Sprüche 21 | New International Reader’s Version

1 In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is like a stream of water. The LORD directs it towards all those who please him. 2 A person might think their own ways are right. But the LORD knows what they are thinking. 3 Do what is right and fair. The LORD accepts that more than sacrifices. 4 The proud eyes and hearts of sinful people are like a field not ploughed. Those things produce nothing good. 5 The plans of people who work hard succeed. You can be just as sure that those in a hurry will become poor. 6 A fortune made by people who tell lies amounts to nothing and leads to death. 7 The harmful things that evil people do will drag them away. They refuse to do what is right. 8 The path of those who are guilty is crooked. But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest. 9 It is better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. 10 Sinful people long to do evil. They don’t show their neighbours any mercy. 11 When you punish someone who makes fun of others, childish people get wise. By paying attention to wise people, the childish get knowledge. 12 The Blameless One knows where sinners live. And he destroys them. 13 Whoever refuses to listen to the cries of poor people will also cry out and not be answered. 14 A secret gift calms down anger. A hidden favour softens great anger. 15 When you do what is fair, you make godly people glad. But you terrify those who do what is evil. 16 Whoever leaves the path of understanding ends up with those who are dead. 17 Anyone who loves pleasure will become poor. Anyone who loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. 18 Evil people become the payment for setting godly people free. Those who aren’t faithful are the payment for honest people. 19 It is better to live in a desert than to live with a nagging wife who loves to argue. 20 Wise people store up the best food and olive oil. But foolish people eat up everything they have. 21 Anyone who wants to be godly and loving finds life, success and honour. 22 A wise person can attack a strong city. They can pull down the place of safety its people trust in. 23 Those who are careful about what they say keep themselves out of trouble. 24 A proud person is called a mocker. He thinks much too highly of himself. 25 Some people will die while they are still hungry. That’s because their hands refuse to work. 26 All day long they hunger for more. But godly people give without holding back. 27 God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people. He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason. 28 Witnesses who aren’t honest will die. But anyone who listens carefully will be a successful witness. 29 Sinful people try to look as if they were bold. But honest people think about how they live. 30 No wisdom, wise saying or plan can succeed against the LORD. 31 You can prepare a horse for the day of battle. But the power to win comes from the LORD.

English Standard Version

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. 3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp* of the wicked, are sin. 5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.* 7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. 8 The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. 9 It is 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 a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. 12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin. 13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. 14 A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe,* strong wrath. 15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. 16 One who wanders from the way of good sense 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 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright. 19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman. 20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. 23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. 24 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. 25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. 26 All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. 28 A 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 gives thought to* his ways. 30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. 31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Sprüche 21 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version