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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 21 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/21.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" 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href="../proverbs/20.htm" title="Proverbs 20">◄</a> Proverbs 21 <a href="../proverbs/22.htm" title="Proverbs 22">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/proverbs/21.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>In the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water</p><p class="line2">that he channels toward all who please him.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>A person may think their own ways are right,</p><p class="line2">but the <span class="name">Lord</span> weighs the heart.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>To do what is right and just</p><p class="line2">is more acceptable to the <span class="name">Lord</span> than sacrifice.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Haughty eyes and a proud heart—</p><p class="line2">the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>The plans of the diligent lead to profit</p><p class="line2">as surely as haste leads to poverty.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>A fortune made by a lying tongue</p><p class="line2">is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death">a</a></sup></span> </p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>The violence of the wicked will drag them away,</p><p class="line2">for they refuse to do what is right.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>The way of the guilty is devious,</p><p class="line2">but the conduct of the innocent is upright.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Better to live on a corner of the roof</p><p class="line2">than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>The wicked crave evil;</p><p class="line2">their neighbors get no mercy from them.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;</p><p class="line2">by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>The Righteous One <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or The righteous person">b</a></sup></span> takes note of the house of the wicked</p><p class="line2">and brings the wicked to ruin.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor</p><p class="line2">will also cry out and not be answered.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>A gift given in secret soothes anger,</p><p class="line2">and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous</p><p class="line2">but terror to evildoers.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Whoever strays from the path of prudence</p><p class="line2">comes to rest in the company of the dead.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;</p><p class="line2">whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,</p><p class="line2">and the unfaithful for the upright.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Better to live in a desert</p><p class="line2">than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>The wise store up choice food and olive oil,</p><p class="line2">but fools gulp theirs down.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Whoever pursues righteousness and love</p><p class="line2">finds life, prosperity <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or righteousness">c</a></sup></span> and honor.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty</p><p class="line2">and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Those who guard their mouths and their tongues</p><p class="line2">keep themselves from calamity.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—</p><p class="line2">behaves with insolent fury.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,</p><p class="line2">because his hands refuse to work.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>All day long he craves for more,</p><p class="line2">but the righteous give without sparing.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—</p><p class="line2">how much more so when brought with evil intent!</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>A false witness will perish,</p><p class="line2">but a careful listener will testify successfully.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>The wicked put up a bold front,</p><p class="line2">but the upright give thought to their ways.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan</p><p class="line2">that can succeed against the <span class="name">Lord</span>.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>The horse is made ready for the day of battle,</p><p class="line2">but victory rests with the <span class="name">Lord</span>.</p></div><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">6</span> <span class="footnotebot">Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts <i>vapor for those who seek death</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">12</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>The righteous person</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">21</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>righteousness</i></span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. 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