proverbs

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31

16 
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.[a]

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,[b] 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[c] 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;[d]

his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.

11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;

all the weights in the bag[e] are His concern.

12 Wicked behavior[f] 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[g]

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[h] 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.[i]

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:

sweet to the taste[j] and health to the body.[k]

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[l] 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,[m] than capturing a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit weighs spirits
  2. Proverbs 16:5 Lit hand to hand
  3. Proverbs 16:7 Or he
  4. Proverbs 16:10 Or A divination is on the lips of a king
  5. Proverbs 16:11 Merchants kept the stones for their scales in a bag.
  6. Proverbs 16:12 Either the king’s or someone else’s behavior
  7. Proverbs 16:19 Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted
  8. Proverbs 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips
  9. Proverbs 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips
  10. Proverbs 16:24 Lit throat
  11. Proverbs 16:24 Lit bones
  12. Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth
  13. Proverbs 16:32 Lit and ruling over one’s spirit