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The King’s Heart

(Psalm 21:1-13)

¹ The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

² All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.

³ To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.

⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.

⁶ Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.

⁸ The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.

¹² The Righteous One^(a) considers the house of the wicked; He brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³ Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.

¹⁴ A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe^(a) pacifies great wrath.

¹⁵ Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷ He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never become rich.

¹⁸ The wicked shall become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.

¹⁹ Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

²⁰ Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.

²¹ He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.

²² A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³ He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

²⁴ Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.

²⁵ The craving of the slacker will kill him because his hands refuse to work.²⁶ All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!

²⁸ A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.

²⁹ A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.

³⁰ No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel can prevail against the LORD.³¹ A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.