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
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.(A)
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(B)
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.(C)
5 All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, they will not go unpunished.(D)
6 By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.(E)
7 When the ways of people please the Lord,
he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.(F)
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
9 The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.(G)
10 Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.(H)
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.(I)
13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves those who speak what is right.(J)
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and whoever is wise will appease it.(K)
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.(L)
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.(M)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their way preserve their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction
and a haughty spirit before a fall.(N)
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
and happy are those who trust in the Lord.(O)
21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,
and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.(P)
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
but in the end it is the way to death.(Q)
26 The appetite of workers works for them;
their hunger urges them on.
27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.(R)
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.(S)
29 The violent entice their neighbors
and lead them in a way that is not good.(T)
30 One who winks the eyes plans[a] perverse things;
one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.(U)
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.(V)
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but the decision is the Lord’s alone.
Footnotes
- 16.30 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb to plan
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