Mishlei (Pro) 16
16
1A person is responsible to prepare his heart,
but how the tongue speaks is from Adonai.
2All a man’s ways are pure in his own view,
but Adonai weighs the spirit.
3If you entrust all you do to Adonai,
your plans will achieve success.
4Adonai made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5Adonai detests all those with proud hearts;
be assured that they will not go unpunished.
6Grace and truth atone for iniquity,
and people turn from evil through fear of Adonai.
7When a man’s ways please Adonai,
he makes even the man’s enemies be at peace with him.
8Better a little with righteousness
than a huge income with injustice.
9A person may plan his path,
but Adonai directs his steps.
10Divine inspiration is on the lips of the king,
so his mouth must be faithful when he judges.
11The balance and scales of justice have their origin in Adonai;
all the weights in the bag are his doing.
12It is an abomination for a king to do evil,
for the throne is made secure by righteousness.
13The king should delight in righteous lips,
and he should love someone who speaks what is right.
14The king’s anger is a herald of death,
and one who is wise will appease it.
15When the king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like the clouds that bring spring rain.
16How much better than gold it is to gain wisdom!
Yes, rather than money, choose to gain understanding.
17Avoiding evil is the highway of the upright;
he who watches his step preserves his life.
18Pride goes before destruction,
and arrogance before failure.
19Better to be humble among the poor
than share the spoil with the proud.
20He who has skill in a matter will succeed;
he who trusts in Adonai will be happy.
21A wise-hearted person is said to have discernment,
and sweetness of speech adds to learning.
22Common sense is a fountain of life to one who has it,
whereas fools are punished by their own folly.
23The wise man’s heart teaches his mouth,
and to his lips it adds learning.
24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweet to the taste and healing for the body.
25There can be a way which seems right to a person,
but at its end are the ways of death.
26A working man’s appetite acts on his behalf,
because his hunger presses him on.
27A worthless person digs up evil [gossip] —
it is like scorching fire on his lips.
28A deceitful person stirs up strife,
and a slanderer can separate even close friends.
29A violent man lures his neighbor astray
and leads him into evil ways.
30One who winks knowingly is planning deceit;
one who pinches his lips together has already done wrong.
31White hair is a crown of honor
obtained by righteous living.
32He who controls his temper is better than a war hero,
he who rules his spirit better than he who captures a city.
33One can cast lots into one’s lap,
but the decision comes from Adonai.
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Mishlei (Pro) 16: CJB
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Learn More About Complete Jewish BibleProverbs 16
16
1The plans of the heart belong to man,
but #[Matt. 10:19, 20]the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 # ch. 21:2; [ch. 12:15]; See ch. 30:12 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord #ch. 24:12; See 1 Sam. 16:7weighs the spirit.#16:2 Or spirits
3 # See Ps. 37:5 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 #
Rom. 11:36 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even #Job 21:30; [Ex. 9:16]the wicked for the day of trouble.
5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is #ch. 6:16, 17; 8:13; Luke 16:15 an abomination to the Lord;
# ch. 11:21; [ch. 28:20] be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6By #Dan. 4:27 steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by #ch. 14:16 the fear of the Lord one #ver. 17; Job 28:28turns away from evil.
7When a man’s ways please the Lord,
# [Gen. 26:28; 2 Chr. 17:10] he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 # See ch. 15:16 Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 # [ver. 1; ch. 19:21] The heart of man plans his way,
but #ch. 20:24; [Ps. 37:23; Jer. 10:23]the Lord establishes his steps.
10 # [1 Kgs. 3:28] An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 # See ch. 11:1 A just balance and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for #ch. 25:5; [ch. 20:28; 29:14; Isa. 16:5]the throne is established by righteousness.
13 # [ch. 14:35; 22:11] Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 # ch. 19:12; 20:2 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will #[ch. 25:15]appease it.
15 # [Job 29:24] In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his #[See ver. 13 above] favor is like #[Ps. 72:6]; See Job 29:23the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 # ch. 8:10, 11, 19 How much better to get wisdom than #See ch. 3:14 gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than #ch. 10:20silver.
17The highway of the upright #ver. 6turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 # See ch. 11:2 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 # ch. 29:23; Isa. 57:15 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to #See Ex. 15:9divide the spoil with the proud.
20Whoever gives thought to the word#16:20 Or to a matter #ch. 19:8 will discover good,
and blessed is he #See Ps. 2:12who trusts in the Lord.
21The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech #ver. 23increases persuasiveness.
22Good sense is #See ch. 10:11a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 # [Ps. 37:30; Matt. 12:34] The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 # ch. 15:26 Gracious words are like #Ps. 19:10 a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and #See ch. 4:22health to the body.
25There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.#16:25 Hebrew ways of death
26A worker’s appetite works for him;
his #[Eccles. 6:7]mouth urges him on.
27 # [ch. 6:12, 14, 19] A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech#16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips is like #James 3:6a scorching fire.
28 # See ch. 15:18 A dishonest man spreads strife,
and #[ch. 18:8; 26:20, 22] a whisperer #ch. 17:9separates close friends.
29A man of violence #ch. 1:10entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30Whoever winks his eyes plans#16:30 Hebrew to plan #See ch. 2:12 dishonest things;
he who #[ch. 6:13]purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 # ch. 20:29 Gray hair is #ch. 17:6 a crown of glory;
it #See ch. 3:1, 2is gained in a righteous life.
32 # ch. 14:29; [ch. 19:11; 25:28] Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 # [Acts 1:26] The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is #ch. 29:26from the Lord.
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