Proverbs 16
16
Proverbs concerning Life and Conduct
1The preparations of the heart in man,
and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
3Commit thy works unto the Lord,
and thy thoughts shall be established.
4The Lord hath made all things for himself:
yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord:
though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:
and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7When a man's ways please the Lord,
he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness,
than great revenues without right.
9A man's heart deviseth his way:
but the Lord directeth his steps.
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king:
his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11A just weight and balance are the Lord's:
all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness:
for the throne is established by righteousness.
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings;
and they love him that speaketh right.
14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death:
but a wise man will pacify it.
15In the light of the king's countenance is life;
and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!
and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil:
he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18Pride goeth before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly,
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:
and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
21The wise in heart shall be called prudent:
and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it:
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth,
and addeth learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 #
Prov 14.12. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man;
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26He that laboreth, laboreth for himself;
for his mouth craveth it of him.
27An ungodly man diggeth up evil:
and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28A froward man soweth strife:
and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29A violent man enticeth his neighbor,
and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31The hoary head is a crown of glory,
if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap;
but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
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Proverbs 16: KJVAE
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.
Proverbs 16
16
1The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. # Pr 16:9; 19:21
2All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives. # Lit weighs spirits # 1Sm 16:7; Pr 17:3; 19:21; 21:2
3Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved. # Ps 37:4-5
4The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose —
even the wicked for the day of disaster. # Ex 9:16; Rm 9:21-22
5Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; # 2Ch 32:25; Pr 6:16-17; 8:13
be assured, # Lit hand to hand he will not go unpunished. # Ps 101:5; Pr 11:21; 16:18
6Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, # Dn 4:27; Lk 11:41
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord. # Jb 28:28; Pr 3:7; 14:16
7When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He # Or he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. # 2Ch 17:10
8Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice. # Ps 37:16; Pr 15:16-17; 16:19; 28:6
9A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps. # Ps 37:23; Pr 16:1; 19:21; 20:24; Jr 10:23
10God’s verdict is on the lips of a king; # Or A divination is on the lips of a king # 2Sm 14:17,20; 1Kg 3:28
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment. # 2Sm 23:2-3; Pr 18:14-15
11Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag # Merchants kept the stones for their scales in a bag. are His concern. # Lv 19:36; Pr 11:1; Ezk 45:10; Mc 6:11
12Wicked behavior # Either the king’s or someone else’s behavior is detestable to kings, # Pr 31:3-5
since a throne is established through righteousness. # Ps 101; Pr 25:5
13Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.
14A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it. # Ec 10:4
15When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
16Get wisdom —
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding —
it is preferable to silver. # Pr 3:14; 8:10,19; 22:1
17The highway of the upright # Is 35:8 avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life. # Pr 2:11-13; 15:19
18Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall. # Pr 11:2; 16:5; 18:12; 29:23; Dn 4:37; Ob 3-4
19Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble # Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted # Pr 29:23; Is 57:15
than to divide plunder with the proud. # Ex 15:9; Ps 37:16; Pr 1:13-14; 15:16-17; 16:8
20The one who understands a matter finds success, # Pr 19:8
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy. # Ps 2:12; 34:8; 40:4; 84:12; 146:5; Jr 17:7
21Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech # Lit and sweetness of lips increases learning. # Pr 1:5; 9:9; 16:23
22Insight is a fountain of life # Pr 10:11; 13:14; 14:27 for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.
23A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech. # Lit learning upon his lips # Ps 37:30; Pr 1:5; 9:9; Mt 12:34
24Pleasant words are a honeycomb: # Ps 19:10; Pr 15:26
sweet to the taste # Lit throat and health to the body. # Lit bones # Pr 4:22; 15:30; 25:13
25There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death. # Pr 14:12; 24:20
26A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger # Lit mouth urges him on.
27A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire. # Pr 6:12; 19:28; 26:23; Jms 3:6
28A contrary man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends. # Pr 6:14,19; 17:9; 26:20-21; 28:25
29A violent man lures his neighbor, # Pr 1:10
leading him in a way that is not good. # 1Sm 12:23; Ps 36:4; Pr 28:10
30The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil. # Ps 35:19; Pr 6:12-14; 10:10
31Gray hair is a glorious crown; # Lv 19:32; Pr 4:9; 20:29
it is found in the way of righteousness. # Pr 3:1-2
32Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s temper, # Lit and ruling over one’s spirit than capturing a city. # Pr 25:15,28; 29:11
33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord. # Pr 16:1; 19:21; 21:31
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