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21:1  In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels towards all who please him.
21:2  A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
21:3  To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
21:4  Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the unploughed field of the wicked – produce sin.
21:5  The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
21:6  A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapour and a deadly snare.
21:7  The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
21:8  The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
21:9  Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
21:10  The wicked crave evil; their neighbours get no mercy from them.
21:11  When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
21:12  The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
21:13  Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
21:14  A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
21:15  When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
21:16  Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
21:17  Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
21:18  The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
21:19  Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
21:20  The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
21:21  Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honour.
21:22  One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
21:23  Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
21:24  The proud and arrogant person – ‘Mocker’ is his name – behaves with insolent fury.
21:25  The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
21:26  All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
21:27  The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable – how much more so when brought with evil intent!
21:28  A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.
21:29  The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.
21:30  There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
21:31  The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.