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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

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits
  2. Proverbs 16:3 Lit Roll
  3. Proverbs 16:4 Or His
  4. Proverbs 16:5 Lit Hand to hand, he
  5. Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence for
  6. Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
  7. Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
  8. Proverbs 16:11 Lit work
  9. Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter
  10. Proverbs 16:17 Lit soul
  11. Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
  12. Proverbs 16:21 Or learning
  13. Proverbs 16:23 Or learning
  14. Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth
  15. Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips
  16. Proverbs 16:28 Or gossip
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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 15
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