Provérbios 21

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;

he *[Ezra 6:22]turns it wherever he will.

2 *ch. 16:2;[ch. 12:15] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

but the Lord*ch. 24:12;[Luke 16:15;1 Cor. 4:4]; See 1 Sam. 16:7weighs the heart.

3 *See ch. 15:8;1 Sam. 15:22To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 *See ch. 6:17;Ps. 101:5Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

*1 Kgs. 11:36the lamp*21:4 Or the plowing of the wicked, are sin.

5 The plans of *ch. 10:4the diligent lead surely to abundance,

but everyone who is *[ch. 19:2] hasty comes *[ch. 11:24;14:23;22:16]only to poverty.

6 *ch. 20:21;See ch. 10:2The getting of treasures by a lying tongue

is a *[ch. 13:11] fleeting *Job 13:25vapor and a *[ch. 8:36]snare of death.*21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

7 The violence of the wicked will *[Jer. 30:23]sweep them away,

because they refuse to do what is just.

8 The way of the guilty *[ch. 2:15]is crooked,

but the conduct of the pure is upright.

9 It is *ch. 25:24;[ver. 19;ch. 19:13;27:15]better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;

his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

11 When *ch. 19:25;See Ps. 1:1a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;

when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

12 The Righteous One *Ps. 37:35,36observes the house of the wicked;

he throws the wicked down to ruin.

13 *[James 2:13]; See Matt. 18:30-34Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

will himself call out and not be answered.

14 *[ch. 17:8;18:16]A gift in secret averts anger,

and a concealed bribe,*21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom strong wrath.

15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous

*[ch. 10:29]but terror to evildoers.

16 One who wanders from the way of good sense

*[Ps. 49:14]will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;

he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 *[ch. 11:8] The wicked is a *Isa. 43:3ransom for the righteous,

and the traitor for the upright.

19 It is *[ver. 9]better to live in a desert land

than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

20 *[Ps. 112:3] Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,

but a foolish man *[Job 20:15,18]devours it.

21 Whoever *ch. 15:9;Matt. 5:6;[ch. 3:3] pursues righteousness and kindness

will find *ch. 3:16;1 Kgs. 3:11;Matt. 6:33;See ch. 4:22life, righteousness, and honor.

22 *[ch. 24:5;Eccles. 7:19]; See 2 Sam. 5:6-9; Eccles. 9:14-18A wise man scales the city of the mighty

and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 *See ch. 13:3Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue

*ch. 22:5keeps himself out of *ch. 12:13trouble.

24 *ch. 1:22;See Ps. 1:1"Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man

who acts with arrogant pride.

25 The desire of *[ch. 13:4]the sluggard kills him,

for his hands refuse to labor.

26 All day long he craves and craves,

but the righteous *See Ps. 37:26gives and does not hold back.

27 *Isa. 66:3;See ch. 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more *[ch. 24:9]when he brings it with evil intent.

28 *ch. 19:5,9A false witness will perish,

but the word of a man who hears will endure.

29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,

but the upright *Ps. 119:5gives thought to*21:29 Or establishes his ways.

30 *Isa. 8:9,10;1 Cor. 3:19,20;[ch. 19:21]No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel

can avail against the Lord.

31 *[Ps. 20:7;33:17;Isa. 31:1] The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but *Jer. 3:23the victory belongs to the Lord.