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] ωσπερ ορμη υδατος ουτως καρδια βασιλεως εν χειρι θεου ου εαν θελων νευση εκει εκλινεν αυτην
[2] πας ανηρ φαινεται εαυτω δικαιος κατευθυνει δε καρδιας κυριος
[3] ποιειν δικαια και αληθευειν αρεστα παρα θεω μαλλον η θυσιων αιμα
[4] μεγαλοφρων εφ υβρει θρασυκαρδιος λαμπτηρ δε ασεβων αμαρτια …
[6] ο ενεργων θησαυρισματα γλωσση ψευδει ματαια διωκει επι παγιδας θανατου
[7] ολεθρος ασεβεσιν επιξενωθησεται ου γαρ βουλονται πρασσειν τα δικαια
[8] προς τους σκολιους σκολιας οδους αποστελλει ο θεος αγνα γαρ και ορθα τα εργα αυτου
[9] κρεισσον οικειν επι γωνιας υπαιθρου η εν κεκονιαμενοις μετα αδικιας και εν οικω κοινω
[10] ψυχη ασεβους ουκ ελεηθησεται υπ ουδενος των ανθρωπων
[11] ζημιουμενου ακολαστου πανουργοτερος γινεται ο ακακος συνιων δε σοφος δεξεται γνωσιν
[12] συνιει δικαιος καρδιας ασεβων και φαυλιζει ασεβεις εν κακοις
[13] ος φρασσει τα ωτα του μη επακουσαι ασθενους και αυτος επικαλεσεται και ουκ εσται ο εισακουων
[14] δοσις λαθριος ανατρεπει οργας δωρων δε ο φειδομενος θυμον εγειρει ισχυρον
[15] ευφροσυνη δικαιων ποιειν κριμα οσιος δε ακαθαρτος παρα κακουργοις
[16] ανηρ πλανωμενος εξ οδου δικαιοσυνης εν συναγωγη γιγαντων αναπαυσεται
[17] ανηρ ενδεης αγαπα ευφροσυνην φιλων οινον και ελαιον εις πλουτον
[18] περικαθαρμα δε δικαιου ανομος
[19] κρεισσον οικειν εν γη ερημω η μετα γυναικος μαχιμου και γλωσσωδους και οργιλου
[20] θησαυρος επιθυμητος αναπαυσεται επι στοματος σοφου αφρονες δε ανδρες καταπιονται αυτον
[21] οδος δικαιοσυνης και ελεημοσυνης ευρησει ζωην και δοξαν
[22] πολεις οχυρας επεβη σοφος και καθειλεν το οχυρωμα εφ ω επεποιθεισαν οι ασεβεις
[23] ος φυλασσει το στομα αυτου και την γλωσσαν διατηρει εκ θλιψεως την ψυχην αυτου
[24] θρασυς και αυθαδης και αλαζων λοιμος καλειται ος δε μνησικακει παρανομος
[25] επιθυμιαι οκνηρον αποκτεινουσιν ου γαρ προαιρουνται αι χειρες αυτου ποιειν τι
[26] ασεβης επιθυμει ολην την ημεραν επιθυμιας κακας ο δε δικαιος ελεα και οικτιρει αφειδως
[27] θυσιαι ασεβων βδελυγμα κυριω και γαρ παρανομως προσφερουσιν αυτας
[28] μαρτυς ψευδης απολειται ανηρ δε υπηκοος φυλασσομενος λαλησει
[29] ασεβης ανηρ αναιδως υφισταται προσωπω ο δε ευθης αυτος συνιει τας οδους αυτου
[30] ουκ εστιν σοφια ουκ εστιν ανδρεια ουκ εστιν βουλη προς τον ασεβη
[31] ιππος ετοιμαζεται εις ημεραν πολεμου παρα δε κυριου η βοηθεια

The Greek New Testament According to the Byzantine Text (Guardian Press, Inc., Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine Textform, 2026). Dedicated to the public domain by Guardian Press, Inc. and J. Jeffrey Dodson.