Proverbs 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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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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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 favor 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 laborers 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 neighbor
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.
31Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
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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