Proverbs 21

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Proverbs 21 describes various human behaviors, character traits, and their corresponding outcomes, emphasizing that the LORD directs the king's heart and weighs all actions. The text contrasts the diligent, righteous, and wise with the wicked, slacker, proud, and deceitful, noting specific consequences such as poverty resulting from haste and the downfall of the wicked. It compares domestic situations, mentioning the preference for living on a roof corner or in a desert over sharing a house with a contentious wife. Furthermore, the chapter details interactions within society, including the punishment of mockers, the ignoring of the poor, and the use of secret gifts to pacify anger. Finally, it asserts that human wisdom, plans, and military preparations like horses for battle cannot prevail against the LORD, who ultimately determines victory.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases. ²All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. ³To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice. ⁴Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin. ⁵The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty. ⁶Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit. ⁷The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just. ⁸The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright. ⁹Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife. ¹⁰The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. ¹¹When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge. ¹²The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. ¹³Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer. ¹⁴A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath. ¹⁵Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity. ¹⁶The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. ¹⁷He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich. ¹⁸The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright. ¹⁹Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife. ²⁰Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them. ²¹He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor. ²²A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. ²³He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress. ²⁴Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride. ²⁵The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work. ²⁶All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint. ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent! ²⁸A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever. ²⁹A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure. ³⁰There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD. ³¹A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.