαχίμου καὶ () γλωσσώδους καὶ () ὀργίλου. ()
[20] Θησαυρὸς () ἐπιθυμητὸς ἀναπαύσεται () ἐπὶ () στόματος () σοφοῦ, () ἄφρονες () δὲ () ἄνδρες () καταπίονται () αὐτόν. ()
[21] Ὁδὸς () δικαιοσύνης () καὶ () ἐλεημοσύνης () εὑρήσει () ζωὴν () καὶ () δόξαν. ()
[22] Πόλεις () ὀχυρὰς ἐπέβη () σοφὸς () καὶ () καθεῖλεν () τὸ () ὀχύρωμα, () ἐφ’ () ᾧ () ἐπεποίθεισαν () οἱ () ἀσεβεῖς. ()
[23] Ὃς () φυλάσσει () τὸ () στόμα () αὐτοῦ () καὶ () τὴν () γλῶσσαν, () διατηρεῖ () ἐκ () θλίψεως () τὴν () ψυχὴν () αὐτοῦ. ()
[24] Θρασὺς καὶ () αὐθάδης () καὶ () ἀλαζὼν () λοιμὸς () καλεῖται· () ὃς () δὲ () μνησικακεῖ, παράνομος.
[25] Ἐπιθυμίαι () ὀκνηρὸν () ἀποκτείνουσιν· () οὐ () γὰρ () προαιροῦνται () αἱ () χεῖρες () αὐτοῦ () ποιεῖν () τι. ()
[26] Ἀσεβὴς () ἐπιθυμεῖ () ὅλην () τὴν () ἡμέραν () ἐπιθυμίας () κακάς, () ὁ () δὲ () δίκαιος () ἐλεᾷ καὶ () οἰκτίρει () ἀφειδῶς.
[27] Θυσίαι () ἀσεβῶν () βδέλυγμα () κυρίῳ· () καὶ () γὰρ () παρανόμως προσφέρουσιν () αὐτάς. ()
[28] Μάρτυς () ψευδὴς () ἀπολεῖται, () ἀνὴρ () δὲ () ὑπήκοος () φυλασσόμενος () λαλήσει. ()
[29] Ἀσεβὴς () ἀνὴρ () ἀναιδῶς ὑφίσταται προσώπῳ, () ὁ () δὲ () εὐθὴς αὐτὸς () συνίει () τὰς () ὁδοὺς () αὐτοῦ. ()
[30] Οὐκ () ἔστιν () σοφία, () οὐκ () ἔστιν () ἀνδρεία, οὐκ () ἔστιν () βουλὴ () πρὸς () τὸν () ἀσεβῆ. ()
[31] Ἵππος () ἑτοιμάζεται () εἰς () ἡμέραν () πολέμου, () παρὰ () δὲ () κυρίου () ἡ () βοήθεια. ()

Old Testament scripture quotations and versification from Septuaginta, edited by Alfred Rahlfs (Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibelanstalt, 1935). New Testament quotations are from the Byzantine Text (Guardian Press, LLC, Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine Textform, 2026). Both are in the public domain.