Old Testament · Poetry and wisdom

Proverbs chapter 21

A king’s is like a in ’s hand -- he directs it wherever he chooses.Everyone thinks their own path is right, but Yahweh what’s really in the .Doing what is matters more to Yahweh than any . and a proud heart -- the that guides the leads them nowhere good.Careful planning by the leads to abundance, but everyone who ends up with less.A fortune built on lies is a -- a for those who chase it.The violence of the corrupt , because they refuse to do what is right.The path of the is , but the conduct of the innocent is straight.Better to live in a than share a house with a woman.The corrupt doing harm -- they show no mercy, not even to their .When a gets punished, the learn wisdom; when a wise person is taught, they gain knowledge. watches over the house of the corrupt and brings them down to .Whoever shuts their ears to the of the will themselves cry out and not be answered.A calms anger, and a hidden soothes intense fury.When is done, it brings joy to the upright and to those who do wrong.Whoever wanders from the path of will end up among .Whoever loves will end up poor; whoever loves wine and will never get rich.The corrupt become a for the upright, and the take the place of the honest.Better to live in the than with a quarrelsome and woman.A person’s home has fine food and oil stored up, but a everything they have.Whoever pursues what is and will find , justice, and honor.A person can scale a city defended by warriors and topple the they trust in.Whoever their mouth and tongue keeps themselves out of .The proud and arrogant -- ‘’ is their name -- act with .The of the will kill them, because their hands refuse to work.All day long the lazy crave and crave, but the give .The of the corrupt is already -- how much worse when they bring it with .A will be destroyed, but the person who actually listens will speak .A corrupt person puts on a , but the upright about how they live.No , no , no can stand against .The is prepared for the day of battle, but belongs to .