Proverbes 21.12
New International Version

¹ In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.

² A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.

³ To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart —
the unplowed field of the wicked — produce sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.

⁶ A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

¹⁰ The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

¹² The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³ Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered.

¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

¹⁶ Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.

¹⁹ Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

²⁰ The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.

²¹ Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.

²² One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³ Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
keep themselves from calamity.

²⁴ The proud and arrogant person — “Mocker” is his name —
behaves with insolent fury.

²⁵ The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.

²⁶ All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable —
how much more so when brought with evil intent!

²⁸ A false witness will perish,
but a careful listener will testify successfully.

²⁹ The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.

³⁰ There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.