#oldtestament #proverbs #proverbs21 # Proverbs 21 > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text]] [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] [[#🔗 Related Passages]] [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] >[[Proverbs Overview]] --- ## 📜 Scripture Text The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;     he guides it wherever he pleases. 2 People may be right in their own eyes,     but the Lord examines their heart. 3 The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just     than when we offer him sacrifices. 4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart,     and evil actions are all sin. 5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,     but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. 6 Wealth created by a lying tongue     is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap. 7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,     because they refuse to do what is just. 8 The guilty walk a crooked path;     the innocent travel a straight road. 9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic     than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. 10 Evil people desire evil;     their neighbors get no mercy from them. 11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;     if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser. 12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;     he will bring disaster on them. 13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor     will be ignored in their own time of need. 14 A secret gift calms anger;     a bribe under the table pacifies fury. 15 Justice is a joy to the godly,     but it terrifies evildoers. 16 The person who strays from common sense     will end up in the company of the dead. 17 Those who love pleasure become poor;     those who love wine and luxury will never be rich. 18 The wicked are punished in place of the godly,     and traitors in place of the honest. 19 It’s better to live alone in the desert     than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. 20 The wise have wealth and luxury,     but fools spend whatever they get. 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love     will find life, righteousness, and honor. 22 The wise conquer the city of the strong     and level the fortress in which they trust. 23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,     and you will stay out of trouble. 24 Mockers are proud and haughty;     they act with boundless arrogance. 25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,     for their hands refuse to work. 26 Some people are always greedy for more,     but the godly love to give! 27 The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,     especially when it is offered with wrong motives. 28 A false witness will be cut off,     but a credible witness will be allowed to speak. 29 The wicked bluff their way through,     but the virtuous think before they act. 30 No human wisdom or understanding or plan     can stand against the Lord. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,     but the victory belongs to the Lord. --- ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary Each verse is important. --- ## 🤔 Interesting Facts - Verse 1—“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord”—is a famous affirmation of God’s control over human rulers. - This chapter places strong emphasis on justice and doing what is right rather than merely offering religious sacrifices (v. 3). - Verse 9 and verse 19 repeat the theme of contentious domestic life, highlighting wisdom in household relationships. - Proverbs 21:30—“No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord”—declares God’s unmatched authority. - It ends with the reminder that safety and victory come from the Lord, not from human strength (v. 31). --- ## 🧠 Chapter Summary **Main Teaching**: Proverbs 21 teaches that God is in control of kings and outcomes, and that righteousness and justice are more acceptable to Him than religious ritual. It warns against pride, deceit, and selfishness, emphasizing that wisdom brings life and success. **How It Fits in Proverbs**: This chapter continues to contrast the outcomes of wise and foolish living while elevating justice, humility, and godly fear as marks of true wisdom. It reinforces Proverbs’ recurring theme that real wisdom is both ethical and spiritual. **Apologetic Insight**: Proverbs 21 defends the biblical worldview that God’s justice is the ultimate standard—not human power, appearance, or religious performance. It critiques empty religion and calls for sincere, morally aligned faith. --- ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application - 📌 God weighs the heart and is more pleased by justice than outward sacrifice. - 📌 Pride and wickedness lead to destruction. - 📌 Wise planning and diligence lead to prosperity, but haste leads to poverty. #### Today, I can apply this chapter by: - ✅ Do something kind or just today with no expectation of return. - ✅ Let your actions speak louder than your words in matters of faith. - ✅ Don’t justify wrongdoing just because it seems to benefit you. - ✅ Reflect on how you handle anger and seek to grow in patience. - ✅ Submit your plans to God today and ask for His guidance over your goals --- ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember **📖 Proverbs 21:2** “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.” - **Why it matters**: It reminds us that God sees beyond our actions into our motives. What matters is not just doing right but doing it for the right reasons. --- ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 Isaiah 1:17 – “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed…” - 🔗 Amos 5:24 – “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” - 🔗 Luke 6:45 – “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” --- ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection Write 3–6 sentences reflecting on: - How this chapter encourages your faith, - Convicts your heart, - Reveals God's character. Optional format: "In light of this chapter, I am challenged to..." or "I am comforted by..." --- ## 📂 Tags