Proverbs 21 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Pro 21:1

Pro 21:1The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.

Pro 21:2

Pro 21:2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.

Pro 21:3

Pro 21:3To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Pro 21:4

Pro 21:4Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp[fn] of the wicked, are sin.

Pro 21:5

Pro 21:5The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Pro 21:6

Pro 21:6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.[fn]

Pro 21:7

Pro 21:7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.

Pro 21:8

Pro 21:8The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.

Pro 21:9

Pro 21:9It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

Pro 21:10

Pro 21:10The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

Pro 21:11

Pro 21:11When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

Pro 21:12

Pro 21:12The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.

Pro 21:13

Pro 21:13Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.

Pro 21:14

Pro 21:14A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe,[fn] strong wrath.

Pro 21:15

Pro 21:15When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

Pro 21:16

Pro 21:16One who wanders from the way of good sense
will rest in the assembly of the dead.

Pro 21:17

Pro 21:17Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Pro 21:18

Pro 21:18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.

Pro 21:19

Pro 21:19It is better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

Pro 21:20

Pro 21:20Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.

Pro 21:21

Pro 21:21Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Pro 21:22

Pro 21:22A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

Pro 21:23

Pro 21:23Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.

Pro 21:24

Pro 21:24“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.

Pro 21:25

Pro 21:25The desire of the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.

Pro 21:26

Pro 21:26All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Pro 21:27

Pro 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

Pro 21:28

Pro 21:28A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.

Pro 21:29

Pro 21:29A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright gives thought to[fn] his ways.

Pro 21:30

Pro 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the LORD.

Pro 21:31

Pro 21:31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the LORD.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(21:4)

Or the plowing

(21:6)

Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

(21:14)

Hebrew a bribe in the bosom

(21:29)

Or establishes

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

Proverbs Chapter 21 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation New International Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras

Proverbs 21 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

ESV Footnotes

Proverbs Chapter 21 — Additional Translations:

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