21:1

פַּלְגֵי־מַיִם לֶב־מֶלֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהוָה עַל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ יַטֶּנּוּ׃

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever He will.

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21:2

כָּל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִישׁ יָשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו וְתֹכֵן לִבּוֹת יְהוָה׃

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the hearts.

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21:3

עֲשֹׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַיהוָה מִזָּבַח׃

To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

21:4

רוּם־עֵינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵב נִר רְשָׁעִים חַטָּאת׃

A haughty look, and a proud heart— The tillage of the wicked is sin.

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21:5

מַחְשְׁבוֹת חָרוּץ אַךְ־לְמוֹתָר וְכָל־אָץ אַךְ־לְמַחְסוֹר׃

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.

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21:6

פֹּעַל אוֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר הֶבֶל נִדָּף מְבַקְשֵׁי־מָוֶת׃

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapour driven to and fro; they [that seek them] seek death.

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21:7

שֹׁד־רְשָׁעִים יְגוֹרֵם כִּי מֵאֲנוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט׃

The violence of the wicked shall drag them away; Because they refuse to do justly.

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21:8

הֲפַכְפַּךְ דֶּרֶךְ אִישׁ וָזָר וְזַךְ יָשָׁר פָּעֳלוֹ׃

The way of man is froward and strange; But as for the pure, his work is right.

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21:9

טוֹב לָשֶׁבֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּג מֵאֵשֶׁת מִדְיָנִים וּבֵית חָבֶר׃

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than in a house in common with a contentious woman.

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21:10

נֶפֶשׁ רָשָׁע אִוְּתָה־רָע לֹא־יֻחַן בְּעֵינָיו רֵעֵהוּ׃

The soul of the wicked desireth evil; His neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

21:11

בַּעְנָשׁ־לֵץ יֶחְכַּם־פֶּתִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּיל לְחָכָם יִקַּח־דָּעַת׃

When the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

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21:12

מַשְׂכִּיל צַדִּיק לְבֵית רָשָׁע מְסַלֵּף רְשָׁעִים לָרָע׃

The Righteous One considereth the house of the wicked; Overthrowing the wicked to their ruin.

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21:13

אֹטֵם אָזְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּל גַּם־הוּא יִקְרָא וְלֹא יֵעָנֶה׃

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry himself, but shall not be answered.

21:14

מַתָּן בַּסֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָף וְשֹׁחַד בַּחֵק חֵמָה עַזָּה׃

A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a present in the bosom strong wrath.

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21:15

שִׂמְחָה לַצַּדִּיק עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וּמְחִתָּה לְפֹעֲלֵי אָוֶן׃

To do justly is joy to the righteous, But ruin to the workers of iniquity.

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21:16

אָדָם תּוֹעֶה מִדֶּרֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּל בִּקְהַל רְפָאִים יָנוּחַ׃

The man that strayeth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the congregation of the shades.

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21:17

אִישׁ מַחְסוֹר אֹהֵב שִׂמְחָה אֹהֵב יַיִן־וָשֶׁמֶן לֹא יַעֲשִׁיר׃

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

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21:18

כֹּפֶר לַצַּדִּיק רָשָׁע וְתַחַת יְשָׁרִים בּוֹגֵד׃

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the faithless cometh in the stead of the upright.

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21:19

טוֹב שֶׁבֶת בְּאֶרֶץ־מִדְבָּר מֵאֵשֶׁת מדונים [מִדְיָנִים] וָכָעַס׃

It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.

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21:20

אוֹצָר נֶחְמָד וָשֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵה חָכָם וּכְסִיל אָדָם יְבַלְּעֶנּוּ׃

There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.

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21:21

רֹדֵף צְדָקָה וָחָסֶד יִמְצָא חַיִּים צְדָקָה וְכָבוֹד׃

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy Findeth life, prosperity, and honour.

21:22

עִיר גִּבֹּרִים עָלָה חָכָם וַיֹּרֶד עֹז מִבְטֶחָה׃

A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the stronghold wherein it trusteth.

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21:23

שֹׁמֵר פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ שֹׁמֵר מִצָּרוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ׃

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.

21:24

זֵד יָהִיר לֵץ שְׁמוֹ עוֹשֶׂה בְּעֶבְרַת זָדוֹן׃

A proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, Even he that dealeth in overbearing pride.

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21:25

תַּאֲוַת עָצֵל תְּמִיתֶנּוּ כִּי־מֵאֲנוּ יָדָיו לַעֲשׂוֹת׃

The desire of the slothful killeth him; For his hands refuse to labour.

21:26

כָּל־הַיּוֹם הִתְאַוָּה תַאֲוָה וְצַדִּיק יִתֵּן וְלֹא יַחְשֹׂךְ׃

There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and spareth not.

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21:27

זֶבַח רְשָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָה אַף כִּי־בְזִמָּה יְבִיאֶנּוּ׃

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more, when he bringeth it with the proceeds of wickedness?

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21:28

עֵד־כְּזָבִים יֹאבֵד וְאִישׁ שׁוֹמֵעַ לָנֶצַח יְדַבֵּר׃

A false witness shall perish; But the man that obeyeth shall speak unchallenged.

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21:29

הֵעֵז אִישׁ רָשָׁע בְּפָנָיו וְיָשָׁר הוּא יכין [יָבִין] דרכיו [דַּרְכּוֹ׃]

A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he looketh well to his way.

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21:30

אֵין חָכְמָה וְאֵין תְּבוּנָה וְאֵין עֵצָה לְנֶגֶד יְהוָה׃

There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against the LORD.

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21:31

סוּס מוּכָן לְיוֹם מִלְחָמָה וְלַיהוָה הַתְּשׁוּעָה׃

The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of the LORD.