Proverbs 21:1-31 (NIV)
Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just 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 to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. [a]
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, 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.
10 The wicked man craves evil; his neighbor gets no mercy from him.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
12 The Righteous One [b] takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, 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.
16 A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.
20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity [c] and honor.
22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
24 The proud and arrogant man-"Mocker" is his name; he behaves with overweening pride.
25 The sluggard's craving 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.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with evil intent!
28 A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever. [d]
29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
Footnotes:
1. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
2. Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous man
3. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
4. Proverbs 21:28 Or / but the words of an obedient man will live on
7 examples of Kings obeying God:
1. David (1 Samuel 13:14)
2. Solomon (1 Kings 3:9-12)
3. Ahasuerus (Esther 6; Nehemiah 2)
4. Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 29:18; Daniel 4)
5. Cyrus (Ezra 1:1; Isaiah 44:28; 45:1)
6. Darius (Ezra 6:22)
7. Augustus (Luke 2:1-7)
4 examples of being more acceptable:
1. Saul (! Samuel 13:10-13; 15:22)
2. Israel (Jeremiah 7:22-23; Amos 5:21-24)
3. Judah (Isaiah 1:11-17)
4. Pharisees (Matthew 9:13)
3 common sinful things:
1. A high look (Proverbs 6:17; Psalm 101:5)
2. A proud heart (Psalm 101:5)
3. Tilling (works) of the wicked
3 blessings of righteousness and mercy:
1. Eternal life (Proverbs 21:21; Romans 2:7-8)
2. Righteousness (Proverbs 21:21; Romans 3:24 - 4:25)
3. Honor (Proverbs 21:21; John 12:26)
2 examples of casting down confidence:
1. Joshua (Joshua 6:3-21; 8:4-8)
2. A wise woman (2 Samuel 20:16-22)
6 common classes:
1. The infidel or scoffer (Proverbs 21:24; . He is arrogant, proud, haughty and conceited
2. The slothful (Proverbs 21:25; Proverbs 19:24. He desires to eat, drink, and be clothed, but he refuses to work. He covets greedily all day long. Hence, he lives and dies with his desires unsatisfied, envying those who possess plenty through hard labor.
3. The righteous (Proverbs 21:26). He gives and does not hold back from doing good.
4. The wicked (Proverbs 21:27, 29). His sacrifice is an abomination to God; how much more is it abominable for him to offer to God with evil intent (Psalm 26:10; 119:150).
5. The liar (Proverbs 21:28)
6. The upright (Proverbs 21:28-29)
5 examples of false witnesses perishing:
1. Pashur (Heremiah 20:4-6)
2. Hananiah (Jeremiah 28:1-17)
3. False prophets (Jeremiah 29:21)
4. Shemaiah (Jeremiah 29;31-32)
5. Amaziah (Amos 7:10-17)
5 examples of no human wisdom, or counsel standing in opposition to God:
1. Pharaoh (Exodus 1:10; 7:1 - 12:51)
2. Balak (Numbers 24:10)
3. Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:9-17)
4. Sennacherib (2 Chronicles 32:21; Isaiah 30:31)
5. Haman (Esther 5:11-13; 7:10)
