## Proverbs Chapter 21

###### Proverbs 21:1
[Proverbs 21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:1)

פַּלְגֵי־מַ֣יִם לֶב־מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהֹוָ֑ה עַֽל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Like water courses is the king’s heart in the hand of the Lord: he directs it wherever he wishes.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
As water courses [in the hands of a man], so is the heart of a king in the hand of the L-rd. Whithersoever He wishes, He inclines it.


###### Proverbs 21:2
[Proverbs 21:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:2)

כׇּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהֹוָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord weighs the heart.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A man's every way is just in his eyes, but the L-rd counts the hearts.


###### Proverbs 21:3
[Proverbs 21:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:3)

עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהֹוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The doing of righteousness and justice is choicer to the L-rd than a sacrifice.


###### Proverbs 21:4
[Proverbs 21:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:4)

רוּם־עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A haughty look, and a proud heart are the sinful growth of the wicked.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Haughtiness of eye and swelling of heart [i.e., desire to satisfy lust] is the plotting of the wicked, [and it is their] sin.


###### Proverbs 21:5
[Proverbs 21:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:5)

מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ־לְמוֹתָ֑ר וְכׇל־אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but everyone that is hasty comes to want.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The thoughts of the upright are for gain alone, and all who are precipitate reap only loss.


###### Proverbs 21:6
[Proverbs 21:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:6)

פֹּ֣עַל אֹ֭צָרוֹת בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־מָֽוֶת׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapour: they lead to death.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The amassing of treasures with a false tongue is a smitten vapor; [they (the treasures) are] snares of death.


###### Proverbs 21:7
[Proverbs 21:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:7)

שֹׁד־רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do justice.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The theft of the wicked affrights them, for they refuse to deal justly [(by returning what they have stolen)].


###### Proverbs 21:8
[Proverbs 21:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:8)

הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פׇּעֳלֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The way of some men is crooked and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Crooked is the way of a man who is strange [to mitzvoth]; but the pure one, his work is just.


###### Proverbs 21:9
[Proverbs 21:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:9)

ט֗וֹב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a roomy house.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Better to dwell on a rooftop corner than [to have] a contentious wife and [one who enters his] friend's house [to converse with his wife].


###### Proverbs 21:10
[Proverbs 21:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:10)

נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־רָ֑ע לֹֽא־יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbour finds no favour in his eyes.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The soul of the evildoer desires evil [knowing that it is evil, and therefore,] his companion [in evil] will not find favor in his eyes.


###### Proverbs 21:11
[Proverbs 21:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:11)

בַּֽעֲנׇשׁ־לֵ֭ץ יֶחְכַּם־פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח־דָּֽעַת׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
When the scorner is punished, the simple man is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
When the scoffer is punished, the simple one gains wisdom [and repents]; and when the wise one receives instruction, he gains wisdom.


###### Proverbs 21:12
[Proverbs 21:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:12)

מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The righteous man who considers the house of the wicked, leads the wicked astray to greater evil.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The Righteous One eyes the house of the wicked [(e.g., Amalek) to destroy it)]; He relegates the wicked to ruin.


###### Proverbs 21:13
[Proverbs 21:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:13)

אֹטֵ֣ם אׇ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
If one closes his ear to the pauper's cry, he, too, will call out and not be answered.


###### Proverbs 21:14
[Proverbs 21:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:14)

מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A gift in secret pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The hidden gift [(charity)] will cover up wrath, and a bribe in the bosom [(likewise, charity)] [will cover up] strong fury.


###### Proverbs 21:15
[Proverbs 21:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:15)

שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but it is the downfall of the workers of iniquity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The doing of justice [(i.e., G-d's afflicting them)] is joy to the righteous [(in that it purges them for the world to come)], but it is breaking to the workers of iniquity [(in that they do not take heart to repent, so that the afflictions are "wasted" upon them)].


###### Proverbs 21:16
[Proverbs 21:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:16)

אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the shades.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The man who wanders from the path of wisdom [(Torah)] will rest in the congregation of the shades [(Gehinnom)].


###### Proverbs 21:17
[Proverbs 21:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:17)

אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The lover of joy will be a man of want; the lover of wine and oil will not grow rich.


###### Proverbs 21:18
[Proverbs 21:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:18)

כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The wicked one will be ransom for the righteous one [e.g., Haman for Mordecai], and the faithless one for the just.


###### Proverbs 21:19
[Proverbs 21:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:19)

ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת (מדונים) [מִדְיָנִ֣ים] וָכָֽעַס׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
It is better to live in the wilderness, than with a contentious and shrewish woman.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Better to dwell in a wasteland than with a contentious woman in the midst of anger.


###### Proverbs 21:20
[Proverbs 21:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:20)

אוֹצָ֤ר**׀** נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Costly things and oil are treasured up in the wise man’s dwelling: but a fool devours them.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A goodly treasure and oil [endure] in the abode of the wise, and the folly of man swallows it up [at once].


###### Proverbs 21:21
[Proverbs 21:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:21)

רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He that follows righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness, and honour.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
He who pursues righteousness and lovingkindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.


###### Proverbs 21:22
[Proverbs 21:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:22)

עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽהֿ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and casts down the stronghold in which it trusts.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The wise one [(Moses)] went up to the city of the strong [(the angels)] and brought down the "strength of its trust" [i.e., the Torah].


###### Proverbs 21:23
[Proverbs 21:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:23)

שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִצָּר֣וֹת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
One who guards his mouth and tongue [(from improper speech)] guards his soul from evil.


###### Proverbs 21:24
[Proverbs 21:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:24)

זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The proud and haughty one, scorner is his name, acts in arrogant wrath.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The wanton boaster, his name is "scoffer" [i.e., he is destined to become a scoffer.] He acts in the wrath of wantonness.


###### Proverbs 21:25
[Proverbs 21:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:25)

תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The desire of the lazy man kills him; for his hands refuse to labour;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The lust of the sluggard [(to vegetate)] will kill him, for his hands will refuse to do.


###### Proverbs 21:26
[Proverbs 21:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:26)

כׇּל־הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
he covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The whole day he will court lust, though the Righteous One give him [all of his necessities] and not spare.


###### Proverbs 21:27
[Proverbs 21:27](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:27)

זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־בְזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with evil intent?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The offering of the wicked is an abomination; how much more so when they bring it with evil intent [e.g., the offerings of Balak and Bilam].


###### Proverbs 21:28
[Proverbs 21:28](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:28)

עֵד־כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ לָנֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A false witness shall perish: but the word of a man who truly attends shall endure.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The deceitful witness will go lost, but the man who heeds ["You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:13)] will speak forever.


###### Proverbs 21:29
[Proverbs 21:29](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:29)

הֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא**׀** (יכין דרכיו) [יָבִ֬ין דַּרְכּֽוֹ]׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he considers his way.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The wicked man shows his brazenness in his wrath, but the upright one sets his paths aright.


###### Proverbs 21:30
[Proverbs 21:30](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:30)

אֵ֣ין חׇ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהֹוָֽה׃{פ}

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the L-rd [(No honor is accorded the sage at the expense of desecration of the Name.)]


###### Proverbs 21:31
[Proverbs 21:31](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/21:31)

ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַיהֹוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but safety comes from the Lord.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[Though] the horse be set for the day of war, the salvation is the L-rd's.