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
1To people belong the plans of the heart,
but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.
2All the ways of people
are pure in their eyes,
but the LORD tests the motives.
3Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will succeed.
4The LORD made everything for a purpose,
even the wicked for an evil day.
5The LORD detests all who are arrogant;
they surely won’t go unpunished.
6Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt;
the fear of the LORD turns away evil.
7When people draw favor from the LORD,
even their enemies are at peace with them.
8Better a little with righteousness
than great profits without justice.
9People plan their path,
but the LORD secures their steps.
10A king’s speech is like an oracle;
in a judgment, one can’t go against his words.
11Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s;
all the weights in the bag are his doing.
12Kings detest wicked deeds,
for their thrones are founded on righteousness.
13Kings favor those with righteous lips;
they love words of integrity.
14The king’s anger is a messenger of death;
the wise will calm him.
15There’s life in the light of the king’s face.
His favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.
16Acquiring wisdom is much better than gold,
and acquiring understanding is better than silver.
17The road of those who do right turns away from evil;
those who protect their path guard their lives.
18Pride comes before disaster,
and arrogance before a fall.
19Better to be humble with the needy
than to divide plunder with the proud.
20Those with insight find prosperity;
those who trust the LORD are blessed.
21The skilled mind is called discerning,
and pleasant speech enhances teaching.
22One who has insight is a fountain of life,
but the instruction of the foolish is folly.
23The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful
and enhances the teaching of their lips.
24Pleasant words are flowing honey,
sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.
25There is a path that may seem straight to someone,
but in the end it is the path of death.
26The appetite of workers labors for them,
for their hunger presses them on.
27Worthless people dig up trouble;
their lips are like a scorching fire.
28Destructive people produce conflict;
gossips alienate close friends.
29Violent people entice their neighbors
and walk them down a path that isn’t good.
30Those who wink their eye plot destruction;
those who purse their lips plan evil.
31Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is found on the path of righteousness.
32Better to be patient than a warrior,
and better to have self-control than to capture a city.
33The dice are cast into the lap;
all decisions are from the LORD.
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