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)
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)
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)
18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.(U)
20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(X)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(Y)
22 Insight is a fountain of life(AA) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.
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)
30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(AJ)
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.(AN)
Proverbs 16
English Standard Version
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but (A)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 (B)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord (C)weighs the spirit.[a]
3 (D)Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 (E)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even (F)the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is (G)an abomination to the Lord;
(H)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By (I)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by (J)the fear of the Lord one (K)turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,
(L)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 (M)Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 (N)The heart of man plans his way,
but (O)the Lord establishes his steps.
10 (P)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 (Q)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for (R)the throne is established by righteousness.
13 (S)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 (T)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will (U)appease it.
15 (V)In the light of a king's face there is life,
and his (W)favor is like (X)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 (Y)How much better to get wisdom than (Z)gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than (AA)silver.
17 The highway of the upright (AB)turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 (AC)Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 (AD)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to (AE)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[b] (AF)will discover good,
and blessed is he (AG)who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech (AH)increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is (AI)a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 (AJ)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (AK)Gracious words are like (AL)a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and (AM)health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[c]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
his (AN)mouth urges him on.
27 (AO)A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech[d] is like (AP)a scorching fire.
28 (AQ)A dishonest man spreads strife,
and (AR)a whisperer (AS)separates close friends.
29 A man of violence (AT)entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans[e] (AU)dishonest things;
he who (AV)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (AW)Gray hair is (AX)a crown of glory;
it (AY)is gained in a righteous life.
32 (AZ)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 (BA)The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is (BB)from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits
- 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
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.