English / ERV
Proverbs 21
Easy-to-Read Version, 2006
- 1To the LORD, a king’s mind is like a ditch used to water the fields. He can lead the king wherever he wants him to go.
- 2People think that whatever they do is right, but the LORD judges the reasons for everything they do.
- 3Do what is right and fair. The LORD loves that more than sacrifices.
- 4Proud looks and proud thoughts are sins. They show a person is evil.
- 5Careful planning leads to profit. Acting too quickly leads to poverty.
- 6Wealth that comes from telling lies disappears quickly and leads to death.
- 7The bad things that evil people do will destroy them, because they refuse to do what is right.
- 8Criminals cause trouble wherever they go, but good people are honest and fair.
- 9It is better to live in a small corner on the roof than to share the house with a woman who is always arguing.
- 10Evil people always want to do more evil, and they show no mercy to people around them.
- 11When you punish a proud person who laughs at what is right, even fools will learn something.[1] But a little instruction is enough for the wise to learn what they should.
- 12God is good. He knows what the wicked are doing, and he will punish them.
- 13Those who refuse to help the poor will not receive help when they need it themselves.
- 14If anyone is angry with you, give them a gift in private. A gift given in secret will calm even the strongest anger.
- A decision that is fair makes good people happy, but it makes those who are evil very afraid.