Proverbs 16

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives.

All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.

3 Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.

Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.

4 The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished.

All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.

8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.

Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.

9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.

The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.

10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.

11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.

12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.

14 The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.

15 In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.

In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.

16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.

18 Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.

20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.

The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.

23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.

25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.

26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.

The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.

27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

28 A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.

30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.