The King’s Heart (Psalm 21:1–13)
1 Brenton As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out. BSB BSB: The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 Brenton Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts. BSB BSB: All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 Brenton To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices. BSB BSB: To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Brenton A high-minded man is stout-hearted in his pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin. BSB BSB: Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.
6 Brenton He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity on to the snares of death. BSB BSB: Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 Brenton Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly. BSB BSB: The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 Brenton To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right. BSB BSB: The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Brenton It is better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered rooms with unrighteousness, and in an open house.BSB BSB: Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Brenton The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man. BSB BSB: The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Brenton When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge. BSB BSB: When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12 Brenton A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness. BSB BSB: The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Brenton He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear him . BSB BSB: Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 Brenton A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath. BSB BSB: A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 Brenton It is the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy man is abominable with evil-doers.BSB BSB: Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 Brenton A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants. BSB BSB: The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Brenton A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance; BSB BSB: He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 Brenton and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man. BSB BSB: The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 Brenton It is better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.BSB BSB: Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 Brenton A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up. BSB BSB: Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 Brenton The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory. BSB BSB: He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Brenton A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted. BSB BSB: A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Brenton He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble. BSB BSB: He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 Brenton A bold and self-willed and insolent man is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor. BSB BSB: Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 Brenton Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything. BSB BSB: The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 Brenton An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate. BSB BSB: All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 Brenton The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly. BSB BSB: The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 Brenton A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously. BSB BSB: A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 Brenton An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways. BSB BSB: A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 Brenton There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly. BSB BSB: There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 Brenton A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord. BSB BSB: A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.