Proverbs 21 Clementine Vulgate
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 [Sicut divisiones aquarum, ita cor regis in manu Domini: quocumque voluerit, inclinabit illud.
1 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
2 Omnis via viri recta sibi videtur: appendit autem corda Dominus.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
3 Facere misericordiam et judicium magis placet Domino quam victimæ.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Exaltatio oculorum est dilatatio cordis; lucerna impiorum peccatum.
4 A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Cogitationes robusti semper in abundantia; omnis autem piger semper in egestate est.]
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 [Qui congregat thesauros lingua mendacii vanus et excors est, et impingetur ad laqueos mortis.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
7 Rapinæ impiorum detrahent eos, quia noluerunt facere judicium.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Perversa via viri aliena est; qui autem mundus est, rectum opus ejus.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 Anima impii desiderat malum: non miserebitur proximo suo.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 Mulctato pestilente, sapientior erit parvulus, et si sectetur sapientem, sumet scientiam.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 Excogitat justus de domo impii, ut detrahat impios a malo.]
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 [Qui obturat aurem suam ad clamorem pauperis, et ipse clamabit, et non exaudietur.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 Munus absconditum extinguit iras, et donum in sinu indignationem maximam.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 Gaudium justo est facere judicium, et pavor operantibus iniquitatem.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 Vir qui erraverit a via doctrinæ in cœtu gigantum commorabitur.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 Qui diligit epulas in egestate erit; qui amat vinum et pinguia non ditabitur.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
18 Pro justo datur impius, et pro rectis iniquus.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
19 Melius est habitare in terra deserta quam cum muliere rixosa et iracunda.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Thesaurus desiderabilis, et oleum in habitaculo justi: et imprudens homo dissipabit illud.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 Qui sequitur justitiam et misericordiam inveniet vitam, justitiam, et gloriam.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Civitatem fortium ascendit sapiens, et destruxit robur fiduciæ ejus.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Qui custodit os suum et linguam suam custodit ab angustiis animam suam.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Superbus et arrogans vocatur indoctus, qui in ira operatur superbiam.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 Desideria occidunt pigrum: noluerunt enim quidquam manus ejus operari.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
26 Tota die concupiscit et desiderat; qui autem justus est, tribuet, et non cessabit.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
27 Hostiæ impiorum abominabiles, quia offeruntur ex scelere.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 Testis mendax peribit; vir obediens loquetur victoriam.
28 A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 Vir impius procaciter obfirmat vultum suum; qui autem rectus est corrigit viam suam.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 Non est sapientia, non est prudentia, non est consilium contra Dominum.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
31 Equus paratur ad diem belli; Dominus autem salutem tribuit.]
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)