Proverbs 21 :: New International Version (NIV)

Pro 21:1

Pro 21:1In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.

Pro 21:2

Pro 21:2A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.

Pro 21:3

Pro 21:3To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Pro 21:4

Pro 21:4Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

Pro 21:5

Pro 21:5The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Pro 21:6

Pro 21:6A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[fn]

Pro 21:7

Pro 21:7The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.

Pro 21:8

Pro 21:8The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

Pro 21:9

Pro 21:9Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Pro 21:10

Pro 21:10The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.

Pro 21:11

Pro 21:11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

Pro 21:12

Pro 21:12The Righteous One[fn] takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.

Pro 21:13

Pro 21:13Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

Pro 21:14

Pro 21:14A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

Pro 21:15

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

Pro 21:16

Pro 21:16Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.

Pro 21:17

Pro 21:17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

Pro 21:18

Pro 21:18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.

Pro 21:19

Pro 21:19Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Pro 21:20

Pro 21:20The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

Pro 21:21

Pro 21:21Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity[fn] and honor.

Pro 21:22

Pro 21:22One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

Pro 21:23

Pro 21:23Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

Pro 21:24

Pro 21:24The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury.

Pro 21:25

Pro 21:25The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.

Pro 21:26

Pro 21:26All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.

Pro 21:27

Pro 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with evil intent!

Pro 21:28

Pro 21:28A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.

Pro 21:29

Pro 21:29The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.

Pro 21:30

Pro 21:30There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

Pro 21:31

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

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

NIV Footnotes

(21:6)

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

(21:12)

Or The righteous person

(21:21)

Or righteousness

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