Proverbs 16
World English Bible
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
but Yahweh weighs the motives.
3 Commit your deeds to Yahweh,
and your plans shall succeed.
4 Yahweh has made everything for its own end—
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh:
they shall certainly not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.
By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please Yahweh,
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 heart plans his course,
but Yahweh directs his steps.
10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king.
He shall not betray his mouth.
11 Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings.
They value one who speaks the truth.
14 The king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life.
His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,
than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.
Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent.
Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him;
for his mouth urges him on.
27 A worthless man devises mischief.
His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife.
A whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor,
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,
one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory.
It is attained by a life of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from Yahweh.
Proverbs 16
Modern English Version
16 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
and your thoughts will be established.
4 The Lord has made all things for Himself,
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged;
and by the fear of the Lord men depart from 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 heart devises his way,
but the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king;
his mouth does not transgress in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance belong to the Lord;
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 who speaks 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 to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
he who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who handles a matter wisely will find good,
and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
and adds 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 that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
26 He who labors, labors for himself,
for his mouth craves it of him.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil,
and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
and a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
and leads him into the way that is not good.
30 He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things;
moving his lips he brings evil to pass.
31 The gray-haired head is a crown of glory,
if it is found in the way of righteousness.
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 whole outcome is of the Lord.
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.