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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Proverbs 16: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 16
16
1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15 In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
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