Proverbs 16
Revised Standard Version
16 The plans of the mind belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Every one who is arrogant is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 A man’s mind plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps.
10 Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 To get wisdom is better[a] than gold;
to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
he who guards his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who gives heed to the word will prosper,
and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called a man of discernment,
and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it,
but folly is the chastisement of fools.
23 The mind of the wise makes his speech judicious,
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[b]
26 A worker’s appetite works for him;
his mouth urges him on.
27 A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes plans[c] perverse things,
he who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 A hoary head is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but the decision is wholly from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:16 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb how much better
- Proverbs 16:25 Heb ways of death
- Proverbs 16:30 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb to plan
Proverbs 16
American Standard Version
16 The plans of the heart belong to man;
But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
3 [a]Commit thy works unto Jehovah,
And thy purposes shall be established.
4 Jehovah hath made everything for [b]its own end;
Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah:
Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for;
And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please Jehovah,
He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little, with righteousness,
Than great revenues with injustice.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way;
But Jehovah directeth his steps.
10 [c]A divine sentence is in the lips of the king;
His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s;
All the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness;
For the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings;
And they love him that speaketh right.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death;
But a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life;
And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!
Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil:
He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Pride goeth before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the [d]poor,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He that [e]giveth heed unto the word shall find good;
And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent;
And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it;
But the correction of fools is their folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth,
And addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way which [f]seemeth right unto a man,
But the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him;
For his mouth urgeth him thereto.
27 A worthless man [g]deviseth mischief;
And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man scattereth abroad strife;
And a whisperer [h]separateth chief friends.
29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbor,
And leadeth him in a way that is not good.
30 [i]He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things:
He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
31 The hoary head is a crown of [j]glory;
[k]It shall be found in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap;
But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:3 Hebrew Roll.
- Proverbs 16:4 Or, his own purpose
- Proverbs 16:10 Hebrew Divination.
- Proverbs 16:19 Or, meek
- Proverbs 16:20 Or, handleth a matter wisely
- Proverbs 16:25 Or, is straight before
- Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew diggeth.
- Proverbs 16:28 Or, alienateth his friend
- Proverbs 16:30 Or, He that shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things, That compresseth his lips, bringeth etc.
- Proverbs 16:31 Or, beauty
- Proverbs 16:31 Or, If it be found
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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