Proverbs 16
16
1To people belong the plans of the heart,
but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.
2All the ways of people
are pure in their eyes,
but the LORD tests the motives.
3Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will succeed.
4The LORD made everything for a purpose,
even the wicked for an evil day.
5The LORD detests all who are arrogant;
they surely won’t go unpunished.
6Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt;
the fear of the LORD turns away evil.
7When people draw favor from the LORD,
even their enemies are at peace with them.
8Better a little with righteousness
than great profits without justice.
9People plan their path,
but the LORD secures their steps.
10A king’s speech is like an oracle;
in a judgment, one can’t go against his words.
11Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s;
all the weights in the bag are his doing.
12Kings detest wicked deeds,
for their thrones are founded on righteousness.
13Kings favor those with righteous lips;
they love words of integrity.
14The king’s anger is a messenger of death;
the wise will calm him.
15There’s life in the light of the king’s face.
His favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.
16Acquiring wisdom is much better than gold,
and acquiring understanding is better than silver.
17The road of those who do right turns away from evil;
those who protect their path guard their lives.
18Pride comes before disaster,
and arrogance before a fall.
19Better to be humble with the needy
than to divide plunder with the proud.
20Those with insight find prosperity;
those who trust the LORD are blessed.
21The skilled mind is called discerning,
and pleasant speech enhances teaching.
22One who has insight is a fountain of life,
but the instruction of the foolish is folly.
23The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful
and enhances the teaching of their lips.
24Pleasant words are flowing honey,
sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.
25There is a path that may seem straight to someone,
but in the end it is the path of death.
26The appetite of workers labors for them,
for their hunger presses them on.
27Worthless people dig up trouble;
their lips are like a scorching fire.
28Destructive people produce conflict;
gossips alienate close friends.
29Violent people entice their neighbors
and walk them down a path that isn’t good.
30Those who wink their eye plot destruction;
those who purse their lips plan evil.
31Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is found on the path of righteousness.
32Better to be patient than a warrior,
and better to have self-control than to capture a city.
33The dice are cast into the lap;
all decisions are from the LORD.
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Proverbs 16: CEB
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