Proverbs 16
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man: but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The LORD hath made every thing for its own end: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All of the works of the Lord [are done] with righteousness; and the ungodly [man] is kept for the evil day.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
[There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight or kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
14 The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
The anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favour with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
20 He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
[He who is] skillful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
[Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the correction of fools is [their] folly.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
The heart of the wise will discern the [things which proceed] from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
24 Pleasant words are [as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. (questioned)
26 The appetite of the labouring man laboureth for him; for his mouth craveth it of him.
A man who labours, labours for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
27 A worthless man deviseth mischief: and in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
28 A froward man scattereth abroad strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way that is not good.
A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] not good.
30 He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise froward things: he that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, it shall be found in the way of righteousness.
Old age is a crown of honour, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
A man slow to anger is better than a strong [man]; and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
