God Controls Hearts and Judges Actions
Study note
The chapter opens powerfully: the Lord directs the king's heart like streams of water. God cares more about doing what is right and just than about religious sacrifices. Proud eyes and an arrogant heart are sin. These proverbs establish that God is ultimately in charge of all human affairs.
1 The Lord steers a king's heart as easily as redirecting a stream of water. He points it wherever he wants it to go. The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Everyone thinks their own actions are perfectly right. But the Lord is the one who sees what is truly in the heart. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3 Living fairly and doing what is right matters more to the Lord than any offering. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Proud eyes and a big ego, along with the evil those attitudes produce, are all sin. An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5 Careful planning by a hard worker leads to plenty. But rushing through things without thinking leads straight to having nothing. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6 Building wealth on a foundation of lies is like chasing a puff of smoke. It is a dead-end road. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked boomerangs right back and destroys them, because they flat-out refused to do what was right. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
8 A guilty person's life path is full of twists and turns, but someone who is innocent walks a straight and clean road. The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
The Consequences of Foolish Living
Study note
Several proverbs compare living with a quarrelsome person to living in a corner of a rooftop or in the desert. The wicked desire evil and show no kindness. Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will themselves cry out and not be heard. A person who loves pleasure will end up poor.
9 A tiny corner on the rooftop is better. Do not share a whole house with someone who picks fights. It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 A wicked person's heart is set on doing evil. They have no compassion whatsoever for the people around them. The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 When a mocker faces punishment, even simple people learn something. When a wise person receives instruction, they absorb knowledge right away. When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The Righteous One keeps a close eye on the house of the wicked. He brings wicked people to ruin in the end. The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13 If you plug your ears when poor people cry for help, the day will come when you cry out and nobody listens to you either. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A quiet gift given in private can cool someone's anger. A secret offering can calm even the strongest rage. A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 When justice gets done, it fills righteous people with joy but fills evildoers with dread. It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 Anyone who wanders off the path of understanding is going to end up among the dead. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 If pleasure and entertainment are all you chase, you will end up poor. If wine and fancy living are your obsession, wealth will never be yours. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked end up paying the price that was meant for the righteous, and the unfaithful take the place of the upright. The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Righteous Living and Self-Control
Study note
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. A wise person can overcome the strength of the mighty. Guarding your mouth and tongue keeps your soul from trouble. The lazy person's desires kill them because they refuse to work.
19 Living alone in the desert would be better. Do not share a home with someone who always nags and argues. It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 A wise person's home is stocked with fine things, but a fool blows through everything they have the moment they get it. There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21 Chase after doing right and being kind. You will find life, goodness, and honor waiting. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 One wise person can take a whole city of warriors. They can topple the walls the city trusts in. A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 If you keep control over what your mouth says, you will save yourself from a world of trouble. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 The proud, stuck-up person called a "Mocker" does everything with way too much pride. Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
25 Laziness is lethal. Lazy people die unfulfilled because they refuse to lift a finger. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 Lazy people spend all day wanting more and more. But good people are always willing to give freely. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
No Wisdom Against the Lord
Study note
The chapter closes with the truth that the sacrifices of the wicked are disgusting to God, especially when offered with evil intentions. A false witness will be destroyed, but a careful listener will speak successfully. The powerful final verse says the horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.
27 When wicked people bring an offering to God, it disgusts him. It is even worse when they bring it with twisted motives. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28 A witness who lies will be destroyed, but someone who truly listens and speaks carefully will have their words stand. A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29 A wicked person bluffs with a bold face, but someone who lives right thinks through their actions carefully. A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
30 No amount of human cleverness, insight, or planning can beat the Lord. There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 You can train war horses and get every weapon ready for battle. But in the end, the Lord is the one who decides who wins. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.