Proverbs 16

¹ The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

² All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives.

³ Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.

⁴ The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

⁵ Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished.

⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart 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 great revenues with injustice.

⁹ A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.

¹⁰ Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

¹¹ Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

¹² It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

¹⁴ The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵ In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.

¹⁶ How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, 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 an arrogant spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

²⁰ He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.

²¹ The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

²² Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

²³ The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

²⁵ There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

²⁶ The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.

²⁷ A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸ A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

²⁹ A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

³⁰ One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

³² One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one 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.