Proverbs 16

¹It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.

²All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.

³Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.

⁴The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.

⁵All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.

⁶By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.

⁷When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.

⁸Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.

⁹The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.

¹⁰Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.

¹¹Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.

¹²Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.

¹³Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.

¹⁴The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.

¹⁵In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.

¹⁶Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

¹⁷The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.

¹⁸Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.

¹⁹It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.

²⁰The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.

²¹Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.

²²Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.

²³The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.

²⁴Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.

²⁵There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.

²⁶The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.

²⁷The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

²⁸A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.

²⁹A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.

³⁰Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.

³¹Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

³²A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.

³³Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.

Proverbs 16

¹It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.

²All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.

³Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.

⁴The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.

⁵Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice: and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.

⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed; and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

⁷When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.

⁸Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

⁹The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.

¹⁰Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.

¹¹Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.

¹²They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.

¹³Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.

¹⁴The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.

¹⁶Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

¹⁷The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.

¹⁸Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.

¹⁹It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

²⁰The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.

²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words, shall attain to greater things.

²²Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

²³The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.

²⁴Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

²⁵There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.

²⁶The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.

²⁷The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

²⁸A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.

²⁹An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.

³⁰He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth evil to pass.

³¹Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

³²The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh cities.

³³Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.