Proverbs 16
Legacy Standard Bible
16 The [a](A)plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own sight,
But (B)Yahweh weighs the [b]motives.
3 [c](C)Commit your works to Yahweh
And your [d]plans will be established.
4 Yahweh (D)has made everything for [e]its own purpose,
Even the (E)wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By (F)lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the [f](G)fear of Yahweh one turns away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh,
He (H)makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great produce with injustice.
9 The heart of (I)man [g]plans his way,
But (J)Yahweh [h]directs his steps.
10 A divine (K)decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [i]err in judgment.
11 A (L)just balance and scales belong to Yahweh;
All the [j]weights of the bag are His [k]work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For in righteousness a (M)throne is established.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks uprightly is loved.
14 The wrath of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will atone for it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [l](N)late rain.
16 How much (O)better it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold!
And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The (P)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
He who guards his way keeps his [m]soul.
18 (Q)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be (R)humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to (S)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who considers the word will (T)find good,
And how (U)blessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
21 The (V)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [n]lips (W)increases learning.
22 Insight is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of ignorant fools is [o]folly.
23 The (X)heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth
And increases learning to his lips.
24 (Y)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (Z)healing to the bones.
25 (AA)There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his mouth urges him on.
27 A (AB)vile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like (AC)scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a whisperer separates close companions.
29 A man of violence (AD)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (AE)Gray hair is a crown of beauty;
It (AF)is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.
33 The (AG)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every (AH)judgment is from Yahweh.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:1 Lit preparations
- Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit Roll
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit thoughts
- Proverbs 16:4 Or His
- Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence
- Proverbs 16:9 Lit thinks upon
- Proverbs 16:9 Lit establishes
- Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
- Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
- Proverbs 16:11 Or concern
- Proverbs 16:15 Spring
- Proverbs 16:17 Or life
- Proverbs 16:21 Or speech
- Proverbs 16:22 A lack of wisdom due to negligence or carelessness; the activity of an ignorant fool
Proverbs 16
Common English Bible
16 To people belong the plans of the heart,
but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All the ways of people
are pure in their eyes,
but the Lord tests the motives.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord made everything for a purpose,
even the wicked for an evil day.
5 The Lord detests all who are arrogant;
they surely won’t go unpunished.
6 Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt;
the fear of the Lord turns away evil.
7 When people draw favor from the Lord,
even their enemies are at peace with them.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than great profits without justice.
9 People plan their path,
but the Lord secures their steps.
10 A king’s speech is like an oracle;
in a judgment, one can’t go against his words.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his doing.
12 Kings detest wicked deeds,
for their thrones are founded on righteousness.
13 Kings favor those with righteous lips;
they love words of integrity.
14 The king’s anger is a messenger of death;
the wise will calm him.
15 There’s life in the light of the king’s face.
His favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.
16 Acquiring wisdom is much better than gold,
and acquiring understanding is better than silver.
17 The road of those who do right turns away from evil;
those who protect their path guard their lives.
18 Pride comes before disaster,
and arrogance before a fall.
19 Better to be humble with the needy
than to divide plunder with the proud.
20 Those with insight find prosperity;
those who trust the Lord are blessed.
21 The skilled mind is called discerning,
and pleasant speech enhances teaching.
22 One who has insight is a fountain of life,
but the instruction of the foolish is folly.
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful
and enhances the teaching of their lips.
24 Pleasant words are flowing honey,
sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.
25 There is a path that may seem straight to someone,
but in the end it is the path of death.
26 The appetite of workers labors for them,
for their hunger presses them on.
27 Worthless people dig up trouble;
their lips are like a scorching fire.
28 Destructive people produce conflict;
gossips alienate close friends.
29 Violent people entice their neighbors
and walk them down a path that isn’t good.
30 Those who wink their eye plot destruction;
those who purse their lips plan evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is found on the path of righteousness.
32 Better to be patient than a warrior,
and better to have self-control than to capture a city.
33 The dice are cast into the lap;
all decisions are from the Lord.
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Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible