Proverbs 21 · Clearspring

The King’s Heart

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

The King’s Heart

Study Proverbs 21