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 H4428 heart H3820 [is] in the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068, [as] the rivers H6388 of water H4325: he turneth H5186 (8686) it whithersoever he will H2654 (8799).
[2] Every way H1870 of a man H376 [is] right H3477 in his own eyes H5869: but the LORD H3068 pondereth H8505 (8802) the hearts H3826.
[3] To do H6213 (8800) justice H6666 and judgment H4941 [is] more acceptable H977 (8737) to the LORD H3068 than sacrifice H2077.
[4] An high H7312 look H5869, and a proud H7342 heart H3820, [and] the plowing H5215 of the wicked H7563, [is] sin H2403.
[5] The thoughts H4284 of the diligent H2742 [tend] only to plenteousness H4195; but of every one [that is] hasty H213 (8801) only to want H4270.
[6] The getting H6467 of treasures H214 by a lying H8267 tongue H3956 [is] a vanity H1892 tossed to and fro of H5086 (8737) them that seek H1245 (8764) death H4194.
[7] The robbery H7701 of the wicked H7563 shall destroy H1641 (8799) them; because they refuse H3985 (8765) to do H6213 (8800) judgment H4941.
[8] The way H1870 of man H376 [is] froward H2019 and strange H2054: but [as for] the pure H2134, his work H6467 [is] right H3477.
[9] [It is] better H2896 to dwell H3427 (8800) in a corner H6438 of the housetop H1406, than with a brawling H4079 (8675) H4066 woman H802 in a wide H2267 house H1004.
[10] The soul H5315 of the wicked H7563 desireth H183 (8765) evil H7451: his neighbour H7453 findeth no favour H2603 (8717) in his eyes H5869.
[11] When the scorner H3887 (8801) is punished H6064 (8800), the simple H6612 is made wise H2449 (8799): and when the wise H2450 is instructed H7919 (8687), he receiveth H3947 (8799) knowledge H1847.
[12] The righteous H6662 [man] wisely considereth H7919 (8688) the house H1004 of the wicked H7563: [but God] overthroweth H5557 (8764) the wicked H7563 for [their] wickedness H7451.
[13] Whoso stoppeth H331 (8801) his ears H241 at the cry H2201 of the poor H1800, he also shall cry H7121 (8799) himself, but shall not be heard H6030 (8735).
[14] A gift H4976 in secret H5643 pacifieth H3711 (8799) anger H639: and a reward H7810 in the bosom H2436 strong H5794 wrath H2534.
[15] [It is] joy H8057 to the just H6662 to do H6213 (8800) judgment H4941: but destruction H4288 [shall be] to the workers H6466 (8802) of iniquity H205.
[16] The man H120 that wandereth H8582 (8802) out of the way H1870 of understanding H7919 (8687) shall remain H5117 (8799) in the congregation H6951 of the dead H7496.
[17] He that loveth H157 (8802) pleasure H8057 [shall be] a poor H4270 man H376: he that loveth H157 (8802) wine H3196 and oil H8081 shall not be rich H6238 (8686).
[18] The wicked H7563 [shall be] a ransom H3724 for the righteous H6662, and the transgressor H898 (8802) for the upright H3477.
[19] [It is] better H2896 to dwell H3427 (8800) in the wilderness H776 H4057, than with a contentious H4079 (8675) H4066 and an angry H3708 woman H802.
[20] [There is] treasure H214 to be desired H2530 (8737) and oil H8081 in the dwelling H5116 of the wise H2450; but a foolish H3684 man H120 spendeth it up H1104 (8762).
[21] He that followeth H7291 (8802) after righteousness H6666 and mercy H2617 findeth H4672 (8799) life H2416, righteousness H6666, and honour H3519.
[22] A wise H2450 [man] scaleth H5927 (8804) the city H5892 of the mighty H1368, and casteth down H3381 (8686) the strength H5797 of the confidence H4009 thereof.
[23] Whoso keepeth H8104 (8802) his mouth H6310 and his tongue H3956 keepeth H8104 (8802) his soul H5315 from troubles H6869.
[24] Proud H2086 [and] haughty H3093 scorner H3887 (8801) [is] his name H8034, who dealeth H6213 (8802) in proud H2087 wrath H5678.
[25] The desire H8378 of the slothful H6102 killeth H4191 (8686) him; for his hands H3027 refuse H3985 (8765) to labour H6213 (8800).
[26] He coveteth H183 (8694) greedily H8378 all the day H3117 long: but the righteous H6662 giveth H5414 (8799) and spareth H2820 (8799) not.
[27] The sacrifice H2077 of the wicked H7563 [is] abomination H8441: how much more, [when] he bringeth H935 (8686) it with a wicked mind H2154?
[28] A false H3577 witness H5707 shall perish H6 (8799): but the man H376 that heareth H8085 (8802) speaketh H1696 (8762) constantly H5331.
[29] A wicked H7563 man H376 hardeneth H5810 (8689) his face H6440: but [as for] the upright H3477, he directeth H995 (8799) (8675) H3559 (8686) his way H1870.
[30] [There is] no wisdom H2451 nor understanding H8394 nor counsel H6098 against the LORD H3068.
[31] The horse H5483 [is] prepared H3559 (8716) against the day H3117 of battle H4421: but safety H8668 [is] of the LORD H3068.
Young’s Literal Translation
Proverbs 21 (YLT)
[1] Rivulets of waters is the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.
[2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.
[3] To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.
[4] Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked is sin.
[5] The purposes of the diligent are only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
[6] The making of treasures by a lying tongue, Is a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
[7] The spoil of the wicked catcheth them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
[8] Froward is the way of a man who is vile, And the pure-upright is his work.
[9] Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than with a woman of contentions and a house of company.
[10] The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.
[11] When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.
[12] The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
[13] Whoso is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also doth cry, and is not answered.
[14] A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a bribe in the bosom strong fury.
[15] To do justice is joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
[16] A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.
[17] Whoso is loving mirth is a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.
[18] The wicked is an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.
[19] Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than with a woman of contentions and anger.
[20] A treasure to be desired, and oil, Is in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.
[21] Whoso is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
[22] A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
[23] Whoso is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping from adversities his soul.
[24] Proud, haughty, scorner is his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
[25] The desire of the slothful slayeth him, For his hands have refused to work.
[26] All the day desiring he hath desired, And the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
[27] The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination, Much more when in wickedness he bringeth it.
[28] A false witness doth perish, And an attentive man for ever speaketh.
[29] A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright-he prepareth his way.
[30] There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel, over-against Jehovah.
[31] A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance is of Jehovah!