Proverbs 21
Side by side
| Verse | BSB | KJV | WEB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the Lord; He directs it where He pleases. | The 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 in the Lord’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires. | The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will. |
| 2 | All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. | Every 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 hearts. | Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts. |
| 3 | To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the Lord than sacrifice. | To 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. | To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice. |
| 4 | Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin. | An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. | A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin. | A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin. |
| 5 | The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty. | The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. | The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty. | The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want. |
| 6 | Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit. | The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. | Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death. | The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death. |
| 7 | The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just. | The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. | The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right. | The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice. |
| 8 | The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright. | The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. | The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright. | The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right. |
| 9 | Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife. | It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. | It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman. | It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house. |
| 10 | The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. | The 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. | The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes. |
| 11 | When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge. | When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. | When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. | When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. |
| 12 | The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. | The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. | The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin. | The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin. |
| 13 | Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer. | Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. | Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard. | Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard. |
| 14 | A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath. | A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. | A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath. | A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath. |
| 15 | Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity. | It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. | It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. | It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. |
| 16 | The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. | The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. | The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits. | The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead. |
| 17 | He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich. | He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. | He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich. | He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. |
| 18 | The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright. | The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. | The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright. | The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright. |
| 19 | Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife. | It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. | It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman. | It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman. |
| 20 | Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them. | There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. | There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up. | There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up. |
| 21 | He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor. | He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. | He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor. | He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor. |
| 22 | A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. | A 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 strength of its confidence. | A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof. |
| 23 | He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress. | Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. | Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. | Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles. |
| 24 | Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride. | Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. | The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride. | The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride. |
| 25 | The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work. | The 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. | The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor. |
| 26 | All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint. | He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. | There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold. | There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not. |
| 27 | The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent! | The 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 a wicked mind! | The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind! |
| 28 | A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever. | A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. | A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity. | A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure. |
| 29 | A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure. | A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. | A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways. | A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways. |
| 30 | There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the Lord. | There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. | There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. | There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah. |
| 31 | A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the Lord. | The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord. | The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the Lord. | The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah. |