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 #Jer. 10:23preparations of the heart belong to man,
#Matt. 10:19But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2All the ways of a man are pure in his own #Prov. 21:2eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
3#Ps. 37:5; Prov. 3:6; (1 Pet. 5:7)Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.
4The #Is. 43:7; Rom. 11:36Lord has made all for Himself,
#Job 21:30; (Rom. 9:22)Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
5#Prov. 6:17; 8:13Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
6#Dan. 4:27; Luke 11:41In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And #Prov. 8:13; 14:16by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
7When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8#Ps. 37:16; Prov. 15:16Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
9#Prov. 19:21A man’s heart plans his way,
#Ps. 37:23; Prov. 20:24; Jer. 10:23But the Lord directs his steps.
10Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11#Lev. 19:36Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights in the bag are His work.
12It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For #Prov. 25:5a throne is established by righteousness.
13#Prov. 14:35Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will #Prov. 25:15appease it.
15In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a #Zech. 10:1cloud of the latter rain.
16#Prov. 8:10, 11, 19How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever #Ps. 34:8; Jer. 17:7trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
21The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
25There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of #Prov. 14:12death.
26The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives #(Eccl. 6:7; John 6:35)him on.
27An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning #(James 3:6)fire.
28A perverse man sows strife,
And #Prov. 17:9a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He purses his lips and brings about evil.
31#Prov. 20:29The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
32#Prov. 14:29; 19:11He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.