Proverbs 16

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

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [are] 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] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

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

Commit thy works to the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

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

The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yes, 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: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

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

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: 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.

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.

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

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

A divine sentence [is] in the lips of the 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 weight and balance [are] the LORD'S: 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.

[It is] an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

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 that speaketh right.

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

The wrath of a king [is as] 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 a king's countenance [is] life; and his favor [is] as a cloud of 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? and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver?

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

The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

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 [it is to be] of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

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

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoever 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 prudent: and the 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 well-spring of life to him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.

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

The heart of the wise teacheth 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 as] a honey-comb, sweet to the soul, 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 of it [is] the ways of death.

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

He that laboreth laboreth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

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

An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.

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

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

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

A violent man enticeth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good.

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

He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

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 is 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 that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that 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 disposing of it [is] from the LORD.