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The King’s Heart
21Verse 1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD;He directs it where He pleases.Verse 2All a man’s ways seem right to him,but the LORD weighs the heart.Verse 3To do righteousness and justiceis more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.Verse 4Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.Verse 5The plans of the diligent bring plenty,as surely as haste leads to poverty.Verse 6Making a fortune by a lying tongueis a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.Verse 7The violence of the wicked will sweep them awaybecause they refuse to do what is just.Verse 8The way of a guilty man is crooked,but the conduct of the innocent is upright.Verse 9Better to live on a corner of the roofthan to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.Verse 10The soul of the wicked man craves evil;his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.Verse 11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.Verse 12The Righteous One+considers the house of the wickedand brings the wicked to ruin.Verse 13Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,he too shall cry out and receive no answer.Verse 14A gift in secret soothes anger,and a covert bribe+pacifies great wrath.Verse 15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous,but a terror to the workers of iniquity.Verse 16The man who strays from the path of understandingwill rest in the assembly of the dead.Verse 17He who loves pleasure will become poor;the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.Verse 18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,and the faithless for the upright.Verse 19Better to live in the desertthan with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.Verse 20Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise,but a foolish man consumes them.Verse 21He who pursues righteousness and loving devotionfinds life, righteousness, and honor.Verse 22A wise man scales the city of the mightyand pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.Verse 23He who guards his mouth and tonguekeeps his soul from distress.Verse 24Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.Verse 25The craving of the slacker kills himbecause his hands refuse to work.Verse 26All day long he covets more,but the righteous give without restraint.Verse 27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!Verse 28A lying witness will perish,but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.Verse 29A wicked man hardens his face,+but the upright man makes his way sure.Verse 30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counselthat can prevail against the LORD.Verse 31A horse is prepared for the day of battle,but victory is of the LORD.