The King’s Heart (Psalm 21:1–13)
1 CPDV Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills. BSB BSB: The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 CPDV Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts. BSB BSB: All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 CPDV To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices. BSB BSB: To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 CPDV To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin. BSB BSB: Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5 CPDV The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need. BSB BSB: The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 CPDV Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death. BSB BSB: Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 CPDV The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment. BSB BSB: The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 CPDV The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright. BSB BSB: The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 CPDV It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house. BSB BSB: Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 CPDV The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor. BSB BSB: The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 CPDV When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he 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 CPDV The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil. BSB BSB: The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 CPDV Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded. BSB BSB: Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 CPDV A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation. BSB BSB: A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 CPDV It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity. BSB BSB: Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 CPDV A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants. BSB BSB: The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 CPDV Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched. BSB BSB: He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 CPDV The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright. BSB BSB: The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 CPDV It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman. BSB BSB: Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 CPDV There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it. BSB BSB: Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 CPDV Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory. BSB BSB: He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 CPDV The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence. BSB BSB: A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 CPDV Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish. BSB BSB: He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 CPDV A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride. BSB BSB: Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 CPDV Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all. BSB BSB: The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 CPDV He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease. BSB BSB: All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 CPDV The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness. BSB BSB: The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 CPDV A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory. BSB BSB: A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 CPDV The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way. BSB BSB: A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 CPDV There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord. BSB BSB: There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 CPDV The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation. 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.