Proverbs 21:9-16
Proverbs 21:9-16 New Living Translation (NLT)
It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser. The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them. Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury. Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers. The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 The Message (MSG)
Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse. Wicked souls love to make trouble; they feel nothing for friends and neighbors. Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening. A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they’ve planned. If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered. A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person; a heartfelt present cools a hot temper. Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it’s a bad day. Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
Proverbs 21:9-16 King James Version (KJV)
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a brawling woman in a wide house. The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: But God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. A gift in secret pacifieth anger: And a reward in the bosom strong wrath. It is joy to the just to do judgment: But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the wicked to ruin. He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered. A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath. The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity. A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 New Century Version (NCV)
It is better to live in a corner on the roof than inside the house with a quarreling wife. Evil people only want to harm others. Their neighbors get no mercy from them. If you punish those who make fun of wisdom, a foolish person may gain some wisdom. But if you teach the wise, they will get knowledge. God, who is always right, watches the house of the wicked and brings ruin on every evil person. Whoever ignores the poor when they cry for help will also cry for help and not be answered. A secret gift will calm an angry person; a present given in secrecy will quiet great anger. When justice is done, good people are happy, but evil people are ruined. Whoever does not use good sense will end up among the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 American Standard Version (ASV)
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house. The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes. When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard. A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath. It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 New International Version (NIV)
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge. The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard. A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath. It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather] Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman. The soul of the wicked desires evil [like an addictive substance]; His neighbor finds no compassion in his eyes. [James 2:16] When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise; But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge. [Prov 19:25] The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked— How the wicked are cast down to ruin. Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor Will cry out himself and not be answered. [Matt 18:30-34; James 2:13] A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe [hidden] in the pocket, strong wrath. When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, the one in right standing with God), But to the evildoers it is disaster. A man who wanders from the way of understanding (godly wisdom) Will remain in the assembly of the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 New Living Translation (NLT)
It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser. The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them. Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury. Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers. The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.
Proverbs 21:9-16 The Passion Translation (TPT)
It’s better to live all alone in a rickety shack than to share a castle with a crabby spouse! The wicked always crave what is evil; they’ll show no mercy and get no mercy. Senseless people learn their lessons the hard way, but the wise are teachable. A godly, righteous person has the ability to bring the light of instruction to the wicked even though he despises what the wicked do. If you close your heart to the cries of the poor, then I’ll close my ears when you cry out to me! Try giving a secret gift to the one who is angry with you and watch his anger disappear. A kind, generous gift goes a long way to soothe the anger of one who is livid. When justice is served, the lovers of God celebrate and rejoice, but the wicked begin to panic. When you forsake the ways of wisdom, you will wander into the realm of dark spirits.
Proverbs 21:9-16 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes. When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin. Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath. When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.