Proverbs 21 (New International Version)

1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.¹ 2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.² 3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.³ 4 Haughty eyes⁴ and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin! 5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit⁵ as surely as haste leads to poverty. 6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.^a6 7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,⁷ for they refuse to do what is right. 8 The way of the guilty is devious,⁸ but the conduct of the innocent is upright. 9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.⁹ 10 The wicked man craves evil; his neighbor gets no mercy from him. 11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.¹⁰ 12 The Righteous One^b takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.¹¹ 13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out¹² and not be answered.¹³ 14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.¹⁴ 15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.¹⁵ 16 A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead.¹⁶ 17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.¹⁷ 18 The wicked become a ransom¹⁸ for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. 19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.¹⁹ 20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. 21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity^c20 and honor.²¹ 22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty²² and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. 23 He who guards his mouth²³ and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.²⁴ 24 The proud and arrogant²⁵ man--"Mocker" is his name; he behaves with overweening pride. 25 The sluggard's craving will be the death of him,²⁶ because his hands refuse to work. 26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous²⁷ give without sparing.²⁸ 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable²⁹-- how much more so when brought with evil intent!³⁰ 28 A false witness³¹ will perish,³² and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.^d 29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways.³³ 30 There is no wisdom,³⁴ no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.³⁵ 31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.³⁶