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Proverbs 16
Complete Jewish Bible

16 A person is responsible to prepare his heart,
    but how the tongue speaks is from Adonai.

2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own view,
    but Adonai weighs the spirit.

3 If you entrust all you do to Adonai,
    your plans will achieve success.

4 Adonai made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of disaster.

5 Adonai detests all those with proud hearts;
    be assured that they will not go unpunished.

6 Grace and truth atone for iniquity,
    and people turn from evil through fear of Adonai.

7 When a man’s ways please Adonai,
    he makes even the man’s enemies be at peace with him.

8 Better a little with righteousness
    than a huge income with injustice.

9 A person may plan his path,
    but Adonai directs his steps.

10 Divine inspiration is on the lips of the king,
    so his mouth must be faithful when he judges.
11 The balance and scales of justice have their origin in Adonai;
    all the weights in the bag are his doing.
12 It is an abomination for a king to do evil,
    for the throne is made secure by righteousness.
13 The king should delight in righteous lips,
    and he should love someone who speaks what is right.
14 The king’s anger is a herald of death,
    and one who is wise will appease it.
15 When the king’s face brightens, it means life;
    his favor is like the clouds that bring spring rain.

16 How much better than gold it is to gain wisdom!
    Yes, rather than money, choose to gain understanding.

17 Avoiding evil is the highway of the upright;
    he who watches his step preserves his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
    and arrogance before failure.

19 Better to be humble among the poor
    than share the spoil with the proud.

20 He who has skill in a matter will succeed;
    he who trusts in Adonai will be happy.

21 A wise-hearted person is said to have discernment,
    and sweetness of speech adds to learning.

22 Common sense is a fountain of life to one who has it,
    whereas fools are punished by their own folly.

23 The wise man’s heart teaches his mouth,
    and to his lips it adds learning.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
    sweet to the taste and healing for the body.

25 There can be a way which seems right to a person,
    but at its end are the ways of death.

26 A working man’s appetite acts on his behalf,
    because his hunger presses him on.

27 A worthless person digs up evil [gossip] —
    it is like scorching fire on his lips.
28 A deceitful person stirs up strife,
    and a slanderer can separate even close friends.

29 A violent man lures his neighbor astray
    and leads him into evil ways.
30 One who winks knowingly is planning deceit;
    one who pinches his lips together has already done wrong.

31 White hair is a crown of honor
    obtained by righteous living.

32 He who controls his temper is better than a war hero,
    he who rules his spirit better than he who captures a city.

33 One can cast lots into one’s lap,
    but the decision comes from Adonai.

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Proverbs 16
Christian Standard Bible

16 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.(A)

2 All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.[a](B)

3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(C)

4 The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.(D)

5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;(E)
be assured,[b] he will not go unpunished.(F)

6 Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(G)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(H)

7 When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.(I)

8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.(J)

9 A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(K)

10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;[c](L)
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.(M)

11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his concern.(N)

12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,(O)
since a throne is established through righteousness.(P)

13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.

14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise person appeases it.(Q)

15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

16 Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.(R)

17 The highway of the upright(S) avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.(T)

18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.(U)

19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble[d](V)
than to divide plunder with the proud.(W)

20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(X)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(Y)

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[e] increases learning.(Z)

22 Insight is a fountain of life(AA) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

23 The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.[f](AB)

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:(AC)
sweet to the taste[g] and health to the body.[h](AD)

25 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.(AE)

26 A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger[i] urges him on.

27 A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(AF)

28 A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.(AG)

29 A violent person lures his neighbor,(AH)
leading him on a path that is not good.(AI)

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(AJ)

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown;(AK)
it is found in the ways of righteousness.(AL)

32 Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions,[j] than capturing a city.(AM)

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. 16:2 Lit spirits
  2. 16:5 Lit hand to hand
  3. 16:10 Or A divination is on the lips of a king
  4. 16:19 Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted
  5. 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips
  6. 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips
  7. 16:24 Lit throat
  8. 16:24 Lit bones
  9. 16:26 Lit mouth
  10. 16:32 Lit and ruling over one’s spirit
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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)

2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(B)
    but motives are weighed(C) by the Lord.(D)

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.(E)

4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end(F)—
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.(G)

5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(H)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(I)

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)

8 Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain(N) with injustice.(O)

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)

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,(U)
    but the wise will appease it.(V)

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;(W)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.(X)

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight(Y) rather than silver!(Z)

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(AA)

18 Pride(AB) goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit(AC) before a fall.(AD)

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)

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[b](AG)

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(AH)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(AI)
    and their lips promote instruction.[c](AJ)

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,(AK)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.(AL)

25 There is a way that appears to be right,(AM)
    but in the end it leads to death.(AN)

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel(AO) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(AP)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(AQ)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(AR)

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.

33 The lot is cast(AV) into the lap,
    but its every decision(AW) is from the Lord.(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
  3. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
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Proverbs 15
Proverbs 17
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Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.

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