Proverbs 16
1 It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
3 Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer sacrifices.
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 redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.
9 The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.
[There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgement.
11 Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the 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 cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like 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 Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious 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 path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
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 the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.
Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
20 The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
[He who is] skilful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
[Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
22 Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace 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 Well ordered words are as a 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 that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to 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 soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
A man who labours, labours for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
27 The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning 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 perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
29 An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] not good.
30 He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting 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 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
Old age is a crown of honour, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
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 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
