New International Version NIV
Lexham English Bible LEB
1 In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
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Streams of water [are] the heart of a king in the hand of Yahweh; {wherever} he will desire, he will turn.
2 A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.
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Every way of a man is upright in his [own] eyes, but Yahweh weighs hearts.
3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
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Doing righteousness and justice is [more] acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
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Haughtiness of [the] eyes and pride of heart, [the] lamp of the wicked [are] sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
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The plans of the diligent only [lead] to abundance, but all who are hasty, only to want.
6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
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He who makes treasure by a lying tongue [is a] fleeting vapor [and] seeker of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
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The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, for they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
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Crooked is the way of a man and a foreigner, but the pure [is] upright [in] his conduct.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
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Better to dwell on the corner of a roof than [to] share a house with a woman of contention.
10 The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
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The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor will not find mercy in his eyes.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
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With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise, and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.
12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
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The righteous observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
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He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor, he also will cry out and not be heard.
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
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A gift in secret will avert {anger}, and a {concealed bribe}, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
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[It is] a joy to the righteous to do justice, but dismay to those who do evil.
16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
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Whoever wanders from the way of understanding, in the assembly of the dead he will rest.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
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A man of want [is] he who loves pleasure; he who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
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A ransom for the righteous is the wicked, and [the] faithless instead of the upright.
19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
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Better to live in a land of wilderness than [with] a wife of quarrels and provocation.
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
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Precious treasure and oil [are] in the house of the wise, but the foolish person will devour them.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
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He who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
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To a city of warriors, the wise ascends, and he will bring down the stronghold--its object of trust.
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
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He who guards his mouth and his tongue, he guards his life from danger.
24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury.
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The proud, haughty one: "scoffer" [is] his name; he acts with arrogance of pride.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
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The craving of a lazy person will kill him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
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{All day} he craves a craving, but the righteous will give and not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with evil intent!
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The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination; how much more when he brings it in divisiveness!
28 A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.
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A false witness will perish, but a man who listens will testify with success.
29 The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.
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A wicked man is strong in {his countenance}, but the upright will appoint his paths.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
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There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel to oppose Yahweh.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
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A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but to Yahweh [belongs] the victory.