The King’s Heart
(Psalms 21:1–13)
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; Pro 16:9Ezr 6:22Pro 20:24Act 7:10Pro 16:1Ezr 7:27-28Dan 4:35Psa 106:46
He directs it where He pleases.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, Pro 16:2Luk 16:15Pro 16:25Jer 17:10Pro 30:121Sa 16:7Pro 24:12Jas 1:22
but the LORD weighs the heart.
To do righteousness and justice 1Sa 15:22Hos 6:6Mic 6:6-8Pro 15:8Mrk 12:33Isa 1:11-17Jer 7:21-23Psa 50:8
is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— 1Pe 5:5Pro 6:17Isa 2:17Luk 18:14Pro 8:13Pro 15:8Pro 21:27Isa 3:16
the guides of the wicked—are sin.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, Pro 10:4Pro 13:41Th 4:11-12Eph 4:28Pro 27:23-27Pro 14:29Pro 28:22Pro 20:21
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue Pro 13:11Pro 10:2Jer 17:11Pro 20:21Pro 8:361Ti 6:9-102Pe 2:3Pro 20:14
is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away Pro 21:21Eph 5:6Mic 3:9-12Pro 22:22-23Psa 7:16Zec 5:3-4Ezk 18:18Ezk 22:13-14
because they refuse to do what is just.
The way of a guilty man is crooked, 1Co 3:31Jn 2:291Jn 3:3Dan 12:10Pro 2:15Psa 14:2-31Pe 1:22-23Act 15:9
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Better to live on a corner of the roof Pro 19:13Pro 21:19Pro 25:24Pro 27:15-16Pro 12:4Pro 17:1Pro 15:17
than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; 1Jn 2:16Mic 3:2-3Pro 3:291Co 10:6Isa 32:6-8Mrk 7:21-22Psa 36:41Sa 25:8-11
his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; Pro 19:25Pro 18:15Act 5:5Pro 9:9Deu 21:21Pro 18:11Co 10:6-11Deu 13:11
and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
The Righteous One 1considers the house of the wicked Pro 14:11Psa 107:43Psa 37:35-362Pe 3:6-7Pro 14:321Co 10:52Pe 2:4-9Amo 4:11
and brings the wicked to ruin.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, Mat 6:14Pro 1:28Pro 28:27Jas 2:13-16Jer 34:16-17Mat 18:30-35Mat 7:2Isa 1:15-17
he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
A gift in secret soothes anger, Pro 19:6Pro 18:161Sa 25:35Mat 6:3-4Pro 17:8Gen 32:20Gen 43:11Pro 17:23
and a covert bribe 2pacifies great wrath.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, Pro 10:29Mat 7:23Ecc 3:12Isa 64:5Job 29:12-17Mat 13:41-42Psa 40:8Jhn 4:34
but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
The man who strays from the path of understanding Heb 10:38Psa 125:51Jn 2:19Heb 10:26-27Psa 49:14Zep 1:6Eph 2:1Heb 6:4-6
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
He who loves pleasure will become poor; Pro 23:211Ti 5:62Ti 3:4Pro 5:10-11Pro 21:20Luk 15:13-16Luk 16:24-25
the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, Pro 11:8Isa 43:3-4Isa 53:4-51Pe 3:18Isa 55:8-9
and the faithless for the upright.
Better to live in the desert Pro 21:9Psa 55:6-7Psa 120:5-6Jer 9:2
than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, Mat 25:3-4Ecc 5:19Psa 112:3Ecc 7:11Pro 15:6Luk 15:14Pro 10:22Psa 23:5
but a foolish man consumes them.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion Mat 5:61Co 15:58Pro 22:41Ti 6:11Heb 12:14Pro 15:92Ti 2:22Isa 51:1
finds life, righteousness, and honor.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty Ecc 7:19Pro 24:5Ecc 9:13-182Sa 20:16-222Sa 5:6-9
and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
He who guards his mouth and tongue Pro 13:3Pro 18:21Pro 17:27-28Jas 1:26Pro 12:13Pro 10:19Jas 3:2-13
keeps his soul from distress.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— Psa 1:1Ecc 7:8-9Mat 2:16Pro 1:22Pro 18:12Pro 19:29Est 3:5-6Isa 16:6
of him who acts with excessive pride.
The craving of the slacker kills him Pro 13:4Mat 25:26Pro 12:24Pro 19:24Pro 12:27Pro 15:19Pro 26:16Pro 24:30-34
because his hands refuse to work.
All day long he covets more, Psa 37:26Act 20:33-35Psa 112:9Eph 4:281Th 2:5-92Co 8:7-9Luk 6:30-36Mat 5:42
but the righteous give without restraint.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— Isa 66:3Mat 23:13Pro 15:8Jer 6:201Sa 15:21-23Amo 5:21-22Isa 1:11-161Sa 13:12-13
how much more so when brought with ill intent!
A lying witness will perish, 2Co 4:13Pro 19:5Pro 19:9Deu 19:16-19Pro 25:182Co 1:17-20Act 12:15Exo 23:1
but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
A wicked man hardens his face, 3 1Th 3:11Hag 1:7Pro 11:5Ezk 18:28Hag 2:18-19Jer 44:16-17Jer 5:3Jer 8:12
but the upright man makes his way sure.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel Act 5:39Pro 19:21Jer 9:23Isa 14:271Co 3:19-20Isa 8:9-10Act 4:27-28Isa 46:10-11
that can prevail against the LORD.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, Psa 20:7Isa 31:1Psa 33:17-18Psa 147:10Psa 3:3Psa 68:20Ecc 9:11Psa 3:8
but victory is of the LORD.