1The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;he guides it wherever he pleases.
2People may be right in their own eyes,but the Lord examines their heart.
3The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and justthan when we offer him sacrifices.
4Haughty eyes, a proud heart,and evil actions are all sin.
5Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
6Wealth created by a lying tongueis a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.#21:6 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads mist for those who seek death.
7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,because they refuse to do what is just.
8The guilty walk a crooked path;the innocent travel a straight road.
9It’s better to live alone in the corner of an atticthan with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.