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.
All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (B)Lord examines the [a]motives.
[b](C)Commit your works to the Lord,
And your plans will be established.
The Lord (D)has made everything for [c]its own purpose,
Even the (E)wicked for the day of evil.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
[d]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
By (F)mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by [e]the (G)fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He (H)causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
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

16 To mortals belong the plans of the heart,
    but from Yahweh comes the answer of the tongue.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but Yahweh weighs the spirit.[a]
Commit your work to Yahweh,
    and your plans will be established.
All Yahweh has made is for his[b] purpose,
    and even the wicked for the day of trouble.
An abomination of Yahweh are all who are arrogant of heart;[c]
    rest assured,[d] he will not go unpunished.
By loyalty and faithfulness, iniquity will be covered over,[e]
    and by fear of Yahweh one turns[f] from evil.
When the ways of a man are pleasing to Yahweh,
    even his enemies he will cause to make peace with him.
Better is little with righteousness
    than great income with no justice.
The mind[g] of a person will plan his ways,
    and Yahweh will direct his steps.
10 A decision is upon the lips of a king;
    in judgment his mouth will not sin.
11 A balance and scales of justice belong to Yahweh;
    all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 An abomination to kings is doing evil,
    for by righteousness the throne will be established.
13 The delight of kings are the lips of righteousness,
    and he who speaks what is upright he will love.
14 The wrath of a king is a messenger of death,
    but one who is wise will appease[h] it.
15 In the light of the face of the king there is life,
    and his favor is like a cloud of spring rain.
16 Getting wisdom: how much[i] better than gold!
    And getting understanding: it is chosen over[j] silver.
17 The highway of the upright, it turns from evil,
    he who guards himself[k] keeps his way.
18 Before destruction comes pride,
    and before a fall, a haughty spirit.[l]
19 Better a lowly spirit with the poor
    than dividing the spoil with the proud.
20 He who is attentive to a matter will find goodness,
    and he who trusts in Yahweh, his own happiness.
21 The wise of heart[m] is called perceptive,
    but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness.
22 A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,[n]
    but the instruction[o] of fools is folly.
23 The heart[p] of the wise will make his mouth judicious,
    and upon his lips, it[q] will add persuasiveness.
24 Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems upright to[r] a man,
    but its end is the way of death.
26 The life[s] of a worker works for him,
    for his hunger[t] urges him.
27 A man of wickedness concocts evil,
    and his lips are like a scorching fire.
28 A person of perversity will spread dissent,
    and he who whispers separates a close friend.
29 A person of violence will entice his neighbor
    and cause him to walk on a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so in order to plan perverse things;
    he who purses his lips will bring evil to pass.
31 A crown of glory is gray hair;
    by a righteous life it is gained.
32 He who is slow to anger[u] is better than him who is mighty,
    and he who controls his spirit than him who captures a city.
33 The lot will be cast into the lap,
    but all of its decisions are from Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Or “breath”
  2. Proverbs 16:4 Or “its”
  3. Proverbs 16:5 Or “mind”
  4. Proverbs 16:5 Literally “hand to hand”
  5. Proverbs 16:6 Or “atoned for”
  6. Proverbs 16:6 Literally “turning”
  7. Proverbs 16:9 Literally “heart”
  8. Proverbs 16:14 Or “atone, cover over”
  9. Proverbs 16:16 Literally “what”
  10. Proverbs 16:16 Literally “from”
  11. Proverbs 16:17 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  12. Proverbs 16:18 Hebrew “a haughty of spirit”
  13. Proverbs 16:21 Or “mind”
  14. Proverbs 16:22 Or “master”
  15. Proverbs 16:22 Or “punishment”
  16. Proverbs 16:23 Or “mind”
  17. Proverbs 16:23 Or “he”
  18. Proverbs 16:25 Literally “to the face of”
  19. Proverbs 16:26 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  20. Proverbs 16:26 Literally “mouth”
  21. Proverbs 16:32 Literally “nostrils”