Proverbs 21:10-20

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When 1a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One 2observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 3Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
14 4A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe,[a] strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous 5but terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense 6will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 7The wicked is a 8ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is 9better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 10Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man 11devours it.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Proverbs 19:25; See Psalms 1:1
  • 2. Psalms 37:35, 36
  • 3. [James 2:13]; See Matthew 18:30-34
  • 4. [Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 18:16]
  • 5. [Proverbs 10:29]
  • 6. [Psalms 49:14]
  • 7. [Proverbs 11:8]
  • 8. Isaiah 43:3
  • 9. [ver. 9]
  • 10. [Psalms 112:3]
  • 11. [Job 20:15, 18]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Hebrew a bribe in the bosom
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.