9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling [1] woman in a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 He that loveth pleasure [2] shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
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
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.
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe,
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
9 Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
10 Wicked souls love to make trouble; they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.
11 Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening.
12 A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they've planned.
13 If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered.
14 A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person; a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.
15 Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it's a bad day.
16 Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
17 You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.
18 What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs; the plotter gets it in the end.
19 Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse.
9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.
15 It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.
9 It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
10 Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them.
13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.
14 A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
15 Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.
16 The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.
17 Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
18 The wicked are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest.
19 It's better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 21:9-19
Commentary on Proverbs 21:9
(Read Proverbs 21:9)
It is best to shun bitter contention by pouring out the heart before God. For by prudence and patience, with constant prayer, the cross may be removed.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:10
(Read Proverbs 21:10)
The evil desires of a wicked man's heart, lead to baseness in his conduct.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:11
(Read Proverbs 21:11)
The simple may be made wise by punishments on the wicked, and by instructions to those who are willing to be taught.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:12
(Read Proverbs 21:12)
Good men envy not the prosperity of evil-doers; they see there is a curse on them.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:13
(Read Proverbs 21:13)
Such as oppress the poor by beating down wages, such as will not relieve according to their ability those in distress, and those in authority who neglect to do justice, stop their ears at the cry of the poor. But doubtless care is to be used in the exercise of charity.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:14
(Read Proverbs 21:14)
If money can conquer the fury of the passions, shall reason, the fear of God, and the command of Christ, be too weak to bridle them?
Commentary on Proverbs 21:15
(Read Proverbs 21:15)
There is true pleasure only in the practice of religion.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:16
(Read Proverbs 21:16)
Of all wanderers in the ways of sin, those are in the most dangerous condition who turn aside into the ways of darkness. Yet there is hope even for them in the all-sufficient Saviour; but let them flee to him without delay.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:17
(Read Proverbs 21:17)
A life of worldly pleasure brings ruin on men.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:18
(Read Proverbs 21:18)
The righteous is often delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead, and so seems as a ransom for him.
Commentary on Proverbs 21:19
(Read Proverbs 21:19)
Unbridled passions spoil the comfort of all relations.