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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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
1The purposes of the heart are of man, but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
3Commit thy works unto Jehovah, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4Jehovah hath wrought everything on his own account, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5Every proud heart is an abomination to Jehovah: hand for hand, he shall not be held innocent.
6By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for; and by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
7When a man's ways please Jehovah, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.
9The heart of man deviseth his way, but Jehovah directeth his steps.
10An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will not err in judgment.
11The just balance and scales are Jehovah's; all the weights of the bag are his work.
12It 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 aright.
14The fury 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 favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16How much better is it to get wisdom than fine gold, and the getting of intelligence to be preferred to silver!
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that taketh heed to his way keepeth his soul.
18Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the meek, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He that giveth heed to the word shall find good; and whoso confideth in Jehovah, happy is he.
21The wise in heart is called intelligent, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22Wisdom is a fountain of life for him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips increaseth learning.
24Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health for the bones.
25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.
26The appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on.
27A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching fire. 28A false man soweth contention; and a talebearer separateth very friends.
29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into a way that is not good. 30He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise froward things; biting his lips, he bringeth evil to pass.
31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.
32He 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 decision is of Jehovah.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.