Proverbs 16
1599 Geneva Bible
16 1 The [a]preparations of the heart are in man: but the answer of the tongue is of the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are [b]clean in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the spirits.
3 [c]Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 The Lord hath made all things for his own sake: yea, even the wicked for the day of [d]evil.
5 All that are proud in heart, are an abomination to the Lord: though (A)hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By [e]mercy and truth iniquity shall be forgiven, and by the fear of the Lord they depart from evil.
7 When the ways of a man please the Lord, he will make also his enemies at peace with him.
8 (B)Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without equity.
9 The heart of [f]man purposeth his way: but the Lord doth direct his steps.
10 A divine sentence shall be in the lips of the king: his mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
11 (C)A true weight and balance are of the Lord: and the weights of the bag are his [g]work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is stablished [h]by justice.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and the king loveth him that speaketh right things.
14 The wrath of a king is as [i]messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life: and his favor is [j]as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 (D)How much better is it to get wisdom than gold? and to get understanding, is more to be desired than silver.
17 The path of the righteous is to decline from evil, and he keepeth his soul that keepeth his way.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an high mind before the fall.
19 Better it is to be of humble mind with the lowly, than to divide the spoils with the proud.
20 He that is wise in his business, shall find good: and (E)he that trusteth in the Lord, he is blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent and [k]the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto them that have it: and the [l]instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise guideth his mouth wisely, and addeth doctrine to his lips.
24 Fair words are as an honey comb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 (F)There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the issue thereof are the ways of death.
26 The person that travaileth, travaileth for himself: for his mouth [m]craveth it of him.
27 A wicked man diggeth up evil, and in his lips is like [n]burning fire.
28 A froward person soweth strife: and a taleteller maketh division among princes.
29 A wicked man deceiveth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 [o]He shutteth his eyes to devise wickedness: he moveth his lips, and bringeth evil to pass.
31 Age is a crown of glory, when it is found in the way of [p]righteousness.
32 He that is slow unto anger, is better than the mighty man: and he that ruleth his own mind, is better than he that winneth a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposition thereof is [q]of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:1 He derideth the presumption of man, who dare attribute to himself any thing, as to prepare his heart or such like, seeing that he is not able to speak a word, except God give it him.
- Proverbs 16:2 He showeth hereby that man flattereth himself in his doings, calling that virtue, which God termeth vice.
- Proverbs 16:3 Hebrew, role.
- Proverbs 16:4 So that the justice of God shall appear to his glory, even in the destruction of the wicked.
- Proverbs 16:6 Their upright and repenting life shall be a token that their sins are forgiven.
- Proverbs 16:9 He showeth the folly of man, which thinketh that his ways are in his own hand, and yet it is able to remove one foot except God give force.
- Proverbs 16:11 If they be true and just, they are God’s work, and he delighteth therein, but otherwise if they be false, they are the work of the devil, and to their condemnation that use them.
- Proverbs 16:12 They are appointed by God to rule according to equity and justice.
- Proverbs 16:14 That is, he findeth out many means to execute his wrath.
- Proverbs 16:15 Which is most comfortable to the dry ground, Deut. 11:14.
- Proverbs 16:21 The sweet words of consolation, which come forth of a godly heart.
- Proverbs 16:22 Either that which the wicked teach others, or else it is folly to teach them that are malicious.
- Proverbs 16:26 Hebrew, boweth upon him.
- Proverbs 16:27 For he consumeth himself and others.
- Proverbs 16:30 With his whole endeavor he laboreth to bring his wickedness to pass.
- Proverbs 16:31 That is, when it is joined with virtue: or else the elder that the wicked are, the more they are to be abhorred.
- Proverbs 16:33 So that there is nothing that ought to be attributed to fortune: for all things are determined in the counsel of God which shall come to pass.
Proverbs 16
New International Version
16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.(E)
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord(J) evil is avoided.(K)
7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace(L) with them.(M)
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.(P)
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.(Q)
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.(R)
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.(S)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.(T)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(AA)
19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](AE)
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(AF)
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(AH)
but folly brings punishment to fools.
26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.(AS)
30 Whoever winks(AT) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(AU)
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
- Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
- Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
Proverbs 16
King James Version
16 The preparations of the heart in man, and 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 weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 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 purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 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 righteousness than great revenues without right.
9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 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: but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
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