Proverbs 21
1In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.
that he channels toward all who please him.
2 A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.
for they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.
and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered.
will also cry out and not be answered.
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.
but terror to evildoers.
16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.
comes to rest in the company of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
and the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
but fools gulp theirs down.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.
finds life, prosperity and honor.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
keep themselves from calamity.
keep themselves from calamity.
24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.
behaves with insolent fury.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!
how much more so when brought with evil intent!
28 A false witness will perish,
but a careful listener will testify successfully.
but a careful listener will testify successfully.
29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.
but the upright give thought to their ways.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.
that can succeed against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.
but victory rests with the Lord.
Observation Questions
Who holds the heart of the king? (verse 1)
Does the Lord weigh the heart? (verse 1)
What is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice? (verse 3)
What produces sin in verse 4?
What leads to profit according to verse 5?
What is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare according to verse 6?
Why does the violence of the wicked drag them away? (verse 7)
Is the conduct of the innocent upright? (verse 8)
Is it better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife? (verse 9)
What do the wicked crave? (verse 10)
How do the simple gain knowledge according to verse 11?
What will happen to one who loves pleasure? (verse 17)
Will someone who loves whine and olive oil ever be rich? (verse 17)
Is it better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife? (verse 19)
What does a wise person do with choice food and olive oil? (verse 20)
What does someone who pursues righteousness and love find? (verse 21)
Who keeps themselves from calamity in verse 23?
Do the righteous give without sparing? (verse 26)
Is the sacrifice of the wicked detestable? (verse 27)
Who will testify successfully? (verse 28)
Do the upright give thought to their ways? (verse 29)
Is there any wisdom, insight or plan that can succeed against the Lord? (verse 30)
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