Proverbs Chapter 21 | KJV & Biblical Hebrew

1

פַּלְגֵי מַ֣יִם לֶב מֶ֣לֶךְ בְּיַד יְ֭הוָה עַל כָּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַחְפֹּ֥ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃

KJVThe king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

2

כָּל דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְ֝תֹכֵ֗ן לִבּ֥וֹת יְהוָֽה׃

KJVEvery way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

3

עֲשֹׂ֣ה צְ֭דָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֥ר לַ֝יהוָ֗ה מִזָּֽבַח׃

KJVTo do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4

רוּם עֵינַ֣יִם וּרְחַב לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

KJVAn high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

5

מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ לְמוֹתָ֑ר וְכָל אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃

KJVThe thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

6

פֹּ֣עַל א֭וֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃

KJVThe getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

7

שֹׁ֣ד רְ֭שָׁעִים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

KJVThe robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just.

8

הֲפַכְפַּ֣ךְ דֶּ֭רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃

KJVThe way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.

9

ט֣וֹב לָ֭שֶׁבֶת עַל פִּנַּת גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃

KJVIt is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

10

נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה רָ֑ע לֹ֥א יֻחַ֥ן בְּ֝עֵינָ֗יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

KJVThe soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

11

בַּעְנָשׁ לֵ֭ץ יֶחְכַּם פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח דָּֽעַת׃

KJVWhen the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

12

מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֥ף רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים לָרָֽע׃

KJVThe righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin.

13

אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת דָּ֑ל גַּם ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃

KJVWhoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

14

מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃

KJVA gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.

15

שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

KJVIt is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

16

אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּ֝קְהַ֗ל רְפָאִ֥ים יָנֽוּחַ׃

KJVThe man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17

אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַ֝יִן וָשֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃

KJVHe that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18

כֹּ֣פֶר לַ֭צַּדִּיק רָשָׁ֑ע וְ֝תַ֗חַת יְשָׁרִ֥ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃

KJVThe wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.

19

ט֤וֹב שֶׁ֣בֶת בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵ֝אֵ֗שֶׁת מִדְיָנִ֥ים וָכָֽעַס׃

KJVIt is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

20

אוֹצָ֤ר נֶחְמָ֣ד וָשֶׁ֣מֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּ֝כְסִ֗יל אָדָ֥ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃

KJVThere is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

21

רֹדֵ֣ף צְ֭דָקָה וָחֶ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃

KJVHe that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

22

עִ֭יר גִּבֹּרִ֣ים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃

KJVA wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23

שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֥ר מִ֝צָּר֗וֹת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

KJVWhoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

24

זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ עוֹשֶׂ֥ה בְּ֝עֶבְרַ֗ת זָדֽוֹן׃

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

Scoffer is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.

25

תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָ֭צֵל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ יָדָ֥יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

KJVThe desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

26

כָּל הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃

KJVHe coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

All day long the wicked covets, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27

זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּי בְּזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃

KJVThe sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

28

עֵד כְּ֭זָבִים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁוֹמֵ֥עַ לָ֝נֶ֗צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃

KJVA false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

A lying witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.

29

הֵעֵ֣ז אִ֭ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֣וּא יָבִ֣ין דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃

KJVA wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways.

30

אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְ֝אֵ֗ין עֵצָ֥ה לְנֶגֶד יְהוָֽה׃

KJVThere is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

31

ס֗וּס מוּכָ֥ן לְי֥וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַיהוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃

KJVThe horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.

Proverbs — Chapter 21