Proverbs 21:10-30

10 The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
12 The Righteous One[a] takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity[b] 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.
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with evil intent!
28 A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.
29 The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

Proverbs 21:10-30 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.

Cross References 26

  • 1. S Proverbs 19:25
  • 2. S Proverbs 14:11
  • 3. S Exodus 11:6
  • 4. S Job 29:12; Matthew 18:30-34; James 2:13
  • 5. S Genesis 32:20; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6
  • 6. S Proverbs 10:29
  • 7. Psalms 49:14; Ezekiel 18:24
  • 8. Pr 23:20-21,29-35
  • 9. Proverbs 11:8; Isaiah 43:3
  • 10. S ver 9
  • 11. Psalms 25:13
  • 12. Matthew 5:6
  • 13. S Proverbs 8:14; Ecclesiastes 9:15-16
  • 14. S Psalms 34:13; James 3:2
  • 15. S Proverbs 10:19; Proverbs 12:13; S Proverbs 13:3
  • 16. Jeremiah 43:2; Psalms 1:1; Proverbs 1:22; Isaiah 16:6; Jeremiah 48:29
  • 17. Proverbs 13:4
  • 18. S 2 Samuel 17:27
  • 19. S Leviticus 25:35; Psalms 37:26; Matthew 5:42; Ephesians 4:28
  • 20. S 1 Kings 14:24; Isaiah 66:3; Jeremiah 6:20; Amos 5:22
  • 21. S Proverbs 15:8
  • 22. Isaiah 29:21
  • 23. S Proverbs 19:5
  • 24. S Proverbs 14:8
  • 25. S Job 12:13; S Job 15:25; Jeremiah 9:23
  • 26. S 2 Chronicles 13:12; S Job 5:13; Isaiah 8:10; Acts 5:39

Footnotes 2

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