Proverbs — Chapter 21
Like channeled water is the mind of the king in GOD’s hand—For it is directed according to God’s wishes.
People look approvingly on their own ways,But GOD probes the mind.
To do what is right and justIs more desired by GOD than sacrifice.
Haughty looks, a proud heart—The tillage of the wicked is sinful.
The plans of the diligent make only for gain;All rash haste makes only for loss.
Treasures acquired by a lying tongueAre like driven vapor, heading for extinction.aAre like driven vapor, heading for extinction Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,For they refuse to act justly.
A person’s way may be tortuous and strange,Though their actions are blameless and proper.
Dwelling in the corner of a roof is betterThan a contentious wife in a spacious house.bspacious house Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
The desire of the wicked is set upon evil;Their neighbors find no favor in their eyes.
When scoffers are punished, the simple are edified;When sages are taught, they gain insight.
The Righteous One observes the house of a wicked person—And subverts the wicked to their ruin.
One who turns a deaf ear to the cry of the wretchedWill likewise call and not be answered.
A gift in secret subdues anger,A present in private, fierce rage.
Justice done is a joy to the righteous,To evildoers, ruination.
One who strays from the path of prudenceWill rest in the company of ghosts.
A man who loves pleasure comes to want;He who loves wine and oil does not grow rich.
The wicked are the ransom of the righteous;The traitor comes in place of the upright.
It is better to live in the desertThan with a contentious, vexatious wife.
Precious treasure and oil are in the house of a wise man,And a fool of a man will run through them.
One who strives to do good and kind deedsAttains life, success, and honor.
One wise man prevailed over a city of warriorsAnd brought down its mighty stronghold.
One who watches over mouth and tongueKeeps out of trouble.
The proud, insolent person, named scoffer,Acts in a frenzy of insolence.
The cravings of sluggards are fatal,For their hands refuse to work.
All day long they are seized with cravingWhile the righteous give without stint.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,The more so when offered in depravity.
A false witness is doomed,But a man who listensca man who listens Habitually, as a matter of character. Or “one who really heard.” will testify with success.
The wicked man is brazen-faced;The upright man discerns his course.
No wisdom, no prudence, and no counselCan prevail against GOD.
The horse is readied for the day of battle,But victory comes from GOD.
✦ Connected Across Traditions
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Hadith (An-Nawawi 13)
“None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
Mahabharata 5.1517
“One should never do to another what one regards as injurious to oneself.”
Dhammapada 10:1
“All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.”
The Path to Wisdom
Dhammapada 20:282
“Wisdom springs from meditation; without meditation wisdom wanes.”
Analects 2:11
“If you study the past and use it to understand the present, you are worthy of being a teacher.”
Tao Te Ching 33
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.”
Quran 39:9
“Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”
Good vs Evil / Light vs Darkness
Yasna 30:3
“Now the two primal Spirits, who reveal themselves as Twins, are the Better and the Bad, in thought and word and action.”
John 1:5
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Dhammapada 1:1-2
“Mind is the forerunner of all actions. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow.”
Bhagavad Gita 16:21
“There are three gates to self-destructive hell: lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, one must learn to give these up.”