Proverbs 21

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¹The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.

²People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.

³Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.

⁴Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.

⁵Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.

⁶Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.

⁷The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.

⁸Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.

⁹It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.

¹⁰Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.

¹¹When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.

¹²The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.

¹³If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.

¹⁴A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.

¹⁵When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.

¹⁶Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.

¹⁷If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.

¹⁸The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.

¹⁹It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.

²⁰The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.

²¹If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.

²²The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.

²³If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.

²⁴A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.

²⁵Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.

²⁶Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.

²⁷The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.

²⁸The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.

²⁹The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.

³⁰Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.

³¹You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.