The Book of Proverbs Chapter 21

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of
water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
turneth: 5186
htn Natah (naw-taw'); Verb, Strong #: 5186

1. to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow
a. (Qal)
1. to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer
2. to spread out, pitch (tent)
3. to bend, turn, incline 1a
b. to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down 1a
c. to bend, bow 1a
d. to hold out, extend (fig.)
e. (Niphal) to be stretched out
f. (Hiphil)
1. to stretch out
2. to spread out

3. to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside,
 thrust away

Like a canal directs the flow of a body of water, Jehovah directs the direction
of the hearts of Kings.
Joshua Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
11:18
Joshua There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the
11:19 inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.
Joshua For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in
11:20 battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that
he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD
pondereth the hearts.
Pondereth H8505 ‫ תכן‬tâkan taw-kan'
A primitive root; to balance, that is, measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively
to arrange, equalize, through the idea of levelling (mentally estimate, test): - bear up,
direct, be ([un-]) equal, mete, ponder, tell, weigh.
God measures out our hearts:
Psalm 44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange
god;
Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Proverbs 21:3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD
than sacrifice.
Jesus explaines how those who make sacrifices without justice, judgement
and equity, are backward thinkers:
Matthew Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise
23:23 and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy,
and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matthew Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
23:24
Samuel’s message to Saul:
I Samuel And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as
15:22 in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
hearken than the fat of rams.
I Samuel For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
15:23 Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from
being king.
Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the
wicked, is sin.
This is mentioned in the seven abominations in Proverbs 6:16-19
Proverbs The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the
8:13 froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but
of every one that is hasty only to want.
Do the job right the first time. A diligent person is alert, pays attention to
detail, and is determined to do the job right. A hasty person is in a hurry and
only does what it takes to get by without thinking things through.
Proverbs 21:6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed
to and fro of them that seek death.
A lying tongue is another one of the seven abominations mentioned in
Proverbs chapter 6.
John Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth
8:42 and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
8:43
John Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer
8:44 from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
8:45
John Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
8:46
John He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of
8:47 God.
Proverbs 21:7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they
refuse to do judgment.
They lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
Proverbs 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Proverbs 1:16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Proverbs 1:17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
Proverbs 1:18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
Proverbs 21:8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure,
his work is right.
When we try to remain pure, the froward think that we are strange:
I Peter For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles,
4:3 when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and
abominable idolatries:
I Peter Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot,
4:4 speaking evil of you:
I Peter Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
4:5
Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a
brawling woman in a wide house.
The only reason Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement was for the
hardness of a mans heart.
Mark And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his
10:2 wife? tempting him.
Mark And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
10:3
Mark And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
10:4
Mark And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you
10:5 this precept.
Mark But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
10:6
Mark For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
10:7
Mark And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
10:8
Mark What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
10:9
Proverbs 21:10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth
no favour in his eyes.
Proverbs 21:11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and
when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
There are two ways by which the simple may be made wise:
1. By the punishments that are inflicted on those that are incorrigibly wicked.
Proverbs Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath
19:25 understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
2. By the instructions that are given to those that are wise and willing to be
taught.
Proverbs A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
17:10
Proverbs 21:12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the
wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
Good men envy not the prosperity of evil-doers; they see there is a curse on
them.
II Peter For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered
2:4 them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
II Peter And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of
2:5 righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
II Peter And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an
2:6 overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
II Peter And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2:7
II Peter (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous
2:8 soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
II Peter The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust
2:9 unto the day of judgment to be punished:
II Peter But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise
2:10 government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of
dignities.
Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall
cry himself, but shall not be heard.
We should not stop their ears at the cry of the poor.
I John But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his
3:17 bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
The rich man was not heard by Lazarus:
Luke There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
16:19 sumptuously every day:
Luke And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
16:20
Luke And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover
16:21 the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's
16:22 bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and
16:23 Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he
16:24 may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this
flame.
Luke But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things,
16:25 and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Proverbs 21:14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom
strong wrath.
Esau and Jacob are an Old Testament example as well as Abigail and David.
The policy that is commonly used in giving and receiving bribes. It must be a
gift in secret and a reward in the bosom, for he that takes it would not be
thought to covet it, nor known to receive it, nor would he willingly be
beholden to him whom he has been offended with; but, if it be done privately,
all is well.
Proverbs 21:15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be
to the workers of iniquity.
It is joy to the just to do judgment:
Proverbs 29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity:

Matthew Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
7:21 heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
7:22 and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
7:23 iniquity.
Proverbs 21:16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding
shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not
God.
Jude Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of
1:11 Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Jude These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves
1:12 without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit
 withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jude Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is
1:13 reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth
wine and oil shall not be rich.
A life of worldly pleasure brings ruin on men.
Galatians Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
5:19 uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:20
Galatians Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you
5:21 before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God.
Proverbs 21:18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the
transgressor for the upright.
Proverbs 11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a
contentious and an angry woman.
The more violent a man is in sinful pursuits, the more he hastens his own
destruction.
Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the
wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Oil is figuratively used for richness:
Oil - H8081 ‫ שמן‬shemen sheh'-men
From H8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively
richness: - anointing, X fat (things), X fruitful, oil ([-ed]), ointment, olive, + pine.
Proverbs 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life,
righteousness, and honour.
True repentance and faith will lead the elect of God to rely on the mercy of
God in Christ, to follow after righteousness and mercy in his own conduct.
Colossians Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
3:12 kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel
3:13 against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Colossians And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
3:14
Colossians And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one
3:15 body; and be ye thankful.
Proverbs 21:22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth
down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul
from troubles.
Ephesians Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
5:1
Ephesians And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an
5:2 offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Ephesians But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
5:3 among you, as becometh saints;
Ephesians Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but
5:4 rather giving of thanks.
Proverbs 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in
proud wrath.
James Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow
1:19 to wrath:
James For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
1:20
Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to
labour.
Proverbs 21:26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous
giveth and spareth not.
Killeth - H4191 ‫ מות‬mûth mooth
A primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively to kill: - X at all, X crying,
(be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy (-er), (cause to, be like to,
must) die, kill, necro [-mancer], X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in [no]
wise.
He coveteth greedily all the day long. These are complainers and cry babies.
Jude These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth
1:16 speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of
advantage.
But the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Acts And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any
4:32 of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things
common.
Acts And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and
4:33 great grace was upon them all.
Acts Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or
4:34 houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Acts And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man
4:35 according as he had need.
Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more,
when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
When holiness is pretended, but wickedness intended, that especially is an
abomination.
Proverbs 21:28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth
speaketh constantly.
1. The doom of a false witness.
Acts And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she
5:8 said, Yea, for so much.
Acts Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the
5:9 Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall
carry thee out.
Acts Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men
5:10 came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Acts And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
5:11

2. But the man that heareth speaketh constantly. The word speaketh refers
to teaching.
Speaketh - H1696 ‫ דבר‬dâbar daw-bar'
A primitive root; perhaps properly to arrange; but used figuratively (of words) to speak;
rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue: - answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,
declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman,
subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use [entreaties], utter, X well, X work.

Peterand the other apostles were not going to stop teaching for no man:
Acts Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are
5:25 standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Acts Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they
5:26 feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
Acts And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest
5:27 asked them,
Acts Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and,
5:28 behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood
upon us.
Acts Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than
5:29 men.
Proverbs 21:29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he
directeth his way.
Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against
the LORD.
We should walk by faith, not by sight when we follow the LORD, Jehovah:
II Corinthians For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
10:3
II Corinthians (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
10:4 pulling down of strong holds;)
II Corinthians Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
10:5 knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ;
II Corinthians And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is
10:6 fulfilled.
Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety
is of the LORD.
As Christians, we are not dependent on fleshly horses:
Isaiah Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When
31:3 the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen
shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
We are dependent on The Word of God.
Revelation And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was
19:11 called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Revelation His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a
19:12 name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Revelation And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The
19:13 Word of God.
So we should Study to show thyself approved unto God.
II Timothy Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
2:15 ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.