Proverbs 21:1-8
Proverbs 21:1-8 The Message (MSG)
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.
Proverbs 21:1-8 King James Version (KJV)
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.
Proverbs 21:1-8 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin. The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death. The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice. The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
Proverbs 21:1-8 New Century Version (NCV)
The LORD can control a king’s mind as he controls a river; he can direct it as he pleases. You may believe you are doing right, but the LORD judges your reasons. Doing what is right and fair is more important to the LORD than sacrifices. Proud looks, proud thoughts, and evil actions are sin. The plans of hard-working people earn a profit, but those who act too quickly become poor. Wealth that comes from telling lies vanishes like a mist and leads to death. The violence of the wicked will destroy them, because they refuse to do what is right. Guilty people live dishonest lives, but honest people do right.
Proverbs 21:1-8 American Standard Version (ASV)
The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts. To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice. A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death. The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice. The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right.
Proverbs 21:1-8 New International Version (NIV)
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.
Proverbs 21:1-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
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.
Proverbs 21:1-8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
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.
Proverbs 21:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)
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.
Proverbs 21:1-8 The Passion Translation (TPT)
It’s as easy for God to steer a king’s heart for his purposes as it is for him to direct the course of a stream. We may think we’re right all the time, but God thoroughly examines our motives. It pleases God more when we demonstrate godliness and justice than when we merely offer him a sacrifice. Arrogance, superiority, and pride are the fruits of sin. Brilliant ideas pay off and bring you prosperity, but making hasty, impatient decisions will only lead to financial loss. You can make a fortune dishonestly, but your crime will hold you in the snares of death! Violent rebels don’t have a chance, for their rejection of truth and their love of evil will drag them deeper into darkness. You can discern that a person is guilty by his devious actions and the innocence of a person by his honest, sincere ways.
Proverbs 21:1-8 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
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.
