Proverbs 16:10-17:21

English Standard Version

^10 (A)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
^11 (B)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 ^(C)the throne is established by righteousness.
^13 (D)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
^14 (E)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(F)appease it.
^15 (G)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(H)favor is like ^(I)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
^16 (J)How much better to get wisdom than ^(K)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(L)silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright ^(M)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
^18 (N)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
^19 (O)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(P)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Whoever gives thought to the word^{[a] (Q)}will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(R)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(S)increases persuasiveness.
²² Good sense is ^(T)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
^23 (U)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (V)Gracious words are like ^(W)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(X)health to the body.
²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[b]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
    his ^(Y)mouth urges him on.
^27 (Z)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[c] is like ^(AA)a scorching fire.
^28 (AB)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(AC)a whisperer ^(AD)separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(AE)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plans^{[d] (AF)}dishonest things;
    he who ^(AG)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (AH)Gray hair is ^(AI)a crown of glory;
    it ^(AJ)is gained in a righteous life.
^32 (AK)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
^33 (AL)The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is ^(AM)from the Lord.
17 ^(AN)Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting^[e] with strife.
² A servant who deals wisely will rule over ^(AO)a son who acts shamefully
    and ^(AP)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
^3 (AQ)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    ^(AR)and the Lord tests hearts.
⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
⁵ Whoever mocks the poor ^(AS)insults his Maker;
    he who is ^(AT)glad at calamity will not go ^(AU)unpunished.
^6 (AV)Grandchildren are ^(AW)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷ Fine speech is not ^(AX)becoming to a fool;
    still less is ^(AY)false speech to a prince.
^8 (AZ)A bribe is like a magic^[f] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹ Whoever ^(BA)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter ^(BB)separates close friends.
¹⁰ A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and ^(BC)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² Let a man meet ^(BD)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    ^(BE)rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³ If anyone ^(BF)returns evil for good,
    ^(BG)evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so ^(BH)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
¹⁵ He who ^(BI)justifies the wicked and he who ^(BJ)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why should a fool have money in his hand ^(BK)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?
^17 (BL)A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸ One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹ Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who ^(BM)makes his door high seeks destruction.
^20 (BN)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
²¹ He who ^(BO)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.