BOOK 20 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Proverbs 21

Proverbs book home•Chapter 21 of 31•31 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Proverbs 21 Overview

The sayings declare the king's heart in God's hand, value righteousness and judgment above sacrifice, condemn pride and oppression, praise diligence and generosity, and insist no wisdom can finally succeed against the LORD.

ProverbsBook

21Chapter

31Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Proverbs 21

Coming from

Proverbs 20 emphasized sobriety, honest dealing, counsel, and righteous rule. Because many proverbs are individual sayings rather than a continuous argument, the chapter-to-chapter connection is thematic rather than narrative.

In this chapter

Leads into

Proverbs 22 turns to a good name, humility, training, justice, and the beginning of collected wise sayings, expanding wisdom into another set of choices, contrasts, and observations.

Key understandingExplore deeper

God's sovereignty over a king's heart does not erase the king's moral responsibility; Proverbs regularly affirms both divine rule and human accountability. Proverbs uses compact wisdom sayings to train judgment. Its normal patterns describe how God’s moral order ordinarily works; they are not mechanical guarantees that remove human freedom, suffering, or providence.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

The LORD weighs hearts and rules even kings.

Wisdom truth

In Proverbs 21, wisdom is moral skill under the fear of the LORD, not merely intelligence or practical cleverness.

Providence truth

In Proverbs 21, human planning is real and responsible, yet the LORD remains sovereign over outcomes.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Wisdom connection

James 3:13-18 distinguishes heavenly wisdom from envy-driven earthly wisdom. This connection helps frame Proverbs 21.

Providence connection

James 4:13-15 warns planners to say, in substance, “If the Lord will.” This connection helps frame Proverbs 21.

Justice connection

James 2:1-9 condemns partiality as inconsistent with God’s law of love. This connection helps frame Proverbs 21.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not read Proverbs 21 as a set of magic formulas. Proverbs trains wise judgment in the ordinary moral order God established.

Keep providence in context

God’s sovereignty in Proverbs 21 does not erase human planning, moral choice, or accountability.

Read Proverbs 21 watching for…

king heart rivers.

do justice better sacrifice.

proud look.

diligent plans.

no counsel against LORD.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-8The LORD directs the king’s heart; righteousness, pride, diligence, deceit, and violence are weighed 9-16Contention, evil desire, wisdom from correction, judgment, pleasure, and wandering from understanding 17-24Pleasure, righteousness, treasure, contentiousness, and proud scorners 25-31Slothful desire, acceptable sacrifice, true witness, bold conduct, and victory belonging to the LORD

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

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

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

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

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

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

When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

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

A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

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

The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

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

Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

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

He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

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

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

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Proverbs 21:16

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