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
Proverbs 16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.(A)
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(B)
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.(C)
5 All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, they will not go unpunished.(D)
6 By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.(E)
7 When the ways of people please the Lord,
he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.(F)
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
9 The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.(G)
10 Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.(H)
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.(I)
13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves those who speak what is right.(J)
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and whoever is wise will appease it.(K)
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.(L)
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.(M)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their way preserve their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction
and a haughty spirit before a fall.(N)
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
and happy are those who trust in the Lord.(O)
21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,
and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.(P)
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
but in the end it is the way to death.(Q)
26 The appetite of workers works for them;
their hunger urges them on.
27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.(R)
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.(S)
29 The violent entice their neighbors
and lead them in a way that is not good.(T)
30 One who winks the eyes plans[a] perverse things;
one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.(U)
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.(V)
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but the decision is the Lord’s alone.
Footnotes
- 16.30 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb to plan
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.