Proverbs 21

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Like flowing water is a king's heart in Yahweh's hand; he directs it wherever he pleases.	1 Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.
2 All actions are straight in the doer's own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs hearts.	2 Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 To do what is upright and just is more pleasing to Yahweh than sacrifice.	3 To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 Haughty eye, proud heart, lamp of the wicked, nothing but sin.	4 To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 The hardworking is thoughtful, and al is gain; too much haste, and all that comes of it is want.	5 The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 To make a fortune with the help of a lying tongue: such is the idle fantasy of those who look for death.	6 Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 The violence of the wicked proves their ruin, for they refuse to do what is right.	7 The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 The way of the felon is devious, the conduct of the innocent straight.	8 The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
9 Better the corner of a roof to live on than a house shared with a quarrelsome woman.	9 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 The soul of the wicked is intent on evil, to such a person no neighbour can ever do right.	10 The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
11 When a cynic is punished, simpletons grow wiser, but someone of understanding acquires knowledgeby instruction.	11 When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 The Upright One watches the house of the wicked; he hurls the wicked to destruction.	12 The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 Whoever refuses to listen to the cry of the weak, wil in turn plead and not be heard.	13 Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
14 Anger is mol ified by a covert gift, raging fury by a present under cover of the cloak.	14 A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 Doing what is right fills the upright with joy, but evil-doers with terror.	15 It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 Whoever strays far from the way of prudence wil rest in the assembly of shadows.	16 A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 Pleasure-lovers stay poor, no one wil grow rich who loves wine and good living.	17 Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the upright; and the law-breaker for the honest.	18 The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 Better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and irritable woman.	19 It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 The wise has valuables and oil at home, but a fool soon runs through both.	20 There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 Whoever pursues uprightness and faithful love will find life, uprightness and honour.	21 Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 A sage can scale a garrisoned city and shatter the rampart on which it relied.	22 The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 Watch kept over mouth and tongue keeps the watcher safe from disaster.	23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 Insolent, haughty -- the name is 'Cynic'; overweening pride marks such behaviour.	24 A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 The idler's desires are the death of him, since his hands wil do no work.	25 Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 Al day long the godless is racked by desire, the upright gives without ever refusing.	26 He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abhorrent, above al if it is offered for bad motives.	27 The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 The false witness wil perish, but no one who knows how to listen wil ever be silenced.	28 A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 The wicked man's strength shows on his face, but the honest it is whose steps are firm.	29 The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no advice is worth anything before Yahweh.	30 There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 Fit out the cavalry for the day of battle, but the victory is Yahweh's.	31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.