Whatever our judgment is concerning ourselves, the Lord ponders the heart. We are sure that the judgment of God concerning us is according to truth. The proud heart is very ingenious in putting a fair face upon a foul matter, and in making that appear right to itself which is far from being so, to stop the mouth of conscience.Ģ. We are all apt to be partial in judging of ourselves and our own actions, and to think too favourably of our own character, as if there was nothing amiss in it: Every way of a man, even his by-way, is right in his own eyes. Those that are most absolute are under God's government he puts things into their hearts, Rev. The hearts of kings are unsearchable to us, much more unmanageable by us as they have their arcana imperii- state secrets, so that they have great prerogatives of their crown but the great God has them not only under his eye, but in his hand. Even kings' hearts are so, notwithstanding their powers and prerogatives, as much as the hearts of common persons. God can change men's minds, can, by a powerful insensible operation under their spirits, turn them from that which they seemed most intent upon, and incline them to that which they seemed most averse to, as the husbandman, by canals and gutters, turns the water through his grounds as he pleases, which does not alter the nature of the water, nor put any force upon it, any more than God's providence does upon the native freedom of man's will, but directs the course of it to serve his own purpose.Ģ. Even the hearts of men are in God's hand, and not only their goings, as he had said, ch. 31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.1. 30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. 29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable- how much more so when brought with evil intent! 28 A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever. 26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. 25 The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. 24 The proud and arrogant man-'Mocker' is his name he behaves with overweening pride. 23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. 22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. 21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. 20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. 19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. 18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. 17 He who loves pleasure will become poor whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.

16 A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead. 15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. 14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. 13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. 12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. 11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge. 10 The wicked man craves evil his neighbor gets no mercy from him. 9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright. 7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right. 6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin! 5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. 3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. Bible Gateway Proverbs 21 :: NIV Proverbs 21 1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.