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
New American Standard Bible
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
16 The (A)plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (B)Lord examines the [a]motives.
3 [b](C)Commit your works to the Lord,
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord (D)has made everything for [c]its own purpose,
Even the (E)wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
[d]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By (F)mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by [e]the (G)fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He (H)causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of a (I)person plans his way,
But (J)the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine (K)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [f]err in judgment.
11 A (L)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [g]weights of the bag are His [h]concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (M)throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And one who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death;
But a wise person will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [i](N)spring rain.
16 How much (O)better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The (P)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
One who watches his way protects his [j]life.
18 (Q)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be (R)humble in spirit with the needy
Than to (S)divide the spoils with the proud.
20 One who pays attention to the word will (T)find good,
And (U)blessed is one who trusts in the Lord.
21 The (V)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [k]speech (W)increases [l]persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
23 The (X)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [m]persuasiveness 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 person,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his [n]hunger urges him on.
27 A (AB)worthless person digs up evil,
While [o]his words are like (AC)scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
And a [p]slanderer separates close friends.
29 A person 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 A (AE)gray head is a crown of glory;
It (AF)is found in the way of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
33 The (AG)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every (AH)decision is from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit Roll
- Proverbs 16:4 Or His
- Proverbs 16:5 Lit Hand to hand, he
- Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence for
- Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
- Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
- Proverbs 16:11 Lit work
- Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter
- Proverbs 16:17 Lit soul
- Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
- Proverbs 16:21 Or learning
- Proverbs 16:23 Or learning
- Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips
- Proverbs 16:28 Or gossip
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
