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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Proverbs 16
16
Wisdom’s Blessings Come from the LORD
1The plans of the heart belong to humans,
but an answer on the tongue comes from the Lord.
2A person thinks all his ways are pure,
but the Lord weighs motives.
3Entrust your efforts to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed.
4The Lord has made everything for his own purpose,
even wicked people for the day of trouble.
5Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to the Lord.
Certainly, ⌞such a person⌟ will not go unpunished.
6By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the Lord.
By the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided.
7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better a few ⌞possessions⌟ gained honestly
than many gained through injustice.
9A person may plan his own journey,
but the Lord directs his steps.
10When a divine revelation is on a king’s lips,
he cannot voice a wrong judgment.
11Honest balances and scales belong to the Lord.
He made the entire set of weights.
12Wrongdoing is disgusting to kings
because a throne is established through righteousness.
13Kings are happy with honest words,
and whoever speaks what is right is loved.
14A king’s anger announces death,
but a wise man makes peace with him.
15When the king is cheerful, there is life,
and his favor is like a cloud bringing spring rain.
16How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold,
and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.
17The highway of decent people turns away from evil.
Whoever watches his way preserves his own life.
18Pride precedes a disaster,
and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.
19Better to be humble with lowly people
than to share stolen goods with arrogant people.
20Whoever gives attention to the Lord’s word prospers,
and blessed is the person who trusts the Lord.
21The person who is truly wise is called understanding,
and speaking sweetly helps others learn.
22Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it,
but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity.
23A wise person’s heart controls his speech,
and what he says helps others learn.
24Pleasant words are ⌞like⌟ honey from a honeycomb—
sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body.
Words of Advice to a Wise Son
25There is a way that seems right to a person,
but eventually it ends in death.
26A laborer’s appetite works to his advantage,
because his hunger drives him on.
27A worthless person plots trouble,
and his speech is like a burning fire.
28A devious person spreads quarrels.
A gossip separates the closest of friends.
29A violent person misleads his neighbor
and leads him on a path that is not good.
30Whoever winks his eye is plotting something devious.
Whoever bites his lips has finished his evil work.
31Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life.
32Better to get angry slowly than to be a hero.
Better to be even-tempered than to capture a city.
33The dice are thrown,
but the Lord determines every outcome.
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