Proverbs 16

1 It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.

To man belongeth the preparation of the heart; But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the spirit.

3 Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.

Commit thy doings to the LORD, And thy purposes shall be established.

4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.

The LORD hath ordained every thing for its end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

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 an abomination to the LORD; From generation to generation he shall not be unpunished.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Through kindness and truth, iniquity is expiated; And, through 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.

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 justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

Better is a little with righteousness, Than great revenues without right.

9 The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.

The heart of man deviseth his way, But the LORD establisheth his steps.

10 Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.

A divine sentence is upon the lips of a king; His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

11 Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.

A just balance and scales are the appointment of the LORD; All the weights of the bag are his work.

12 They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.

The doing of wickedness is an abomination to kings; For by righteousness is the throne established.

13 Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.

Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaketh right things.

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.

The wrath of a king is messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.

15 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.

In the light of the king's countenance is life, And his favor is a like a cloud bringing the latter rain.

16 Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

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

17 The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.

It is the highway of the upright to depart from evil; He that taketh heed to his way preserveth his life.

18 Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.

Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

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

Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to share the spoil with the proud.

20 The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.

He who giveth heed to the word shall find good; And he who trusteth in the LORD, happy is he!

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.

The wise in heart shall be called intelligent, And sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that hath it. And the chastisement of fools is their folly.

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

The heart of the wise man instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.

24 Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet to the taste, and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.

There is a way that seemeth right to a man, But the end thereof is the way to death.

26 The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.

The hunger of the laborer laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him on.

27 The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

A worthless man diggeth mischief, And on his lips there is, as it were, a burning fire.

28 A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.

A deceitful man stirreth up strife, And a whisperer separateth friends.

29 An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.

A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him into a way which is not good.

30 He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.

He who shutteth his eyes to devise fraud, He who compresseth his lips, hath accomplished mischief!

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

The hoary head is a crown of glory, If it be found in the way of righteousness.

32 The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he who ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.

The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole decision thereof is from the LORD.