Proverb 21

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

The king whose heart is lead by God will be guided by God.

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

People believe they know what to do without God, we do not know what to do without God.

We cannot judge ourselves.

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

It is better to obey than to give an offering.

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

Looking down on people is sin and the work of the wicked hand is all sin.

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

Hard work yields plenty but doing things too quickly leads to poverty.

6 6.  Getting treasures by a lying tongue
[c]Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

Falsifying information to get wealth is seeking the death penalty.

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

Violent people will be destroyed because they do not listen to God's Word.

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

A man who is wrong does nothing right.  But a man who chooses God's way does a good job.

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

Living with a woman who does not obey God's Word is not good.  Living in the elements of the air on the top of the house, in a corner, is better than living inside the house with an argumentive woman.

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

No one wants to deal with an evil person.

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

Don't let people get by with doing wrong, even if they have great influence.  People are watching to see if you deal justly.  To instruct a wise man, he will become wiser.

12 12.  The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked, but God overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

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

Ignore the poor, you will be ignored.

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

Giving a gift to a mad person, makes him calm down, paying off a person to stop a fight stops big fights.

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

Treat people justly.  If you choose to do wrong you will be destroyed.

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

Leave God's Word and die.

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

Too many fun times are expensive.

Eating and drinking too much will cause you to be broke.

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

Ungodly people will pay for what was done wrong to the righteous.

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

It is better to live alone than to live with an angry woman.

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

Wise people have nice things and foolish people spend money wastefully.

21 21.  He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

The path of doing right leads to the good life and you will be honored because of your godly choices.

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

A wise man checks everything out before taking down his enemy.

23 23.  Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.

Watch your mouth and save yourself some trouble.

24 24.  Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

A man who will not let God's Word penetrate him is not a good man.

25 25.  The desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.

A lazy man will die for refusing to work.

26 26.  He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous gives and does not spare.

Some people beg all day long, some people give and they also do not hold back.

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

A wicked person will give with ill intent.

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

A person who does not tell the truth will come to an end.  There is no end to those who are honest.

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

A wicked man is tough, but a man who does right does things right.

30 30.  There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.

No one can give God advice.

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

Preparation must be made by men, but the Lord will be the Victor.