Proverbs 16
1
The preparations of the
heart belong to man,
But the answer of the
tongue is from the
LORD.
2 All the ways of a
man are pure in his
own eyes,
But the LORD weighs
the spirits.
3 Commit your works
to the LORD,
And your thoughts will
be established.
4 The LORD has made
all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked
for the day of doom.
5 Everyone proud in
heart is an
abomination to the LORD;
Though they join
forces,[a]
none will go unpunished.
6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided
for iniquity;
And by the fear of the
LORD one departs from
evil.
7 When a man’s ways
please the LORD,
He makes even his
enemies to be at peace with
him.
8 Better is a
little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues
without justice.
9 A man’s heart plans
his way,
But the LORD directs
his steps.
10 Divination is
on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not
transgress in judgment.
11 Honest weights and
scales are the LORD’s;
All the weights in the
bag are His work.
12 It is an
abomination for kings to
commit wickedness,
For a throne is
established by
righteousness.
13 Righteous lips
are the delight of
kings,
And they love him who
speaks what is right.
14 As messengers of
death is the king’s
wrath,
But a wise man will
appease it.
15 In the light of
the king’s face is
life,
And his favor is
like a cloud of the latter
rain.
16 How much better to
get wisdom than gold!
And to get
understanding is to be
chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the
upright is to depart
from evil;
He who keeps his way
preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes
before destruction,
And a haughty spirit
before a fall.
19 Better to be
of a humble spirit with the
lowly,
Than to divide the
spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the
word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in
the LORD, happy is
he.
21 The wise in heart
will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the
lips increases learning.
22 Understanding
is a wellspring of life
to him who has it.
But the correction of
fools is folly.
23 The heart of the
wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to
his lips.
24 Pleasant words
are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul
and health to the bones.
25 There is a way
that seems right to a
man,
But its end is
the way of death.
26 The person who
labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry
mouth drives him on.
27 An ungodly man
digs up evil,
And it is on
his lips like a burning
fire.
28 A perverse man
sows strife,
And a whisperer
separates the best of
friends.
29 A violent man
entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way
that is not good.
30 He winks his eye
to devise perverse things;
He purses his lips
and brings about evil.
31 The silver-haired
head is a crown of
glory,
If it is found
in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is
slow to anger is
better than the mighty,
And he who rules his
spirit than he who takes a
city.
33 The lot is cast
into the lap,
But its every decision
is from the LORD.
Footnotes:
-
Proverbs 16:5
Literally hand to
hand
