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

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