The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Justice” it comes from the Hebrew Word “tsedaqah” which means “righteousness, justice.”
Solomon reflects on divine sovereignty over rulers while contrasting righteous and wicked living. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Proverbs 21.
Solomon declares, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will,” every way of a man being right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondering the hearts, to do “justice,” “tsedaqah” in Hebrew, and judgment being more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Solomon describes how a highminded look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin, the thoughts of the diligent tending only to plenteousness, but everyone who is hasty only to want, the getting of treasures by a lying tongue being a vanity tossed to and fro by those who seek death, better it being to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
Solomon closes with numerous practical observations, the soul of the wicked desiring evil, his neighbor finding no favor in his eyes, he who stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he too shall cry himself, but not be heard, a gift in secret pacifying anger, and a reward in the bosom strong wrath, it being joy to the just to do judgment, but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity, closing with the observation that whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles, and that there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
Solomon’s memorable image, the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water, He turns it wherever He wishes, offers real confidence that even the most powerful human rulers remain genuinely subject to God’s greater, sovereign direction. His observation that doing justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice reinforces this collection’s consistent priority, genuine ethical living over mere religious ritual disconnected from actual righteous conduct.
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