Proverbs 16:14-33

English Standard Version

^14 (A)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(B)appease it.
^15 (C)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(D)favor is like ^(E)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
^16 (F)How much better to get wisdom than ^(G)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(H)silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright ^(I)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
^18 (J)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
^19 (K)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(L)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Whoever gives thought to the word^{[a] (M)}will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(N)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(O)increases persuasiveness.
²² Good sense is ^(P)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
^23 (Q)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (R)Gracious words are like ^(S)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(T)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 ^(U)mouth urges him on.
^27 (V)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[c] is like ^(W)a scorching fire.
^28 (X)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(Y)a whisperer ^(Z)separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(AA)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plans^{[d] (AB)}dishonest things;
    he who ^(AC)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (AD)Gray hair is ^(AE)a crown of glory;
    it ^(AF)is gained in a righteous life.
^32 (AG)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
^33 (AH)The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is ^(AI)from the Lord.