God Speaks
The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases.
2 People may be right in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their heart.
3 The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.
4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
and evil actions are all sin.
5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
6 Wealth created by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.
7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The guilty walk a crooked path;
the innocent travel a straight road.
9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
10 Evil people desire evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;
he will bring disaster on them.
13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.
14 A secret gift calms anger;
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
15 Justice is a joy to the godly,
but it terrifies evildoers.
16 The person who strays from common sense
will end up in the company of the dead.
17 Those who love pleasure become poor;
those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
18 The wicked are punished in place of the godly,
and traitors in place of the honest.
19 It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
20 The wise have wealth and luxury,
but fools spend whatever they get.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 The wise conquer the city of the strong
and level the fortress in which they trust.
23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.
24 Mockers are proud and haughty;
they act with boundless arrogance.
25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
for their hands refuse to work.
26 Some people are always greedy for more,
but the godly love to give!
27 The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,
especially when it is offered with wrong motives.
28 A false witness will be cut off,
but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
29 The wicked bluff their way through,
but the virtuous think before they act.
30 No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: For purpose of study in comparison and contrast, Proverbs 21 is presented here with the good or godly statements in italic.
1. The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases.
2. People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.
3. The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer Him sacrifices.
4. Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.
5. Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
6. Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.
7. The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just.
8. The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.
9. It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
10. Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11. If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
12. The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; He will bring disaster on them.
13. Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.
14. A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
15. Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.
16. The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.
17. Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
18. The wicked are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest.
19. It’s better to live in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
20. The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
21. Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22. The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.
23. Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut and you will stay out of trouble.
24. Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with bound less arrogance.
25. Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.
26. Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give.
27. The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.
28. A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
29. The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.
30. No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD.
31. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.
Consider the following questions regarding Proverbs 21:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1. The LORD God searches hearts and directs them, rewarding the godly and punishing the wicked as their actions warrant.
2. People can choose to live righteously and receive blessings or wickedly and incur curses.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Proverbs 21?
Father God, please help me to remember that You are in charge even when my leaders seem to be doing the wrong things. May my acts of justice and righteousness be pleasing sacrifices to You. Keep me from lying, laziness, or contentiousness; purge pride, haughtiness, and deception from my life. Let me learn from the unwise actions of others and not repeat them. May I truly hear the cries of the oppressed and respond appropriately. Keep me on the path of understanding that I might live. May I be wise in my use of the resources You give me. Thank You that I can know that all Your plans and purposes are good and will succeed. All for Your glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Proverbs 21? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will repent of (specific) ways in which I have resisted the LORD’s direction.
- I will ask the LORD if a specific action fits into His plan for me.
- I will apologize to a person with whom I have been quarrelsome.
- I will pray each morning to have a positive attitude.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________