1People make plans in their hearts. But the LORD puts the correct answer on their tongues.2Everything a person does might seem pure to them. But the LORD knows why they do what they do.3Commit to the LORD everything you do. Then he will make your plans succeed.4The LORD works everything out to the proper end. Even those who do wrong were made for a day of trouble.5The LORD hates all those who have proud hearts. You can be sure that they will be punished.6Through love and truth sin is paid for. People avoid evil when they have respect for the LORD.7When the way you live pleases the LORD, he makes even your enemies live at peace with you.8It is better to have a little and do right than to have a lot and be unfair.9In their hearts human beings plan their lives. But the LORD decides where their steps will take them.10A king speaks as if his words come from God. And what he says does not turn right into wrong.11Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD. He made all the weights in the bag.12A king hates it when his people do what is wrong. A ruler is made secure when they do what is right.13Kings are pleased when what you say is honest. They value people who speak what is right.14An angry king can order your death. But a wise person will try to calm him down.15When a king’s face is happy, it means life. His favour is like rain in the spring.16It is much better to get wisdom than gold. It is much better to choose understanding than silver.17The path of honest people takes them away from evil. Those who guard their ways guard their lives.18If you are proud, you will be destroyed. If you are proud, you will fall.19Suppose you are lowly in spirit along with those who are treated badly. That’s better than sharing stolen goods with those who are proud.20If anyone pays attention to what they’re taught, they will succeed. Blessed is the person who trusts in the LORD.21Wise hearts are known for understanding what is right. Kind words make people want to learn more.22Understanding is like a fountain of life to those who have it. But foolish people are punished for the foolish things they do.23The hearts of wise people guide their mouths. Their words make people want to learn more.24Kind words are like honey. They are sweet to the spirit and bring healing to the body.25There is a way that appears to be right. But in the end it leads to death.26The hunger of workers makes them work. Their hunger drives them on.27A worthless person plans to do evil things. Their words are like a burning fire.28A twisted person stirs up conflict. Anyone who talks about others separates close friends.29A person who wants to hurt others tries to get them to sin. That person leads them down a path that isn’t good.30Whoever winks with their eye is planning to do wrong. Whoever closes their lips tightly is up to no good.31Grey hair is a glorious crown. You get it by living the right way.32It is better to be patient than to fight. It is better to control your temper than to take a city.33Lots are cast into the lap to make decisions. But everything they decide comes from the LORD.
Proverbs 16
English Standard Version
1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. (Mt 10:19)2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.[1] (1Sa 16:7; Pr 12:15; Pr 21:2; Pr 24:12; Pr 30:12)3Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (Ps 37:5)4The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. (Ex 9:16; Job 21:30; Ro 11:36)5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Pr 6:16; Pr 8:13; Pr 11:21; Pr 28:20; Lu 16:15)6By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. (Job 28:28; Pr 14:16; Pr 16:17; Da 4:27)7When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Ge 26:28; 2Ch 17:10)8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. (Pr 15:16)9The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Ps 37:23; Pr 16:1; Pr 19:21; Pr 20:24; Jer 10:23)10An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment. (1Ki 3:28)11A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. (Pr 11:1)12It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. (Pr 20:28; Pr 25:5; Pr 29:14; Isa 16:5)13Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. (Pr 14:35; Pr 22:11)14A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. (Pr 19:12; Pr 20:2; Pr 25:15)15In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain. (Job 29:23; Job 29:24; Ps 72:6; Pr 16:13)16How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. (Pr 3:14; Pr 8:10; Pr 8:19; Pr 10:20)17The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. (Pr 16:6)18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Pr 11:2)19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Ex 15:9; Pr 29:23; Isa 57:15)20Whoever gives thought to the word[2] will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Ps 2:12; Pr 19:8)21The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. (Pr 16:23)22Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. (Pr 10:11)23The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. (Ps 37:30; Mt 12:34)24Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. (Ps 19:10; Pr 4:22; Pr 15:26)25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.[3]26A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on. (Ec 6:7)27A worthless man plots evil, and his speech[4] is like a scorching fire. (Pr 6:12; Pr 6:14; Pr 6:19; Jas 3:6)28A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. (Pr 15:18; Pr 17:9; Pr 18:8; Pr 26:20; Pr 26:22)29A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. (Pr 1:10)30Whoever winks his eyes plans[5] dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass. (Pr 2:12; Pr 6:13)31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. (Pr 3:1; Pr 17:6; Pr 20:29)32Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Pr 14:29; Pr 19:11; Pr 25:28)33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Pr 29:26; Ac 1:26)