1 The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the riuers of waters: he turneth it whithersoeuer it pleaseth him. 2 Euery way of a man is right in his owne eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. 3 To doe iustice and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice. 4 A hautie looke, and a proude heart, which is the light of the wicked, is sinne. 5 The thoughtes of the diligent doe surely bring abundance: but whosoeuer is hastie, commeth surely to pouertie. 6 The gathering of treasures by a deceitfull tongue is vanitie tossed to and from of them that seeke death. 7 The robberie of the wicked shall destroy them: for they haue refused to execute iudgement. 8 The way of some is peruerted and strange: but of the pure man, his worke is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house. 10 The soule of the wicked wisheth euill: and his neighbour hath no fauour in his eyes. 11 When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise: and when one instructeth the wise, he wil receiue knowledge. 12 The righteous teacheth the house of the wicked: but God ouerthroweth the wicked for their euill. 13 He that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore, he shall also cry and not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a gift in the bosome great wrath. 15 It is ioye to the iust to doe iudgement: but destruction shalbe to the workers of iniquitie. 16 A man that wandreth out of the way of wisdome, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead. 17 Hee that loueth pastime, shalbe a poore man: and he that loueth wine and oyle, shall not be riche. 18 The wicked shalbe a ransome for the iust, and the transgressour for the righteous. 19 It is better to dwell in the wildernesse, then with a contentious and angry woman. 20 In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and oyle: but a foolish man deuoureth it. 21 He that followeth after righteousnes and mercy, shall finde life, righteousnes, and glory. 22 A wise man goeth vp into the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof. 23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soule from afflictions. 24 Proude, hautie and scornefull is his name that worketh in his arrogancie wrath. 25 The desire of the slouthfull slayeth him: for his hands refuse to worke. 26 He coueteth euermore greedily, but the righteous giueth and spareth not. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked minde? 28 A false witnes shall perish: but hee that heareth, speaketh continually. 29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but the iust, he will direct his way. 30 There is no wisedome, neither vnderstanding, nor counsell against the Lord. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battell: but saluation is of the Lord.
Proverbs · Geneva Bible (1599)
Proverbs 21 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
Cross references (31)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Proverbs 16:9; Ezra 6:22; Proverbs 20:24; Acts 7:10; Proverbs 16:1
- 2 Proverbs 16:2; Luke 16:15; Proverbs 16:25; Jeremiah 17:10; Proverbs 30:12
- 3 1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Proverbs 15:8; Micah 6:6–8; Mark 12:33
- 4 Proverbs 6:17; 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 8:13; Isaiah 2:17; Luke 18:14
- 5 Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 10:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; Proverbs 27:23–27; Ephesians 4:28
- 6 Proverbs 13:11; Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 20:21; Jeremiah 17:11; Proverbs 8:36
- 7 Proverbs 21:21; Ephesians 5:6; Micah 3:9–12; Zechariah 5:3–4; Proverbs 22:22–23
- 8 1 John 3:3; Daniel 12:10; 1 Peter 1:22–23; Proverbs 2:15; 1 Corinthians 3:3
- 9 Proverbs 19:13; Proverbs 21:19; Proverbs 27:15–16; Proverbs 25:24; Proverbs 12:4
- 10 1 John 2:16; Micah 3:2–3; Proverbs 3:29; Mark 7:21–22; 1 Corinthians 10:6
- 11 Proverbs 19:25; Proverbs 18:15; Proverbs 9:9; Acts 5:5; Proverbs 18:1
- 12 Proverbs 14:11; Psalm 37:35–36; Psalm 107:43; 2 Peter 3:6–7; Proverbs 14:32
- 13 Proverbs 1:28; Proverbs 28:27; Matthew 6:14; James 2:13–16; Matthew 7:2
- 14 Proverbs 19:6; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 17:8; Matthew 6:3–4; 1 Samuel 25:35
- 15 Proverbs 10:29; Matthew 7:23; Isaiah 64:5; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Job 29:12–17
- 16 Hebrews 10:38; Psalm 125:5; Hebrews 10:26–27; Zephaniah 1:6; Psalm 49:14
- 17 Proverbs 23:21; 1 Timothy 5:6; 2 Timothy 3:4; Proverbs 5:10–11; Proverbs 21:20
- 18 Proverbs 11:8; Isaiah 43:3–4; Isaiah 53:4–5; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 55:8–9
- 19 Proverbs 21:9; Psalm 55:6–7; Psalm 120:5–6; Jeremiah 9:2
- 20 Matthew 25:3–4; Psalm 112:3; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Proverbs 15:6; Ecclesiastes 7:11
- 21 Matthew 5:6; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Proverbs 22:4; Proverbs 15:9; 1 Timothy 6:11
- 22 Ecclesiastes 7:19; Proverbs 24:5; Ecclesiastes 9:13–18; 2 Samuel 5:6–9; 2 Samuel 20:16–22
- 23 Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 18:21; Proverbs 17:27–28; James 1:26; Proverbs 12:13
- 24 Psalm 1:1; Ecclesiastes 7:8–9; Matthew 2:16; Proverbs 18:12; Proverbs 1:22
- 25 Proverbs 13:4; Matthew 25:26; Proverbs 19:24; Proverbs 12:24; Proverbs 26:16
- 26 Psalm 37:26; Psalm 112:9; Acts 20:33–35; Ephesians 4:28; Luke 6:30–36
- 27 Isaiah 66:3; Proverbs 15:8; Matthew 23:13; Jeremiah 6:20; Amos 5:21–22
- 28 2 Corinthians 4:13; Proverbs 19:5; Proverbs 19:9; Deuteronomy 19:16–19; Exodus 23:1
- 29 1 Thessalonians 3:11; Haggai 1:7; Proverbs 11:5; Haggai 2:18–19; Ezekiel 18:28
- 30 Acts 5:39; Proverbs 19:21; Jeremiah 9:23; Isaiah 14:27; 1 Corinthians 3:19–20
- 31 Psalm 20:7; Isaiah 31:1; Psalm 33:17–18; Psalm 147:10; Psalm 3:3
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… end, when he said, "All these are delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give them." For it is not he who has appointed the kingdoms of this world, but God; for "the heart of the king is in the hand of God." And the Word also says by Solomon, "By me kings do reign, and princes administer …
For the waters are fled from the rebuke of God; because "the heart of kings is in the hand of God, He hath bent it whither He would;" He commanded peace to be given by them to the Christians; the authority of the Apostles sprang up and towered high....The waters fled from the rebuke of God.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
Let each, as he can recall to mind what he hath heard, by mutual conversation stir up the food ye have received, ruminate on what ye have heard, let it not descend in you into the bowels of forgetfulness. Let the treasure to be desired rest upon your lips.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)