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21:1  The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills.
21:2  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts.
21:3  To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
21:4  Haughtiness of eyes and a proud heart, even the tillage of the wicked or the lamp [of joy] to them [whatever it may be], are sin [in the eyes of God].
21:5  The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want.
21:6  Securing treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to and fro; those who seek them seek death.
21:7  The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, because they refuse to do justice.
21:8  The way of the guilty is exceedingly crooked, but as for the pure, his work is right and his conduct is straight.
21:9  It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop [on the flat oriental roof, exposed to all kinds of weather] than in a house shared with a nagging, quarrelsome, and faultfinding woman.
21:10  The soul or life of the wicked craves and seeks evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
21:11  When the scoffer is punished, the fool gets a lesson in being wise; but men of [godly] Wisdom and good sense learn by being instructed.
21:12  The [uncompromisingly] righteous man considers well the house of the wicked—how the wicked are cast down to ruin.
21:13  Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will cry out himself and not be heard.
21:14  A gift in secret pacifies and turns away anger, and a bribe in the lap, strong wrath.
21:15  When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God), but to the evildoers it is dismay, calamity, and ruin.
21:16  A man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall abide in the congregation of the spirits (of the dead).
21:17  He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
21:18  The wicked become a ransom for the [uncompromisingly] righteous, and the treacherous for the upright [because the wicked themselves fall into the traps and pits they have dug for the good].
21:19  It is better to dwell in a desert land than with a contentious woman and with vexation.
21:20  There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a self-confident and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.
21:21  He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor.
21:22  A wise man scales the city walls of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
21:23  He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles.
21:24  The proud and haughty man—Scoffer is his name—deals and acts with overbearing pride.
21:25  The desire of the slothful kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
21:26  He covets greedily all the day long, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous gives and does not withhold.
21:27  The sacrifice of the wicked is exceedingly disgusting and abhorrent [to the Lord]—how much more when he brings it with evil intention?
21:28  A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears attentively will endure and go unchallenged.
21:29  A wicked man puts on the bold, unfeeling face [of guilt], but as for the upright, he considers, directs, and establishes his way [with the confidence of integrity].
21:30  There is no [human] wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.
21:31  The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory are of the Lord.