Proverbs 16:14-33
English Standard Version
14 (A)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will (B)appease it.
15 (C)In the light of a king's face there is life,
and his (D)favor is like (E)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 (F)How much better to get wisdom than (G)gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than (H)silver.
17 The highway of the upright (I)turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 (J)Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 (K)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to (L)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[a] (M)will discover good,
and blessed is he (N)who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech (O)increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is (P)a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 (Q)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (R)Gracious words are like (S)a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and (T)health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[b]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
his (U)mouth urges him on.
27 (V)A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech[c] is like (W)a scorching fire.
28 (X)A dishonest man spreads strife,
and (Y)a whisperer (Z)separates close friends.
29 A man of violence (AA)entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans[d] (AB)dishonest things;
he who (AC)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (AD)Gray hair is (AE)a crown of glory;
it (AF)is gained in a righteous life.
32 (AG)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 (AH)The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is (AI)from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter
- Proverbs 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
- Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
- Proverbs 16:30 Hebrew to plan
Proverbs 16:14-33
New International Version
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(G)
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](K)
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(L)
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(N)
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.(Y)
30 Whoever winks(Z) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(AA)
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
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