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.

Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.

7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.

8 A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?

17 A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

Proverbs 18

1 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.

3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy cometh reproach.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good, Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.

9 He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.

10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor goeth humility.

13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.

17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

23 The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.

24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.