Proverbs 21 – NIVUK & NIRV

New International Version – UK

Proverbs 21:1-31

1In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water

that he channels towards all who please him.

2A person may think their own ways are right,

but the Lord weighs the heart.

3To do what is right and just

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4Haughty eyes and a proud heart –

the unploughed field of the wicked – produce sin.

5The plans of the diligent lead to profit

as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6A fortune made by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapour and a deadly snare.21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapour for those who seek death

7The violence of the wicked will drag them away,

for they refuse to do what is right.

8The way of the guilty is devious,

but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

10The wicked crave evil;

their neighbours get no mercy from them.

11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

12The Righteous One21:12 Or The righteous person takes note of the house of the wicked

and brings the wicked to ruin.

13Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor

will also cry out and not be answered.

14A gift given in secret soothes anger,

and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

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

but terror to evildoers.

16Whoever strays from the path of prudence

comes to rest in the company of the dead.

17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;

whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,

and the unfaithful for the upright.

19Better to live in a desert

than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

20The wise store up choice food and olive oil,

but fools gulp theirs down.

21Whoever pursues righteousness and love

finds life, prosperity21:21 Or righteousness and honour.

22One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty

and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23Those who guard their mouths and their tongues

keep themselves from calamity.

24The proud and arrogant person – ‘Mocker’ is his name –

behaves with insolent fury.

25The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,

because his hands refuse to work.

26All day long he craves for more,

but the righteous give without sparing.

27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable –

how much more so when brought with evil intent!

28A false witness will perish,

but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29The wicked put up a bold front,

but the upright give thought to their ways.

30There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan

that can succeed against the Lord.

31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but victory rests with the Lord.

New International Reader’s Version

Proverbs 21:1-31

1In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is like a stream of water.

The Lord directs it toward all those who please him.

2A person might think their own ways are right.

But the Lord knows what they are thinking.

3Do what is right and fair.

The Lord accepts that more than sacrifices.

4The proud eyes and hearts of sinful people are like a field not plowed.

Those things produce nothing good.

5The plans of people who work hard succeed.

You can be just as sure that those in a hurry will become poor.

6A fortune made by people who tell lies

amounts to nothing and leads to death.

7The harmful things that evil people do will drag them away.

They refuse to do what is right.

8The path of those who are guilty is crooked.

But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest.

9It is better to live on a corner of a roof

than to share a house with a nagging wife.

10Sinful people long to do evil.

They don’t show their neighbors any mercy.

11When you punish someone who makes fun of others, childish people get wise.

By paying attention to wise people, the childish get knowledge.

12The Blameless One knows where sinners live.

And he destroys them.

13Whoever refuses to listen to the cries of poor people

will also cry out and not be answered.

14A secret gift calms down anger.

A hidden favor softens great anger.

15When you do what is fair, you make godly people glad.

But you terrify those who do what is evil.

16Whoever leaves the path of understanding

ends up with those who are dead.

17Anyone who loves pleasure will become poor.

Anyone who loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

18Evil people become the payment for setting godly people free.

Those who aren’t faithful are the payment for honest people.

19It is better to live in a desert

than to live with a nagging wife who loves to argue.

20Wise people store up the best food and olive oil.

But foolish people eat up everything they have.

21Anyone who wants to be godly and loving

finds life, success and honor.

22A wise person can attack a strong city.

They can pull down the place of safety its people trust in.

23Those who are careful about what they say

keep themselves out of trouble.

24A proud person is called a mocker.

He thinks much too highly of himself.

25Some people will die while they are still hungry.

That’s because their hands refuse to work.

26All day long they hunger for more.

But godly people give without holding back.

27God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people.

He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason.

28Witnesses who aren’t honest will die.

But anyone who listens carefully will be a successful witness.

29Sinful people try to look as if they were bold.

But honest people think about how they live.

30No wisdom, wise saying or plan

can succeed against the Lord.

31You can prepare a horse for the day of battle.

But the power to win comes from the Lord.