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Proverbs 16
Holman Christian Standard Bible

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

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

3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved.(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 Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(G)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(H)

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He[c] 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 man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(K)

10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;[d](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[e] are His concern.(N)

12 Wicked behavior[f] 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 man 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[g](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[h] increases learning.(Z)

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

23 A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.[i](AB)

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

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

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

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

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

29 A violent man lures his neighbor,(AH)
leading him in a way 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 way of righteousness.(AL)

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

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

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit weighs spirits
  2. Proverbs 16:5 Lit hand to hand
  3. Proverbs 16:7 Or he
  4. Proverbs 16:10 Or A divination is on the lips of a king
  5. Proverbs 16:11 Merchants kept the stones for their scales in a bag.
  6. Proverbs 16:12 Either the king’s or someone else’s behavior
  7. Proverbs 16:19 Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted
  8. Proverbs 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips
  9. Proverbs 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips
  10. Proverbs 16:24 Lit throat
  11. Proverbs 16:24 Lit bones
  12. Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth
  13. Proverbs 16:32 Lit and ruling over one’s spirit
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Proverbs 16
International Standard Version

Wisdom’s Blessings

16 People do the planning,[a]
but the end result[b] is from the Lord.

2 Everything a person does seems pure in his own opinion,
    but the Lord weighs intentions.

3 Entrust your work to the Lord,
    and your planning will succeed.

4 The Lord made everything answerable to him,
    including the wicked at the time of trouble.[c]
5 The Lord detests those who are proud;
    truly they will not go unpunished.

6 Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth,
    and through fear of the Lord people[d] turn from evil.

7 When a person’s ways please the Lord,
    even his enemies will be at peace with him.

8 A little gain[e] with righteousness is better
    than great income without justice.

9 A person plans his way,
    but the Lord directs his steps.

10 When a king is ready to speak officially,[f]
    what he says should not err with respect to justice.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the Lord;
    he made all the weights in the bag.
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for through righteousness the throne is established.
13 Kings take pleasure in righteous speech;
    they treasure a person who speaks what is upright.
14 The king’s wrath results in a death sentence,
    but whoever is wise will appease him.
15 When a king is pleased,[g] there is life,
    and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.

16 How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom,
    the attainment of wisdom better than silver!

17 The road of the upright circumvents evil,
    and whoever watches how he lives[h] preserves his life.

18 Pride precedes destruction;
    an arrogant spirit appears before a fall.
19 Better to be humble among the poor,
    than to share what is stolen with the proud.

20 Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers,
    and anyone who trusts in the Lord is blessed.

21 The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning,
    and that pleasant speech promotes instruction.
22 Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life,
    but foolishness brings punishment to fools.

23 A wise person’s thoughts[i] control his words,
    and his speech promotes instruction.
24 Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb—
    sweet to the soul and healing for the body.[j]

Advice to the Wise

25 There is a road that seems right for a man to travel,[k]
    but in the end it’s the road to death.

26 The appetite of the laborer motivates him;
    indeed, his hunger drives him on.

27 A worthless person concocts evil gossip[l]—
    his lips are like a burning fire.

28 A deceitful man stirs dissension,
    and anyone who gossips separates friends.
29 A violent man entices his companion
    and leads him on a path that is not good.
30 Whoever winks knowingly[m] is plotting[n] deceit;
    anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is obtained by following[o] a righteous path.

32 Whoever controls his temper is better than a warrior,
    and anyone who has control of his spirit is better
        than someone who captures a city.

33 The dice is cast into someone’s lap,
    but the outcome is from the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:1 Lit. Preparations of the heart belong to human beings
  2. Proverbs 16:1 Or the response of the tongue
  3. Proverbs 16:4 Lit. evil
  4. Proverbs 16:6 The Heb. lacks people
  5. Proverbs 16:8 The Heb. lacks gain
  6. Proverbs 16:10 Lit. king speaks an oracle
  7. Proverbs 16:15 Lit. a king’s face lightens
  8. Proverbs 16:17 Lit. watches his path
  9. Proverbs 16:23 Lit. heart
  10. Proverbs 16:24 Lit. bone
  11. Proverbs 16:25 The Heb. lacks to travel
  12. Proverbs 16:27 The Heb. lacks gossip
  13. Proverbs 16:30 Lit. with his eyes
  14. Proverbs 16:30 So MT; LXX Syr Targ Vg read winks with his eyes considers
  15. Proverbs 16:31 The Heb. lacks following
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Proverbs 15
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