Proverbs 21

1 The king’s [ruler’s, monarch’s] heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] is a waterway [like a stream, river] in the hand [power, direction] of the LORD [Yehovah, the divine Sovereign]; He directs [turns, guides] it where [whithersoever, wherever] He pleases [delights, is willing]. word study 2 All [every, each] a man’s [human, individual] ways [path, journey, manner of life] seem [appear, are considered] right [just, straight, convenient] to him [in his own estimation], but the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] weighs [measures, evaluates, pondereth] the heart [center of emotions, thoughts, and intentions]. word study 3 To do [practice, uphold] righteousness [moral virtue, justice] and justice [fairness, judgment] is more desirable [pleasing, acceptable] to the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] than [in comparison to] sacrifice [an offering, a gift to God]. word study 4 Haughty [lofty, proud] eyes and a proud [broad, arrogant] heart— the guides [lamp, light] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty]—are sin [guilt, punishment for sin]. word study 5 The plans [thoughts, purposes] of the diligent [industrious, hardworking] bring [tend to, lead to] plenty [plenteousness, abundance], as surely [certainly] as haste [hastening, urgency] leads to poverty [want, need]. word study 6 Making a fortune [getting treasures, acquiring wealth] by a lying [deceptive, false] tongue [language, speech] is a vanishing mist [fleeting vapor, ephemeral breath], a deadly [leading to death, fatal] pursuit [chase, quest]. word study 7 The violence [destruction, spoil] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] will sweep them away because they refuse [say no, reject] to do what is just [justice, righteousness]. word study 8 The way [road or path, manner of life] of a guilty [laden with guilt, burdened by sin] man [male person, individual] is crooked [froward, perverse], but the conduct [work, behavior] of the innocent [pure, clean] is upright [straight, just]. word study 9 Better [more desirable, preferable] to live [dwell, reside] on a corner [pinnacle, angle] of the roof [housetop, upper room] than to share [cohabitate, live together] a house [dwelling place, home] with a quarrelsome [contentious, brawling] wife [woman, female companion] [having a contentious spirit, prone to strife]. word study 10 The soul [living being, essence of a person] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] man craves [strongly desires, longs for] evil [bad, moral harm]; his neighbor [close friend, companion] finds no favor [graciousness, kindness] in his eyes [source of perception, understanding]. word study 11 When a [scoffer, scorner, one who mocks] mocker is punished [fined, disciplined], the [naive, easily influenced] simple gain [acquire, receive] wisdom [good judgment, intelligence]; and when a [prudent, skilled] wise man is instructed [educated, taught], he acquires [receives, takes] knowledge [understanding, insight]. word study 12 The Righteous One [having God’s nature, being just] considers [looks carefully at, observes wisely] the house [dwelling place, family home] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] and brings [overthrows, causes to fall] the wicked [those who are evil, sinful] to ruin [destruction, disaster, utter defeat]. word study 13 Whoever shuts [stops, closes] his ears [ability to hear, listen] to the cry [outcry, shriek] of the poor [needy, weak, destitute], he [the same person] too [also, even] shall cry out [call for help, shout] and receive [get, obtain] no [not any] answer [response, reply]. word study 14 A gift [present, offering] in secret [hidden, concealed] soothes [pacifies, calms] anger [strong displeasure], and a covert [hidden, secret] bribe [reward, gift] pacifies [subdues, calms] great [strong, fierce] wrath [intense anger, rage]. word study 15 Justice [judgment, righteous judgment] executed [done, carried out] is a joy [gladness, celebration] to the righteous [just, upright], but a terror [ruin, destruction] to the workers [those who do, practitioners] of iniquity [evil, wickedness]. word study 16 The man [a human being] who strays [to go astray] from the path [way, manner of life] of understanding [being prudent] will rest [to settle down] in the assembly [congregation, group] of the dead [shade, spirits of the dead]. word study 17 He who loves [is deeply affectionate towards] pleasure [joy, gladness, or festivities] will become poor [be in need, lacking resources]; the one who loves [has a strong affection for] wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage] and oil [olive oil] will never be rich [enriched, prosperous, or wealthy]. word study 18 The wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] become a ransom [a redemption price, to cover or atone for] for the righteous [just, upright in character], and the faithless [deceitful, unfaithful] for the upright [straight, doing what is right]. word study 19 Better [more pleasant, advantageous] to live [to dwell, reside] in the desert [wilderness, a land uninhabited] than with a contentious [quarrelsome] and ill-tempered [angry, vexed] wife [woman, female companion]. word study 20 Precious treasures [a store of great value, pleasant treasure] and oil [olive oil] are in the dwelling [a pleasant place, home] of the wise [intelligent, skilled, prudent], but a foolish man [stupid, silly, rejecting God] consumes [swallows up, spends, wastes] them. word study 21 He who pursues [chases after, follows] righteousness [justice, virtue, morality] and loving devotion [kindness, mercy, pity] finds [discovers, attains] life [physical and spiritual existence], righteousness [justice, virtue, morality], and honor [glory, great respect]. word study 22 A wise [skilled, intelligent, cunning] man scales [goes up into, overcomes] the city [town, place of refuge] of the mighty [strong warriors, champions] and pulls down [brings down, casts down] the stronghold [fortress, place of trust] in which [where, from which] they trust [have confidence, feel secure]. word study 23 He who [carefully watches over] guards his mouth [lip, the edge of something] and tongue [the instrument of speech] keeps [protects, attends to] his soul [the essence of a person, living being] from [troubles, vexation] distress [dearth, a state of suffering]. word study 24 Mocker [proud and haughty scorner] is the name [identity, character] of the proud [lifted up in soul] and arrogant [insolent] man— of him who acts [works, dealeth] with excessive [inconsiderate, arrogant] pride [arrogance, wrath]. word study 25 The craving [desire, longing] of the slacker [slothful, lazy] kills him because his hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] refuse [say no, reject] to work [to make, do something, labor]. word study 26 All [the entire, every moment of] day long he covets [greedily, with strong desire] more, but the righteous [just, upright, having God’s nature] give [freely, generously] without [completely, utterly] restraint [holding back, sparing]. word study 27 The sacrifice [offering to God] of the wicked [morally wrong] is detestable [abomination]— how much more so when brought [offered, yevi] with ill intent [wicked mind]! word study 28 A [false, deceitful] lying witness [one who testifies] will [ultimately, completely] perish [be destroyed, lost], but the man [a male person] who listens [attentively, with obedience] to truth [reliable, faithful words] will speak [declare, proclaim] forever [for perpetuity, eternally]. word study 29 A wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] man hardens [makes firm, strengthens] his face [presence, being], but the upright [straight, just] man makes [establishes, directs] his way [path, manner of life] sure [secure, certain]. word study 30 There is no [absolute, divine] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment], no [complete, spiritual] understanding [insight, intelligence, or discernment], no [wise, thoughtful] counsel [advice, plan, or purpose] that can prevail [stand, succeed, or overcome] against [before, in the presence of] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 31 A horse [swallow, chariot horse] is prepared [to establish, set up] for the day [a literal or figurative space of time] of battle [war, conflict], but victory [deliverance, salvation] is of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study