Proverbs 16

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¹The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.

²All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.

³Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.

⁴The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.

⁵Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.

⁶By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.

⁷When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.

⁸Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.

⁹A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.

¹⁰Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.

¹¹True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

¹²Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.

¹³Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.

¹⁴The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.

¹⁵In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.

¹⁶How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.

¹⁷The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.

¹⁹Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.

²⁰He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.

²¹The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.

²²Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.

²³The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.

²⁴Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.

²⁵There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.

²⁶The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.

²⁷A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.

²⁸A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.

²⁹A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.

³⁰He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.

³¹The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.

³²He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.

³³A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.

Proverbs 16

¹The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

²All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weighs the motives.

³Commit your deeds to the Lord, and your plans shall succeed.

⁴The Lord has made everything for its own end- yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: they shall certainly not be unpunished.

⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

⁷When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

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

⁹A man's heart plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.

¹⁰Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

¹¹Honest balances and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are his work.

¹²It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

¹⁴The king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵In the light of the king's face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.

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

¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

²⁰He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the Lord is blessed.

²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

²²Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

²³The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

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

²⁵There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

²⁶The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.

²⁷A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

³⁰One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

³²One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.