Proverbs 21:1-9

1 Streams of water [are] the heart of a king in the hand of Yahweh; {wherever} he will desire, he will turn.

2 Every way of a man is upright in his [own] eyes, but Yahweh weighs hearts.

3 Doing righteousness and justice is [more] acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

4 Haughtiness of [the] eyes and pride of heart, [the] lamp of the wicked [are] sin.

5 The plans of the diligent only [lead] to abundance, but all who are hasty, only to want.

6 He who makes treasure by a lying tongue [is a] fleeting vapor [and] seeker of death.

7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, for they refuse to do justice.

8 Crooked is the way of a man and a foreigner, but the pure [is] upright [in] his conduct.

9 Better to dwell on the corner of a roof than [to] share a house with a woman of contention.

Proverbs 21:1-9 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]. Or "mind"
• [b]. Literally "upon all that"
• [c]. Or "minds"
• [d]. Hebrew "seekers"
• [e]. Or "wife"