Proverbs 21 Commentary
The LORD Directs The King’s Heart
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KEY THOUGHT: He turns it wherever He wishes. [Proverbs 21:1b NKJV]
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Proverbs 21 NKJV
The Lord Considers the Heart
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the [a]rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A haughty look, a proud heart,
And the [b]plowing of the wicked are sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue
[c]Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked will [d]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of [e]a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.
9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe [f]behind the back, strong wrath.
15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
And the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to dwell [g]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.
20 There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.
21 He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man [h]scales the city of the mighty,
And brings down the trusted stronghold.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.
24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous gives and does not spare.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!
28 A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
29 A wicked man hardens his face,
But as for the upright, he [i]establishes his way.
30 There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance is of the Lord.
Footnotes
a. Proverbs 21:1 channels
b. Proverbs 21:4 Or lamp
c. Proverbs 21:6 LXX Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vg. Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Tg. They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death
d. Proverbs 21:7 Lit. drag them away
e. Proverbs 21:8 Or The way of a man is perverse and strange;
f. Proverbs 21:14 Under cover, lit. in the bosom
g. Proverbs 21:19 Lit. in the land of the desert
h. Proverbs 21:22 Climbs over the walls of
i. Proverbs 21:29 Qr., LXX understands
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 21 Commentary
The mention of kingship in Verse 1 draws our attention to dominion. An individual was created to rule from the beginning. Dominion is perfect when a man mirrors his Creator – the rule of the Son within an individual.
Verse 2 presents a different picture. An individual’s heart isn’t a stream in the LORD’s hand. So he thinks his own ways are right. But it should be the LORD’s ways and not his ways!
The LORD defines the terms of the relationship. It’s all about God’s ways. The scripture underlines obedience to the terms.
Sacrifices without obedience are a shortcut to the palace. They never work!
The scripture has taken a strong position against wickedness. Don’t share in its troubles. It is not a dress you put on for an occasion and take off after it is all done. Wickedness stays. It is a long night with a nagging wife!
Or like the wicked who crave evil, their neighbors get no mercy from them. If you choose wickedness for a neighbor or a wife, you are in for real trouble. This is life when a man’s heart isn’t a stream that the LORD channels. It is terrible!
The Book of Proverbs is what it is. They are proverbs. The meaning is hidden. You are fooled by thinking it means what it says. Even more so because what the proverb says looks so real and true. But it is a proverb. It takes understanding to draw real value from this book.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. Verse 18.
Read it again and again. The careful New Testament reader will mint gold from this statement.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. Verse 17. This is what we have known and dearly love to be reminded of. But read it again. Only a plowed field can draw real value from these proverbs.
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