1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases. 2 Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts. 3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin. 5 The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty. 6 Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills. 7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just. 8 The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right. 9 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. 10 The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. 11 When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge. 12 The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster. 13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered. 14 A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath. 15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers. 16 The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead. 17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich. 18 A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people. 19 It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife. 20 Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up. 21 The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted. 23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble. 24 The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride. 25 The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work. 26 All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives. 28 A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time. 29 A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways. 30 There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
Proverbs · Unlocked Literal Bible
Proverbs 21 Unlocked Literal Bible
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)