KJV King James Version
The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
WEB World English Bible
The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
ASV American Standard Version
The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Rivulets of waters is the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.
Surrounding context — Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Cross-references
Proverbs 16:9A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.Ezra 6:22And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.Proverbs 20:24Man’s goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?Acts 7:10And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.Proverbs 16:1The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.Ezra 7:27-28Blessed [be] the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put [such a thing] as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem:Daniel 4:35And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?Psalm 106:46He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.Isaiah 43:19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert.Nehemiah 2:4Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.Nehemiah 1:11O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.Psalm 105:25He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.Psalm 74:15Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.Psalm 93:4The LORD on high [is] mightier than the noise of many waters, [yea, than] the mighty waves of the sea.Isaiah 44:27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:Revelation 16:4And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.Psalm 114:3The sea saw [it], and fled: Jordan was driven back.Revelation 16:12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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