Proverbs 21 JPS Tanakh (1917)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Numbers like (22-2) in the text give the Hebrew verse numbering where it differs.
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever He will.
1 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the hearts.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 A haughty look, and a proud heart — the tillage of the wicked is sin.
4 A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapour driven to and fro; they that seek them seek death.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked shall drag them away; because they refuse to do justly.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of man is froward and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil; his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considereth the house of the wicked; overthrowing the wicked to their ruin.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be answered.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a present in the bosom strong wrath.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 To do justly is joy to the righteous, but ruin to the workers of iniquity.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that strayeth out of the way of understanding shall rest in the congregation of the shades.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; and the faithless cometh in the stead of the upright.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, prosperity, and honour.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the stronghold wherein it trusteth.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 A proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, even he that dealeth in overbearing pride.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more, when he bringeth it with the proceeds of wickedness?
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 A false witness shall perish; but the man that obeyeth shall speak unchallenged.
28 A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he looketh well to his way.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but victory is of the LORD.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with Yahweh.
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)