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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Proverbs 16: NIVUK
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 16
16
1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 All 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.
6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15 In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
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