Proverbs 21
1The lev melech is in the yad Hashem, as the channels of mayim; 1 He directeth it wherever He will. 1
2Every derech ish is yashar (right) in his own eynayim, 1 but Hashem weigheth the hearts. 1
3To do tzedakah and mishpat 1 is more acceptable to Hashem than zevach. 1
4A high and haughty eye, 1 and a proud levner resha'im (the lamp of the wicked ones) — are chattat (sin). 1
5The plans of the kharutz (diligent) lead surely to profit; 1 but of every one that is hasty surely to machsor (poverty, want). 1
6The getting of otzarot by a lashon sheker 1 is hevel (vain, empty, meaningless) and fleeting 1 for them that seek mavet. 1
7The violence of the resha'im shall drag them away; 1 because they refuse to do mishpat (justice). 1
8The derech of the guilty ish is hafachpach (crooked, tortuous), 1 but as for the pure, his conduct is yashar (right). 1
9It is better to dwell in a corner of the gag (roof), 1 than with a quarrelsome isha in a shared bais. 1
10The nefesh of the rashah desireth rah; 1 his re'a findeth no mercy in his eynayim. 1
11When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise, 1 and when insight is disclosed to the chacham, he receiveth da'as. 1
12The tzaddik (righteous one) wisely considereth the bais of the rashah, 1 and hurleth the resha'im to rah. 1
13He who stoppeth his ozen at the cry of the dal (poor), 1 he also shall cry out himself, but shall not be heard. 1
14A mattan (gift) in secret pacifieth af (anger), 1 and a shochad (bribe) in the kheyk (bosom), + 21:14 i.e., a concealed bribe strong wrath. 1
15It is simchah to the tzaddik to do mishpat, 1 but terror for the po'alei aven (workers of iniquity). 1
16The adam that wandereth astray from the derech haseichel (road of understanding) 1 shall rest in the kahal of the refa'im (congregation of the dead). 1
17The ohev simchah (lover of pleasure) shall be an ish machsor (man of poverty, want, shortage); 1 he that loveth yayin and shemen shall not be rich. 1
18The reshah shall be a kofer (ransom) for the tzaddik, 1 and the boged (the unfaithful) for the yesharim. 1
19It is better to dwell in eretz midbar, 1 than with a quarrelsome and an angry isha. 1
20There is otzar to be desired and shemen in the naveh (dwelling) of the chacham; 1 but a kesil adam squanders it. 1
21He that pursueth tzedakah and chesed 1 findeth chayyim, tzedakah, and kavod. 1
22A chacham scaleth the city of the gibborim (mighty ones), 1 and casteth down the trusted stronghold thereof. 1
23He who is shomer over his peh (mouth) and his lashon (tongue) 1 is shomer over his nefesh from tzoros. 1
24Proud and haughty scoffer is shmo, 1 who acteth in superfluity of zadon (pride). 1
25The ta'avah (desire, craving) of the atzel (sluggard, lazy one) killeth him, 1 for his yadayim refuse to work. 1
26He craveth greedily kol hayom, 1 but the tzaddik giveth and spareth not. 1
27The zevach of the resha'im is to'evah (detestable, abomination); 1 how much more, when he bringeth it with zimmah (evil intent). 1
28An ed kezavim (lying witness) shall perish, 1 but the ish that heareth [emes] speaketh lanetzach (unto eternity). 1
29An ish rasha defiantly hardeneth his face, 1 but as for the yashar (upright) he maketh his derech (road) sure. 1
30There is no chochmah nor tevunah (understanding) 1 nor etzah against Hashem. 1
31The sus is prepared against the yom milchamah, 1 but teshuah (victory, deliverance) is from Hashem.