1 The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, || He inclines it wherever He pleases. 2 Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, || And YHWH is pondering hearts. 3 To do righteousness and judgment, || Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice. 4 Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, || Tillage of the wicked [is] sin. 5 The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, || And of every hasty one, only to want. 6 The making of treasures by a lying tongue, || [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death. 7 The spoil of the wicked catches them, || Because they have refused to do judgment. 8 The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, || And the pure—his work [is] upright. 9 Better to sit on a corner of the roof, || Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company. 10 The soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious in his eyes. 11 When the scorner is punished, the simple becomes wise, || And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge. 12 The Righteous One is acting wisely || Toward the house of the wicked, || He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness. 13 Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, || He also cries, and is not answered. 14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, || And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury. 15 To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, || But ruin to workers of iniquity. 16 A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, || Rests in an assembly of Rephaim. 17 Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, || Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth. 18 The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, || And the treacherous dealer for the upright. 19 Better to dwell in a wilderness land, || Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger. 20 A treasure to be desired, and oil, || [Is] in the habitation of the wise, || And a foolish man swallows it up. 21 Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, || Finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22 The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, || And brings down the strength of its confidence. 23 Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, || Is keeping his soul from adversities. 24 Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, || Who is working in the wrath of pride. 25 The desire of the slothful slays him, || For his hands have refused to work. 26 All the day desiring he has desired, || And the righteous gives and does not withhold. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, || Much more when he brings it in wickedness. 28 A false witness perishes, || And an attentive man speaks forever. 29 A wicked man has hardened by his face, || And the upright—he prepares his way. 30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, || Nor counsel against YHWH. 31 A horse is prepared for a day of battle, || And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!
Proverbs · Literal Standard Version
Proverbs 21 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)