Chapter Twenty-One

1–3. The universality of God’s Providence governing the paths of the world and human being. 4–8. Against arrogance, greed, deceptions, and violence. 9–18. Against lack of mercy and other vices in relation to neighbors. 19–26. Instructions of similar moral-teaching content. 27–31. Recompense from the Lord to the righteous and sinful.

Proverbs 21:1. The heart of a king is in the hand of the Lord, like channels of water: wherever He wishes, He turns it. Proverbs 21:2. All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the hearts. Proverbs 21:3. To do righteousness and justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice. The image of “channels (or streams) of waters” (v. 1) is borrowed from the practice of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Chaldea—to fertilize the land for grains, fruits, and vegetables through artificial irrigation—through channels in gardens, orchards, and fields. The meaning of the comparison is that, just as these channels are entirely dependent on the will of their maker in their direction, so also the heart of the king in his undertakings for the benefit of the people is not left to his own willfulness, but receives inspiration from the All-Wise Ruler of the world—God. At the same time, the mention of channels of water suggests the thought of the benefits of royal power (cf. Ps 1:3; Isa 32:2)—a thought entirely in accord with the ideal conception of it in the Wise One’s mind (cf. Prov 20:2 and others). V. 2 see Prov 16:2). The thought of v. 3 regarding the preferability before God of deeds of righteousness and justice over sacrifices (see Prov 15:8) is common to the teaching books (see e.g., Ps 49:7 ff.) with the prophetic (Mic 6:6-8, Isa 1.11 ff. see 1 Sam 15:22) and constitutes a foretoken of the Savior’s teaching, that “the greater [things] of the law—judgment, mercy and faith” (Matt 23:23).

Proverbs 21:4. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, which mark the wicked, are sin. Proverbs 21:5. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty, but all hasty plans lead only to want. Proverbs 21:6. The getting of treasures by a deceitful tongue is a vanishing breath, a snare of death. Proverbs 21:7. The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just. Proverbs 21:8. The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the pure is upright. Arrogance and pride are condemned (v. 4), whose fruits are pronounced to be altogether sin (the Church Slavonic translation “lamp,” corresponding to Greek λαμπτήρ, Latin lucerna, Hebrew Nir or Ner, more accurately Russian Synodal “which mark”; in Archbishop Macarius better, “lamp”), and from a practical point of view the result of the activity of a deliberate and diligent person is approved, and the conduct of a neglectful person is condemned (v. 5, cf. Prov 19:2), but from a moral point of view immediately unrighteous gain is condemned (v. 6) with an indication of the judgment of God awaiting the wicked and their ruin (vv. 7–8).

Proverbs 21:9. Better to live in a corner of the roof than with a quarrelsome wife in a large house. Proverbs 21:10. The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. Proverbs 21:11. When the mocker is punished, the naive becomes wise; when the wise is instructed, he gains knowledge. Proverbs 21:12. The righteous considers the house of the wicked: how the wicked are brought down to ruin. Proverbs 21:13. Whoever stops his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be heard. Proverbs 21:14. A gift in secret calms anger, and a present hidden in the bosom turns away strong wrath. Proverbs 21:15. The execution of justice brings joy to the righteous and fear to those who do evil. Proverbs 21:16. A person who wanders from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. Proverbs 21:17. Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will not become rich. Proverbs 21:18. The wicked becomes a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright. According to the Wise One’s thought (v. 9), expressed by him more than once (Prov 17:1) and generally in Old Testament teaching literature (Sir 25:18), the moral blessings of family life: love, peace, and the like stand above all material blessings; hence living together with an evil wife cannot be compensated by any external comfort of life. V. 10. With the wicked in general, one should not enter into any friendship. V. 11. See Prov 19:25. Further it speaks: of the opposite external fate of the righteous and wicked (vv. 12, 18), of the sin of lack of mercy toward the neighbor (vv. 13, see Matt 25:41 ff. Matt 18:23-35), of justice and deviations from it (vv. 14–15, cf. Prov 17:8), of deviation from the path of true wisdom and the sad fate of those who deviate (v. 16: Russian Synodal translation “in the assembly of the dead,” in Archbishop Macarius more accurately: “in the society of Rephaim,” LXX: εν συναγωγῆ γιγάντων, Vulgate: in coetu gigantum, Church Slavonic: “in the multitude of giants,” cf. Gen 6:4; Prov 2:18), and finally of the harm of luxury and unrestrained living (v. 17, see Prov 23:29 ff.).

Proverbs 21:19. Better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and angry wife. Proverbs 21:20. Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise, but a foolish person squanders them. Proverbs 21:21. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:22. A wise person scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trusted. Proverbs 21:23. Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress. Proverbs 21:24. The arrogant and insolent person—a scoffer is his name—acts in the pride of his heart. Proverbs 21:25. The craving of the lazy person kills him, because his hands refuse to work. Proverbs 21:26. All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. In v. 19 one of the frequently repeated images or comparisons in the book of Proverbs regarding evil women is found (see v. 9, Prov 25:24; cf. Sir 25:21). V. 20 see v. 17. V. 21 see Prov 19:17. The thought of v. 22 about the superiority of wisdom over strength is met again in Eccl 9:16. On guarding the tongue and the gift of speech—v. 23—was spoken of above: Prov 13:3; Matt 12:36. The depiction in v. 24 of the daring and mocker is similar to Hab 2:5. In vv. 25–26 there is a contrast between the lazy person on one side and the diligent, righteous, and merciful on the other (cf. Ps 36:26).

Proverbs 21:27. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, especially when brought with malice. Proverbs 21:28. A false witness will perish; but a person who speaks what he knows will speak forever. Proverbs 21:29. A wicked person is bold in his face, but the righteous holds firm his path. Proverbs 21:30. There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord. Proverbs 21:31. A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is from the Lord. The thought regarding the unacceptability to God of the sacrifice of the wicked (v. 27a), already expressed earlier (Prov 15:6), is now strengthened by the addition that this sacrifice is usually joined “with wickedness” (v. 27b, Hebrew bez imma), that is, from impure motives, even with criminal objectives (LXX: παρανόμως, Vulgate: ex scelere), cf. Sir 34:18 ff. Mal 1:3. Further—speech about the shameless, false witness and the truthful witness (vv. 23–29, see Prov 19:5), about the absence of true wisdom in the wicked (v. 30, see Ezek 28:5; Job 5:13), finally, about the fact that the source of all wisdom and strength is in God and His aid (v. 31, see Ps 19:8-9).