Proverbs 21:1-8 - Compare All Versions

Share

In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right. The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.

The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases. People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart. The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin. Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap. The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just. The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.

A king’s heart is like channeled water in the  LORD’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses.  All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs hearts.  Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the  LORD than sacrifice.  The lamp that guides the wicked — haughty eyes and an arrogant heart   — is sin. The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.  Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist,  a pursuit of death.  , , The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly. A guilty one’s conduct is crooked,  but the behavior of the innocent is upright.

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, As the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. An high look, and a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked, is sin. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But of every one that is hasty only to want. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; Because they refuse to do judgment. The way of man is froward and strange: But as for the pure, his work is right.

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice. The way of a guilty man is perverse; But as for the pure, his work is right.

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by GOD; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses. We justify our actions by appearances; GOD examines our motives. Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to GOD than religious performance. Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked— are just plain sin. Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind. Make it to the top by lying and cheating; get paid with smoke and a promotion—to death! The wicked get buried alive by their loot because they refuse to use it to help others. Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road.

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He pleases. Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD examines the hearts. To do righteousness and justice Is preferred by the LORD more than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin. The plans of the diligent certainly lead to advantage, But everyone who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty. The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death. The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, Because they refuse to act with justice. The way of a guilty person is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it whichever way He wishes. [Ex 10:1, 2; Ezra 6:22] Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives]. [Prov 24:12; Luke 16:15] To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed]. [1 Sam 15:22; Prov 15:8; Is 1:11; Hos 6:6; Mic 6:7, 8] Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God]. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage, But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty. Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of death. The violence of the wicked will [return to them and] drag them away [like fish caught in a net], Because they refuse to act with justice. The way of the guilty is [exceedingly] crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants. All of a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the agricultural product of the wicked is sin. The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death. The violence done by the wicked will drag them away because they refuse to do what is right. The way of the guilty person is devious, but as for the pure, his way is upright.