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 reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. # Pr 16:9; 19:21
2All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives. # Lit weighs spirits # 1Sm 16:7; Pr 17:3; 19:21; 21:2
3Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved. # Ps 37:4-5
4The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose —
even the wicked for the day of disaster. # Ex 9:16; Rm 9:21-22
5Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; # 2Ch 32:25; Pr 6:16-17; 8:13
be assured, # Lit hand to hand he will not go unpunished. # Ps 101:5; Pr 11:21; 16:18
6Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, # Dn 4:27; Lk 11:41
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord. # Jb 28:28; Pr 3:7; 14:16
7When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He # Or he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. # 2Ch 17:10
8Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice. # Ps 37:16; Pr 15:16-17; 16:19; 28:6
9A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps. # Ps 37:23; Pr 16:1; 19:21; 20:24; Jr 10:23
10God’s verdict is on the lips of a king; # Or A divination is on the lips of a king # 2Sm 14:17,20; 1Kg 3:28
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment. # 2Sm 23:2-3; Pr 18:14-15
11Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag # Merchants kept the stones for their scales in a bag. are His concern. # Lv 19:36; Pr 11:1; Ezk 45:10; Mc 6:11
12Wicked behavior # Either the king’s or someone else’s behavior is detestable to kings, # Pr 31:3-5
since a throne is established through righteousness. # Ps 101; Pr 25:5
13Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.
14A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it. # Ec 10:4
15When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
16Get wisdom —
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding —
it is preferable to silver. # Pr 3:14; 8:10,19; 22:1
17The highway of the upright # Is 35:8 avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life. # Pr 2:11-13; 15:19
18Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall. # Pr 11:2; 16:5; 18:12; 29:23; Dn 4:37; Ob 3-4
19Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble # Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted # Pr 29:23; Is 57:15
than to divide plunder with the proud. # Ex 15:9; Ps 37:16; Pr 1:13-14; 15:16-17; 16:8
20The one who understands a matter finds success, # Pr 19:8
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy. # Ps 2:12; 34:8; 40:4; 84:12; 146:5; Jr 17:7
21Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech # Lit and sweetness of lips increases learning. # Pr 1:5; 9:9; 16:23
22Insight is a fountain of life # Pr 10:11; 13:14; 14:27 for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.
23A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech. # Lit learning upon his lips # Ps 37:30; Pr 1:5; 9:9; Mt 12:34
24Pleasant words are a honeycomb: # Ps 19:10; Pr 15:26
sweet to the taste # Lit throat and health to the body. # Lit bones # Pr 4:22; 15:30; 25:13
25There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death. # Pr 14:12; 24:20
26A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger # Lit mouth urges him on.
27A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire. # Pr 6:12; 19:28; 26:23; Jms 3:6
28A contrary man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends. # Pr 6:14,19; 17:9; 26:20-21; 28:25
29A violent man lures his neighbor, # Pr 1:10
leading him in a way that is not good. # 1Sm 12:23; Ps 36:4; Pr 28:10
30The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil. # Ps 35:19; Pr 6:12-14; 10:10
31Gray hair is a glorious crown; # Lv 19:32; Pr 4:9; 20:29
it is found in the way of righteousness. # Pr 3:1-2
32Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s temper, # Lit and ruling over one’s spirit than capturing a city. # Pr 25:15,28; 29:11
33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord. # Pr 16:1; 19:21; 21:31
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