Proverbs 16-18

21st Century King James Version

16 The preparation 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 his spirit.

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 Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though they join hands, they shall not go unpunished.

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

⁷ When 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 righteousness.

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 for 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 a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵ In the light of the king’s countenance there is life, and his favor is as a cloud of latter rain.

¹⁶ How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is 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 a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better it is to be of a 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 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 a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

²⁵ There are ways which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

²⁶ He that laboreth, laboreth for himself, for his mouth craveth it of him.

²⁷ A froward man diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is a burning fire.

²⁸ A froward man soweth strife, and a whisperer separateth closest friends.

²⁹ A violent man enticeth his neighbor 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.

17 Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith than a house full of feasting with strife.

² A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

³ The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord trieth the hearts.

⁴ A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips, and a liar giveth ear to a wicked tongue.

⁵ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker, and he that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.

⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷ Excellent speech becometh not a fool, much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸ A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹ He that covereth a transgression seeketh love, but he that repeateth a matter separateth good friends.

¹⁰ A reproof entereth deeper into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹² Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoso returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like the letting out of water: therefore break off contention before it is meddled with.

¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just, both alike are an abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶ Why should there be in the hands of a fool the price to purchase wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to acquire it?

¹⁷ A friend is loving at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man void of understanding shaketh hands in pledge, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth strife, and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰ He that hath a froward heart findeth no good, and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into iniquity.

²¹ He that begetteth a fool doeth so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool hath no joy.

²² A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

²³ A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

²⁴ Wisdom is before him that hath understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

²⁶ Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for their equity.

²⁷ He that hath knowledge spareth his words, and a man of understanding is of excelling spirit.

²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise, and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

² A fool hath no delight in understanding, unless his heart may discover itself.

³ When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt; and with ignominy, reproach.

⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

⁵ It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

⁶ A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.

⁷ A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

⁸ The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

⁹ He that is slothful in his work is a brother to him that is a great waster.

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.

¹¹ The rich man’s wealth is his stronghold, and as a high wall in his own conceit.

¹² Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.

¹³ He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit, who can bear?

¹⁵ The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

¹⁶ A man’s gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men.

¹⁷ He that first states his own cause seemeth just, but then his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.

¹⁸ Casting lots causeth contentions to cease, and parteth the strife of the mighty.

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to be won back than a stronghold city, and his contentions are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰ A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the harvest of his lips shall he be filled.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

²² Whosoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth the favor of the Lord.

²³ The poor useth entreaties, but the rich answereth roughly.

²⁴ A man that hath friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.