Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary

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Proverbs 21

1The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.

2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.

3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.

6Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.

7The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.

8The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.

10The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

11When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.

13Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.

14A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.

15It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

16The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.

17He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.

18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.

19It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.

20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.

21He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.

23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

24The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.

25The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

26There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.

27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!

28A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.

29A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

31The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.

Early Christian commentary

c. 182–188 AD (historical editorial dating) | Irenaeus of Lyons

1. As therefore the devil lied at the beginning, so did he also in the end, when he said, "All these are delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give them." For it is not he who has appointed the kingdoms of this world, but God; for "the heart of the king is in the hand of God." And the Word also says by Solomon, "By me kings do reign, and princes administer justice. By me chiefs are raised up, and by me kings rule the earth." Paul the apostle also says upon this same subject: "Be ye subject to all the higher powers; for there is no power but of God: now those which are have been ordained of God." And again, in reference to them he says, "For he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, the avenger for wrath to him who does evil." Now, that he spake these words, not in regard to angelical powers, nor of invisible rulers—as some venture to expound the passage—but of those of actual human authorities, [he shows when] he says, "For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, doing service for this very thing." This also the Lord confirmed, when He did not do what He was tempted to by the devil; but He gave directions that tribute should be paid to the tax-gatherers for Himself and Peter; because "they are the ministers of God, serving for this very thing."

Verse mention · Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 24, Section 1 · Original source · Irenaeus of Lyons; The Writings of Irenaeus, Volume II, Ante-Nicene Christian Library IX; translated by Alexander Roberts and W. H. Rambaut; T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1869. Existing transcription supplied by Wikisource contributors. · Licence · Source revision · Whitespace normalized; source pagination and footnote reference markers removed. English wording unchanged.