21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,Like the rivers of water;He turns it wherever He wishes.

² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,But the Lord weighs the hearts.

³ To do righteousness and justiceIs more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴ A haughty look, a proud heart,And the plowing^[a] of the wicked are sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

⁶ Getting treasures by a lying tongueIs the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.^[b]

⁷ The violence of the wicked will destroy them,^[c]Because they refuse to do justice.

⁸ The way of a guilty man is perverse;^[d]But as for the pure, his work is right.

⁹ Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil;His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹ When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

¹² The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

¹³ Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poorWill also cry himself and not be heard.

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifies anger,And a bribe behind the back,^[e] strong wrath.

¹⁵ It is a joy for the just to do justice,But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ A man who wanders from the way of understandingWill rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷ He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,And the unfaithful for the upright.

¹⁹ Better to dwell in the wilderness,Than with a contentious and angry woman.

²⁰ There is desirable treasure,And oil in the dwelling of the wise,But a foolish man squanders it.

²¹ He who follows righteousness and mercyFinds life, righteousness, and honor.

²² A wise man scales the city of the mighty,And brings down the trusted stronghold.

²³ Whoever guards his mouth and tongueKeeps his soul from troubles.

²⁴ A proud and haughty man— “Scoffer” is his name;He acts with arrogant pride.

²⁵ The desire of the lazy man kills him,For his hands refuse to labor.²⁶ He covets greedily all day long,But the righteous gives and does not spare.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

²⁸ A false witness shall perish,But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

²⁹ A wicked man hardens his face,But as for the upright, he establishes^[f] his way.

³⁰ There is no wisdom or understandingOr counsel against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is prepared for the day of battle,But deliverance is of the Lord.