21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He ^(A)turns it wherever He pleases.
^2 (B)Every person’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord ^(C)examines the hearts.
³ To do ^(D)righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The ^(E)lamp of the wicked, is sin.
⁵ The plans of the ^(F)diligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone ^(G)who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
⁶ The ^(H)acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the ^[a]pursuit of ^(I)death.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they ^(J)refuse to act with justice.
⁸ The way of a guilty person is ^(K)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
⁹ It is better to live on a corner of a roof
Than ^[b]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His ^(L)neighbor is shown no compassion in his eyes.
¹¹ When the ^(M)scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
¹² The ^[c]righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Bringing the ^(N)wicked to ruin.
¹³ One who ^(O)shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will also call out himself, and not be ^(P)answered.
¹⁴ A ^(Q)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe ^[d]in an inside pocket, strong wrath.
¹⁵ The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But ^(R)terror to those who practice injustice.
¹⁶ A person who wanders from the way of understanding
Will ^(S)rest in the assembly of the ^[e]dead.
¹⁷ One who ^(T)loves pleasure will become a poor person;
One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
¹⁸ The wicked is a ^(U)ransom for the righteous,
And the ^(V)treacherous is in the place of the upright.
^19 (W)It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and irritating woman.
²⁰ There is precious ^(X)treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person ^(Y)swallows it up.
²¹ One who ^(Z)pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
²² A ^(AA)wise person scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the ^[f]stronghold in which they trust.
²³ One who ^(AB)guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
²⁴ “Proud,” “Arrogant,” “^(AC)Scoffer,” are his names,
One who acts with ^(AD)insolent pride.
²⁵ The ^(AE)desire of the ^[g]lazy one puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
²⁶ All day long he ^[h]is craving,
While the righteous ^(AF)gives and does not hold back.
²⁷ The ^(AG)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
²⁸ A ^(AH)false witness will perish,
But a person who listens will speak forever.
²⁹ A wicked person ^[i](AI)displays a bold face,
But as for the ^(AJ)upright, he makes his way sure.
³⁰ There is ^(AK)no wisdom, no understanding,
And no ^[j]plan against the Lord.
³¹ The ^(AL)horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But the ^(AM)victory belongs to the Lord.