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
1 To mortals belong the plans of the heart,
but from Yahweh comes the answer of the tongue.
2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but Yahweh weighs the spirit.#Or “breath”
3Commit your work to Yahweh,
and your plans will be established.
4All Yahweh has made is for his#Or “its” purpose,
and even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5An abomination of Yahweh are all who are arrogant of heart;#Or “mind”
rest assured,#Literally “hand to hand” he will not go unpunished.
6By loyalty and faithfulness, iniquity will be covered over,#Or “atoned for”
and by fear of Yahweh one turns#Literally “turning” from evil.
7When the ways of a man are pleasing to Yahweh,
even his enemies he will cause to make peace with him.
8Better is little with righteousness
than great income with no justice.
9The mind#Literally “heart” of a person will plan his ways,
and Yahweh will direct his steps.
10A decision is upon the lips of a king;
in judgment his mouth will not sin.
11A balance and scales of justice belong to Yahweh;
all the weights of the bag are his work.
12An abomination to kings is doing evil,
for by righteousness the throne will be established.
13The delight of kings are the lips of righteousness,
and he who speaks what is upright he will love.
14The wrath of a king is a messenger of death,
but one who is wise will appease#Or “atone, cover over” it.
15In the light of the face of the king there is life,
and his favor is like a cloud of spring rain.
16Getting wisdom: how much#Literally “what” better than gold!
And getting understanding: it is chosen over#Literally “from” silver.
17The highway of the upright, it turns from evil,
he who guards himself#Or “soul,” or “inner self” keeps his way.
18Before destruction comes pride,
and before a fall, a haughty spirit.#Hebrew “a haughty of spirit”
19Better a lowly spirit with the poor
than dividing the spoil with the proud.
20He who is attentive to a matter will find goodness,
and he who trusts in Yahweh, his own happiness.
21The wise of heart#Or “mind” is called perceptive,
but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness.
22A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,#Or “master”
but the instruction#Or “punishment” of fools is folly.
23The heart#Or “mind” of the wise will make his mouth judicious,
and upon his lips, it#Or “he” will add persuasiveness.
24Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.
25There is a way that seems upright to#Literally “to the face of” a man,
but its end is the way of death.
26The life#Or “soul,” or “inner self” of a worker works for him,
for his hunger#Literally “mouth” urges him.
27A man of wickedness concocts evil,
and his lips are like a scorching fire.
28A person of perversity will spread dissent,
and he who whispers separates a close friend.
29A person of violence will entice his neighbor
and cause him to walk on a way that is not good.
30He who winks his eyes does so in order to plan perverse things;
he who purses his lips will bring evil to pass.
31A crown of glory is gray hair;
by a righteous life it is gained.
32He who is slow to anger#Literally “nostrils” is better than him who is mighty,
and he who controls his spirit than him who captures a city.
33The lot will be cast into the lap,
but all of its decisions are from Yahweh.
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