Proverbs 16

Wisdom’s Blessings Come From the Lord

1 The plans of the heart belong to humans,but an answer on the tongue comes from the Lord.2 A person thinks all his ways are pure,but the Lord weighs motives.3 Entrust your efforts to the Lord,and your plans will succeed.4 The Lord has made everything for his own purpose,even wicked people for the day of trouble.5 Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to the Lord.Certainly, such a person will not go unpunished.6 By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the Lord.By the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided.7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.8 Better a few possessions gained honestlythan many gained through injustice.9 A person may plan his own journey,but the Lord directs his steps.10 When a divine revelation is on a king’s lips,he cannot voice a wrong judgment.11 Honest balances and scales belong to the Lord.He made the entire set of weights.12 Wrongdoing is disgusting to kingsbecause a throne is established through righteousness.13 Kings are happy with honest words,and whoever speaks what is right is loved.14 A king’s anger announces death,but a wise man makes peace with him.15 When the king is cheerful, there is life,and his favor is like a cloud bringing spring rain.16 How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold,and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.17 The highway of decent people turns away from evil.Whoever watches his way preserves his own life.18 Pride precedes a disaster,and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.19 Better to be humble with lowly peoplethan to share stolen goods with arrogant people.20 Whoever gives attention to the Lord’s word prospers,and blessed is the person who trusts the Lord.21 The person who is truly wise is called understanding,and speaking sweetly helps others learn.22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it,but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity.23 A wise person’s heart controls his speech,and what he says helps others learn.24 Pleasant words are like honey from a honeycomb—sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body.

Words of Advice to a Wise Son

25 There is a way that seems right to a person,but eventually it ends in death.26 A laborer’s appetite works to his advantage,because his hunger drives him on.27 A worthless person plots trouble,and his speech is like a burning fire.28 A devious person spreads quarrels.A gossip separates the closest of friends.29 A violent person misleads his neighborand leads him on a path that is not good.30 Whoever winks his eye is plotting something devious.Whoever bites his lips has finished his evil work.31 Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life.32 Better to get angry slowly than to be a hero.Better to be even-tempered than to capture a city.33 The dice are thrown,but the Lord determines every outcome.

Proverbs 16

1 The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.

3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.

4 Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.

9 A man’s heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.

11 A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s; All the weights of the bag are his work.

12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.

15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.

16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18 Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is their folly.

23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

26 The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him thereto.

27 A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.

28 A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.

30 He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.