Proverbs 21:3-13

3 Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.^[a]

4 The lamp^[b] that guides the wicked- haughty eyes and an arrogant heart^[c]-is sin.

5 The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless only becomes poor.^[d]

6 Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist,^[e] a pursuit of death.^{[f] [g]}

7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly.

8 A guilty man's conduct is crooked, but the behavior of the innocent is upright.^[h]

9 Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.^[i]

10 A wicked person desires evil; he has no consideration^[j] for his neighbor.

11 When a mocker is punished, the inexperienced become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires knowledge.^[k]

12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; He brings the wicked to ruin.

13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered.^[l]

Proverbs 21:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 9

This chapter relates a second vision Solomon had at Gibeon, in which he received an answer to his prayer in the preceding chapter, 1Ki 9:1-9 that passed between him and Hiram king of Tyre, 1Ki 9:10-14, the places that Solomon built or repaired, 1Ki 9:15-19, the Canaanitish people that became bondmen to him, and the officers he had among the children of Israel, 1Ki 9:20-23 the removal of Pharaoh's daughter to the house built for her, 1Ki 9:24. Solomon's attention to religious services, 1Ki 9:25 and the navy of ships he employed, which brought him in great riches, 1Ki 9:26-28.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 15:22; Hs 6:6; Mt 9:13
• [b]. Some Hb mss, ancient versions read tillage
• [c]. Pr 6:16-17; 30:13; Ps 101:5
• [d]. Pr 10:4; 14:23; 21:20
• [e]. Or a breath blown away
• [f]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death
• [g]. Lit is vanity, ones seeking death
• [h]. Pr 20:11
• [i]. Pr 15:16-17; 17:1; 21:19; 25:24
• [j]. Or favor
• [k]. Pr 19:25
• [l]. Pr 14:31; 17:5; 19:17