Proverbs 16
1 The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved.
4 The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose-
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.
9 A man's heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.
10 God's verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord's;
all the weights in the bag are His concern.
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,
since a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are a king's delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.
14 A king's fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it.
15 When a king's face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
16 Get wisdom-
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding-
it is preferable to silver.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.
18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble
than to divide plunder with the proud.
20 The one who understands a matter finds success,
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.
21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech increases learning.
22 Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.
23 A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:
sweet to the taste and health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
26 A worker's appetite works for him
because his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A contrary man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man lures his neighbor,
leading him in a way that is not good.
30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.
31 Gray hair is a glorious crown;
it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 Patience is better than power,
and controlling one's temper, than capturing a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16
1 To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.
2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord works out everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth should not betray justice.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will appease it.
15 When a king's face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
but folly brings punishment to fools.
23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
26 The laborer's appetite works for him;
his hunger drives him on.
27 A scoundrel plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained by a righteous life.
32 Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.