Verse 1
Hebrew: לֵב מֶלֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהוָה פַּלְגֵי־מַיִם כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ יַטֶּנּוּ
Translation: “The heart of a king is channels of water in the hand of YHWH; wherever He desires, He inclines it.”
Commentary: “Lev melekh” (heart of a king) is the epicenter of authority, yet “palgei-mayim” (channels of water) suggests fluidity, guided by “yad-YHWH” (hand of YHWH)—a farmer’s precise touch. “Yatennu” (He inclines it) from natah implies subtle redirection. Kings symbolized ultimate power, but here they’re instruments. It’s a theological overture: human will bends to divine intent, a humbling comfort for a chaotic world.
Verse 2
Hebrew: כָּל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִישׁ יָשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו וְתֹכֵן לִבּוֹת יְהוָה
Translation: “Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes, but YHWH is the one who weighs hearts.”
Commentary: “Kol-derekh-ish” (every way of a man) is broad—life’s paths. “Yashar be‘enayv” (upright in his eyes) exposes self-justification, countered by “tokhen libbot” (weighs hearts), where tokhen tests authenticity. God’s gaze pierces our illusions, urging integrity over ego—a universal mirror.
Verse 3
Hebrew: עֲשֹׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַיהוָה מִזֶּבַח
Translation: “To do righteousness and justice is preferred by YHWH over sacrifice.”
Commentary: “‘Asoh tsedaqah u-mishpat” (righteousness and justice) demands action—tsedaqah is equity, mishpat order. “Nivchar” (preferred) signals divine choice over “zevach” (sacrifice), subverting ritualism. It’s prophetic: God seeks character, not transactions.
Verse 4
Hebrew: רוּם־עֵינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵב נִר רְשָׁעִים חַטָּאת
Translation: “Haughty eyes and a wide heart—the lamp of the wicked—is sin.”
Commentary: “Rum-‘enayim” (haughty eyes) and “rechav-lev” (wide heart) denote arrogance and greed. “Nir resha‘im” (lamp of the wicked) suggests their guiding light, but “chatta’t” (sin) reveals its end. Pride fuels folly—a warning against self-exaltation.
Verse 5
Hebrew: מַחְשְׁבוֹת חָרוּץ אַךְ־לְמוֹתָר וְכָל־אָץ אַךְ־לְמַחְסוֹר
Translation: “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to abundance, but every hasty one only to want.”
Commentary: “Machshevot charutz” (thoughts of the diligent) pairs intent with resolve; “motar” (abundance) rewards it. “Kol-‘atz” (every hasty one) rushes to “machsor” (want). “Akh” (only) locks the outcome—patience builds, haste beggars.
Verse 6
Hebrew: פֹּעַל אֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁוֹן שֶׁקֶר הֶבֶל נִדָּף מְבַקְשֵׁי־מָוֶת
Translation: “Working for treasures by a tongue of falsehood is a fleeting vapor—seekers of death.”
Commentary: “Po‘al ’otzarot” (working for treasures) via “leshon sheqer” (tongue of falsehood) yields “hevel niddaf” (fleeting vapor)—empty, scattered. “Mevakshei-mavet” (seekers of death) ties deceit to ruin. Lies promise gain but deliver dust.
Verse 7
Hebrew: שֹׁד־רְשָׁעִים יְגוֹרֵם כִּי מֵאֲנוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט
Translation: “The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, for they refuse to do justice.”
Commentary: “Shod-resha‘im” (violence of the wicked) from shadad (to devastate) boomerangs—”yegorem” (sweep them away). “Me’anu la‘asot mishpat” (refuse to do justice) seals their fate. Injustice is a self-laid trap.
Verse 8
Hebrew: הֲפַכְפַּךְ דֶּרֶךְ אִישׁ וָזָר וְזַךְ יָשָׁר פָּעֳלוֹ
Translation: “Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but the pure one—upright is his deed.”
Commentary: “Hafakhpakh” (crooked) twists like a maze; “ish vaz zar” (guilty man) is strange, deviant. “Zakh yashar po‘alo” (pure, upright deed) contrasts integrity’s clarity. Character shapes paths—duplicity tangles, purity aligns.
Verse 9
Hebrew: טוֹב לָשֶׁבֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּג מֵאֵשֶׁת מִדְיָנִים וּבֵית חָבֶר
Translation: “Better to dwell on a corner of a roof than with a contentious woman in a shared house.”
Commentary: “Tov lashevet” (better to dwell) prefers “pinnat-gag” (roof’s corner)—exposed, solitary—over “eshet midyanim” (contentious woman) in “beit chaver” (shared house). Strife outweighs comfort; peace trumps proximity.
Verse 10
Hebrew: נֶפֶשׁ רָשָׁע אִוְּתָה־רָע לֹא־יֻחַן בְּעֵינָיו רֵעֵהוּ
Translation: “The soul of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.”
Commentary: “Nefesh rasha‘” (soul of the wicked) hungers—”ivv’tah-ra‘” (craves evil)—with “lo-yuchan” (no favor) for “re‘ehu” (neighbor). Evil consumes empathy; malice blinds to the near.
Verse 11
Hebrew: בַּעֲנָשׁ־לֵץ יֶחְכַּם־פֶּתִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּיל לְחָכָם יִקַּח־דָּעַת
Translation: “When a mocker is punished, the simple grow wise; when a wise one gains insight, he takes knowledge.”
Commentary: “Ba‘anash-lets” (punished mocker) educates “peti” (simple); “yechkam” (grow wise) shifts naivety. “B’haskil lechakham” (insight to wise) yields “yiqqach-da‘at” (takes knowledge). Consequences teach fools; reflection deepens sages.
Verse 12
Hebrew: מַשְׂכִּיל צַדִּיק לְבֵית רָשָׁע מְסַלֵּף רְשָׁעִים לָרָע
Translation: “A righteous one discerns the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked to ruin.”
Commentary: “Maskil tzaddiq” (righteous discerns) sees “beit rasha‘” (house of wicked). “Mesallef resha‘im lara‘” (overthrowing to ruin) suggests divine agency through the tzaddiq. Justice perceives and topples evil.
Verse 13
Hebrew: אֹטֵם אָזְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּל גַּם־הוּא יִקְרָא וְלֹא יֵעָנֶה
Translation: “He who stops his ear from the outcry of the poor, even he will call and not be answered.”
Commentary: “‘Otem ’ozno” (stops ear) shuts out “za‘aqat-dal” (outcry of poor)—urgent, human. “Gam-hu yiqra” (even he will call) mirrors need, but “lo ye‘aneh” (not answered) reflects reciprocity. Apathy rebounds.
Verse 14
Hebrew: מַתָּן בַּסֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָף וְשֹׁחַד בַּחֵיק חֵמָה עַזָּה
Translation: “A gift in secret subdues anger, and a bribe in the bosom strong wrath.”
Commentary: “Mattan basseter” (gift in secret) and “shochad bacheiq” (bribe in bosom) pacify “af” (anger) and “chemah ‘azzah” (strong wrath). Covert gain sways emotions—pragmatic, yet ethically shadowed.
Verse 15
Hebrew: שִׂמְחָה לַצַּדִּיק עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וּמְחִתָּה לְפֹעֲלֵי אָוֶן
Translation: “Joy to the righteous is doing justice, but terror to workers of iniquity.”
Commentary: “Simchah latzaddiq” (joy to righteous) flows from “‘asot mishpat” (doing justice); “mechittah” (terror) grips “po‘alei ’aven” (workers of iniquity). Righteousness delights in order; evil dreads it.
Verse 16
Hebrew: אָדָם תּוֹעֶה מִדֶּרֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּל בִּקְהַל רְפָאִים יָנוּחַ
Translation: “A man straying from the way of insight will rest in the assembly of shades.”
Commentary: “’Adam to‘eh” (man straying) abandons “derekh haskel” (way of insight); “biqhal refa’im yanuaḥ” (rest in shades’ assembly) evokes death’s stillness. Folly leads to a ghostly end.
Verse 17
Hebrew: אִישׁ מַחְסוֹר אֹהֵב שִׂמְחָה אֹהֵב יַיִן־וָשֶׁמֶן לֹא יַעֲשִׁיר
Translation: “A man of want loves pleasure; one loving wine and oil will not grow rich.”
Commentary: “’Ish machsor” (man of want) chases “simchah” (pleasure); “’ohev yayin-vashemen” (loving wine and oil) squanders wealth. Hedonism breeds poverty—excess starves substance.
Verse 18
Hebrew: כֹּפֶר לַצַּדִּיק רָשָׁע וְתַחַת יְשָׁרִים בּוֹגֵד
Translation: “A ransom for the righteous is the wicked, and in place of the upright, a traitor.”
Commentary: “Kopher latzaddiq rasha‘” (ransom—wicked for righteous) and “tachat yesharim boged” (traitor for upright) suggest substitution. Evil bears the cost of justice—a cosmic exchange.
Verse 19
Hebrew: טוֹב שֶׁבֶת בְּאֶרֶץ־מִדְבָּר מֵאֵשֶׁת מִדְיָנִים וָכָעַס
Translation: “Better to dwell in a land of wilderness than with a woman of contentions and vexation.”
Commentary: “Tov shevet” (better to dwell) in “’eretz-midbar” (wilderness) beats “eshet midyanim v’kha‘as” (contentious, vexing woman). Strife’s torment outstrips solitude’s harshness.
Verse 20
Hebrew: אוֹצָר נֶחְמָד וְשֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵה חָכָם וּכְסִיל אָדָם יְבַלְּעֶנּוּ
Translation: “A desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.”
Commentary: “’Otzar nechmad vashemen” (treasure and oil) graces “n’veh chakham” (wise’s dwelling); “kesil ’adam yevalla‘ennu” (foolish man swallows) wastes it. Wisdom stores; folly devours.
Verse 21
Hebrew: רֹדֵף צְדָקָה וָחֶסֶד יִמְצָא חַיִּים צְדָקָה וְכָבוֹד
Translation: “One pursuing righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness, and honor.”
Commentary: “Rodef tsedaqah vachesed” (pursuing righteousness and loyalty) reaps “chayyim, tsedaqah, v’khavod” (life, righteousness, honor). Virtue’s chase yields a threefold bounty.
Verse 22
Hebrew: עִיר גִּבֹּרִים עָלָה חָכָם וַיֹּרֶד עֹז מִבְטָחָהּ
Translation: “A wise one scales a city of warriors and brings down the strength of its trust.”
Commentary: “‘Ir gibborim ‘alah chakham” (wise scales warriors’ city); “vayyored ‘oz mivtachah” (brings down trusted strength). Wisdom outmaneuvers brute force—a subtle siege.
Verse 23
Hebrew: שֹׁמֵר פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ שֹׁמֵר מִצָּרוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ
Translation: “One guarding his mouth and tongue guards his soul from troubles.”
Commentary: “Shomer piv u-leshono” (guarding mouth and tongue) shields “nafsho mitzarot” (soul from troubles). Words wield power—restraint preserves life.
Verse 24
Hebrew: זֵד יָהִיר לֵץ שְׁמוֹ עוֹשֶׂה בְּעֶבְרַת זָדוֹן
Translation: “Proud, arrogant—‘Mocker’ is his name—acting in the fury of insolence.”
Commentary: “Zed yahir” (proud, arrogant) defines “letz” (mocker); “‘oseh b’evrat zadon” (acting in insolent fury) marks his deeds. Haughtiness breeds chaos—a named folly.
Verse 25
Hebrew: תַּאֲוַת עָצֵל תְּמִיתֶנּוּ כִּי־מֵאֲנוּ יָדָיו לַעֲשׂוֹת
Translation: “The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.”
Commentary: “Ta’avat ‘atzel” (lazy’s desire) leads to “temithennu” (kills him); “me’anu yadayv la‘asot” (hands refuse work) starves ambition. Want without effort is fatal.
Verse 26
Hebrew: כָּל־הַיּוֹם הִתְאַוָּה תַאֲוָה וְצַדִּיק יִתֵּן וְלֹא יַחְשֹׂךְ
Translation: “All day he craves a craving, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.”
Commentary: “Kol-hayyom hit’avvah ta’avah” (craves all day) contrasts “tzaddiq yitten v’lo yachshokh” (righteous gives, not holding back). Greed hoards; justice shares.
Verse 27
Hebrew: זֶבַח רְשָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָה אַף כִּי־בְזִמָּה יְבִיאֶנּוּ
Translation: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, how much more when he brings it with intent.”
Commentary: “Zevach resha‘im to‘evah” (wicked’s sacrifice—abomination); “af ki-bezimmah yeviennu” (more with intent) deepens the offense. Evil taints even piety—motive matters.
Verse 28
Hebrew: עֵד־כְּזָבִים יֹאבֵד וְאִישׁ שׁוֹמֵעַ לָנֶצַח יְדַבֵּר
Translation: “A witness of lies will perish, but a man who hears will speak forever.”
Commentary: “‘Ed-kezavim yo’ved” (witness of lies perishes); “’ish shomea lanetzach yedabber” (man who hears speaks forever). Falsehood dies; attentive truth endures.
Verse 29
Hebrew: הֵעֵז אִישׁ רָשָׁע בְּפָנָיו וְיָשָׁר הוּא יָבִין דַּרְכּוֹ
Translation: “A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright—he discerns his way.”
Commentary: “He‘ez ’ish rasha‘ befanav” (wicked hardens face)—shameless defiance; “yashar hu yavin darko” (upright discerns way)—clarity guides. Sin blinds; virtue sees.
Verse 30
Hebrew: אֵין חָכְמָה וְאֵין תְּבוּנָה וְאֵין עֵצָה לְנֶגֶד יְהוָה
Translation: “There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel against YHWH.”
Commentary: “Ein” (no) thrice rejects “chokhmah, tevunah, ‘etzah” (wisdom, understanding, counsel) “l’neged YHWH” (against YHWH). Human faculties bow—God’s will reigns.
Verse 31
Hebrew: סוּס מוּכָן לְיוֹם מִלְחָמָה וְלַיהוָה הַתְּשׁוּעָה
Translation: “A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but to YHWH belongs the victory.”
Commentary: “Sus mukhan” (horse prepared) readies for “yom milchamah” (battle day), yet “la-YHWH hatteshu‘ah” (victory to YHWH). Effort equips; God decides—a final nod to sovereignty.
Synthesis
Proverbs 21 pulses with YHWH’s primacy—steering kings (v. 1), weighing hearts (v. 2), prizing justice (v. 3), and trumping wisdom (v. 30, 31). Human traits—pride (v. 4), haste (v. 5), deceit (v. 6), violence (v. 7)—unravel, while diligence (v. 5), righteousness (v. 21), and restraint (v. 23) endure. Socially, it warns of strife (v. 9, 19), apathy (v. 13), and greed (v. 26), urging compassion and truth (v. 28). The Hebrew’s vividness—water, lamps, shades—grounds lofty truths in earthy grit. It’s a call to align with divine order amid human messiness.
Title
“Echoes of Eternity: Proverbs 21 Unveiled from the Hebrew Core”
This reflects the timeless voice (echoes), divine scope (eternity), and textual depth (Hebrew core) of the chapter.