GOD SEES THE RIGHTEOUS

Proverbs 21:1-19 / Keywords 21:3

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

21:1 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water

    that he channels toward all who please him.

2 A person may think their own ways are right,

    but the Lord weighs the heart.

3 To do what is right and just

    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—

    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit

    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6 A fortune made by a lying tongue

    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a]

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,

    for they refuse to do what is right.

8 The way of the guilty is devious,

    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9 Better to live on a corner of the roof

    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

10 The wicked crave evil;

    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

12 The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked

    and brings the wicked to ruin.

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor

    will also cry out and not be answered.

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,

    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous

    but terror to evildoers.

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence

    comes to rest in the company of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;

    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,

    and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert

    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

b. Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person

1. God is sovereign even over mighty kings and rulers (1). He sees everyone’s plans (2). He blesses the righteous and he thwarts the wicked (3). We are so often overcome by the evil in this world. Or we are tempted to rely on our own plans to win. We need to come back to God in our thinking and believe that he sees the righteous and he will bless and honor them. We need to come to him on our knees and humbly rely on him to guide, protect, and help us. And he will. Are you trusting in him today? 

2. The ways of the wicked are obvious. They proudly lie, cheat, deceive, bribe, and abuse (4, 5, 6, 8, 10). We must not follow their ways or get caught up in their thinking. We must acknowledge that these ways are wrong. The outcome is sin and wrath (4, 12). We always have a choice in life. The conduct of the innocent is upright (8b). In a world where wrong seems right, it takes courage to live innocently. When we do what is right, we are like Noah, who walked with God in a wicked generation. Let’s not stray from the truth and live in regret (16). 

3. This passage contains sad warnings about home life turning sour (9, 12, 19). The family that worships together grows in righteousness. Those who chase after pleasure fall into misery (16, 17). 

Prayer Father, thank you for blessing those who choose to live uprightly. Give us the courage to do so and experience your peace, joy, and protection. 

One Word God’s eyes are on the righteous