Chapter 21

¹ As a rush of water, so is the king’s heart in God’s hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out. ² Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts. ³ To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices. ⁴ A high-minded man is stout-hearted in his pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin. ⁶ He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity on to the snares of death. ⁷ Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly. ⁸ To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right. ⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner ¹on the house-top, than in plastered rooms with unrighteousness, and in an open house. ¹⁰ The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man. ¹¹ When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge. ¹² A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.

¹³ He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear him. ¹⁴ A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath. ¹⁵ It is the joy of the righteous to do judgement: but a holy man is abominable with evil-doers. ¹⁶ A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of ²giants. ¹⁷ A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance; ¹⁸ and a transgressor is the ³abomination of a righteous man. ¹⁹ It is

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better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman. ²⁰ A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up. ²¹ The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory. ²² A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted. ²³ He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.

²⁴ A bold and self-willed and insolent man is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor. ²⁵ Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything. ²⁶ An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate. ²⁷ The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.⁴²⁸ A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously. ²⁹ An ungodly man ⁵impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways. ³⁰ There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly. ³¹ A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.