Proverbs 21
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
8The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
9It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- רָשָׁעrâshâʻH75638× in this chapter
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
- יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâhH30685× in this chapter
Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
- אִישׁʼîyshH3765× in this chapter
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
- עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62135× in this chapter
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
- דֶּרֶךְderekH18704× in this chapter
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
- יָשָׁרyâshârH34774× in this chapter
straight (literally or figuratively)
- כֹּלkôlH36054× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- לֹאlôʼH38084× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- צַדִּיקtsaddîyqH66624× in this chapter
just
- חָכָםchâkâmH24503× in this chapter
wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
- כִּיkîyH35883× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- אַיִןʼayinH3693× in this chapter
a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle
- מִשְׁפָּטmishpâṭH49413× in this chapter
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
- עַיִןʻayinH58693× in this chapter
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
- צְדָקָהtsᵉdâqâhH66663× in this chapter
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
- שָׂכַלsâkalH79193× in this chapter
to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent
- בַּיִתbayithH10042× in this chapter
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
- אָדָםʼâdâmH1202× in this chapter
ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
- אָהַבʼâhabH1572× in this chapter
to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
- אָוָהʼâvâhH1832× in this chapter
to wish for
- הוּאhûwʼH19312× in this chapter
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
- זֶבַחzebachH20772× in this chapter
properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
- אוֹצָרʼôwtsârH2142× in this chapter
a depository
- טוֹבṭôwbH28962× in this chapter
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
- יָדyâdH30272× in this chapter
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
- יוֹםyôwmH31172× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- יָשַׁבyâshabH34272× in this chapter
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
- לֵבlêbH38202× in this chapter
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
- לוּץlûwtsH38872× in this chapter
properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede
- אַךְʼakH3892× in this chapter
a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only
- לָשׁוֹןlâshôwnH39562× in this chapter
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)
- מָאֵןmâʼênH39852× in this chapter
to refuse
- מִדְיָןmidyânH40792× in this chapter
{a contest or quarrel}
- מַחְסוֹרmachçôwrH42702× in this chapter
deficiency; hence, impoverishment
- נֶפֶשׁnepheshH53152× in this chapter
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
- עַלʻalH59212× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- פֹּעַלpôʻalH64672× in this chapter
an act or work (concretely)
- רַעraʻH74512× in this chapter
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
- אִשָּׁהʼishshâhH8022× in this chapter
a woman
- שִׂמְחָהsimchâhH80572× in this chapter
blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)