Proverbs 16
16
1People may make plans in their minds,
but only the Lord can make them come true.
2You may believe you are doing right,
but the Lord will judge your reasons.
3Depend on the Lord in whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
4The Lord makes everything go as he pleases.
He has even prepared a day of disaster for evil people.
5The Lord hates those who are proud.
They will surely be punished.
6Love and truth bring forgiveness of sin.
By respecting the Lord you will avoid evil.
7When people live so that they please the Lord,
even their enemies will make peace with them.
8It is better to be poor and right
than to be wealthy and dishonest.
9People may make plans in their minds,
but the Lord decides what they will do.
10The words of a king are like a message from God,
so his decisions should be fair.
11The Lord wants honest balances and scales;
all the weights are his work.
12Kings hate those who do wrong,
because governments only continue if they are fair.
13Kings like honest people;
they value someone who speaks the truth.
14An angry king can put someone to death,
so a wise person will try to make him happy.
15A smiling king can give people life;
his kindness is like a spring shower.
16It is better to get wisdom than gold,
and to choose understanding rather than silver!
17Good people stay away from evil.
By watching what they do, they protect their lives.
18Pride leads to destruction;
a proud attitude brings ruin.
19It is better to be humble and be with those who suffer
than to share stolen property with the proud.
20Whoever listens to what is taught will succeed,
and whoever trusts the Lord will be happy.
21The wise are known for their understanding.
Their pleasant words make them better teachers.
22Understanding is like a fountain which gives life to those who use it,
but foolishness brings punishment to fools.
23Wise people’s minds tell them what to say,
and that helps them be better teachers.
24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
making people happy and healthy.
25Some people think they are doing right,
but in the end it leads to death.
26The workers’ hunger helps them,
because their desire to eat makes them work.
27Useless people make evil plans,
and their words are like a burning fire.
28A useless person causes trouble,
and a gossip ruins friendships.
29Cruel people trick their neighbors
and lead them to do wrong.
30Someone who winks is planning evil,
and the one who grins is planning something wrong.
31Gray hair is like a crown of honor;
it is earned by living a good life.
32Patience is better than strength.
Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.
33People throw lots to make a decision,
but the answer comes from the Lord.
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Proverbs 16: NCV
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 16
16
1To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.
3Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
4The Lord works out everything to its proper end –
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished.
6Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.
7When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
8Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
9In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.
10The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.
11Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.
13Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.
14A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but the wise will appease it.
15When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favour is like a rain cloud in spring.
16How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to get insight rather than silver!
17The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
18Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,#16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
21The wise in heart are called discerning,
and gracious words promote instruction.#16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
22Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
but folly brings punishment to fools.
23The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
and their lips promote instruction.#16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
24Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
26The appetite of labourers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
27A scoundrel plots evil,
and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.
28A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29A violent person entices their neighbour
and leads them down a path that is not good.
30Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31Grey hair is a crown of splendour;
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
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