Proverbs 16:7-22:16

English Standard Version

⁷ When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(A)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
^8 (B)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
^9 (C)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(D)the Lord establishes his steps.
^10 (E)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
^11 (F)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 ^(G)the throne is established by righteousness.
^13 (H)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
^14 (I)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(J)appease it.
^15 (K)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(L)favor is like ^(M)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
^16 (N)How much better to get wisdom than ^(O)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(P)silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright ^(Q)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
^18 (R)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
^19 (S)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(T)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Whoever gives thought to the word^{[a] (U)}will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(V)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(W)increases persuasiveness.
²² Good sense is ^(X)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
^23 (Y)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (Z)Gracious words are like ^(AA)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(AB)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 ^(AC)mouth urges him on.
^27 (AD)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[c] is like ^(AE)a scorching fire.
^28 (AF)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(AG)a whisperer ^(AH)separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(AI)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plans^{[d] (AJ)}dishonest things;
    he who ^(AK)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (AL)Gray hair is ^(AM)a crown of glory;
    it ^(AN)is gained in a righteous life.
^32 (AO)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
^33 (AP)The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is ^(AQ)from the Lord.
17 ^(AR)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 ^(AS)a son who acts shamefully
    and ^(AT)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
^3 (AU)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    ^(AV)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 ^(AW)insults his Maker;
    he who is ^(AX)glad at calamity will not go ^(AY)unpunished.
^6 (AZ)Grandchildren are ^(BA)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷ Fine speech is not ^(BB)becoming to a fool;
    still less is ^(BC)false speech to a prince.
^8 (BD)A bribe is like a magic^[f] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹ Whoever ^(BE)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter ^(BF)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 ^(BG)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² Let a man meet ^(BH)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    ^(BI)rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³ If anyone ^(BJ)returns evil for good,
    ^(BK)evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so ^(BL)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
¹⁵ He who ^(BM)justifies the wicked and he who ^(BN)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why should a fool have money in his hand ^(BO)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?
^17 (BP)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 ^(BQ)makes his door high seeks destruction.
^20 (BR)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
²¹ He who ^(BS)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.
^22 (BT)A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit ^(BU)dries up the bones.
²³ The wicked accepts ^(BV)a bribe in secret^[g]
    to ^(BW)pervert the ways of justice.
^24 (BX)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
^25 (BY)A foolish son is a grief to his father
    ^(BZ)and bitterness to ^(CA)her who bore him.
^26 (CB)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷ Whoever ^(CC)restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool ^(CD)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
18 Whoever ^(CE)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
² A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only ^(CF)in expressing his opinion.
³ When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
⁴ The words of a man's mouth are ^(CG)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
⁵ It is not good to ^(CH)be partial to^[h] the wicked
    or to ^(CI)deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶ A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites ^(CJ)a beating.
^7 (CK)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
^8 (CL)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into ^(CM)the inner parts of the body.
⁹ Whoever is slack in his work
    is a ^(CN)brother to him who destroys.
^10 (CO)The name of the Lord is ^(CP)a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and ^(CQ)is safe.
^11 (CR)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
^12 (CS)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but ^(CT)humility comes before honor.
¹³ If one gives an answer ^(CU)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
¹⁴ A man's spirit will endure sickness,
    but ^(CV)a crushed spirit who can bear?
¹⁵ An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ A man's ^(CW)gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.
¹⁷ The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him.
^18 (CX)The lot puts an end to quarrels
    and decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹ A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
^20 (CY)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
^21 (CZ)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.
²² He who finds ^(DA)a wife finds ^(DB)a good thing
    and ^(DC)obtains favor ^(DD)from the Lord.
²³ The poor use entreaties,
    but ^(DE)the rich answer roughly.
²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but ^(DF)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
19 ^(DG)Better is a poor person who ^(DH)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
² Desire^[i] without knowledge is not good,
    and whoever ^(DI)makes haste with his feet misses his way.
³ When a man's folly ^(DJ)brings his way to ruin,
    his heart ^(DK)rages against the Lord.
^4 (DL)Wealth brings many new friends,
    ^(DM)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
^5 (DN)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(DO)breathes out lies will not escape.
⁶ Many seek the favor of a generous man,^[j]
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives ^(DP)gifts.
^7 (DQ)All a poor man's brothers hate him;
    ^(DR)how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.^[k]
8 (DS)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will ^(DT)discover good.
^9 (DU)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(DV)breathes out lies will perish.
^10 (DW)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for ^(DX)a slave to rule over princes.
^11 (DY)Good sense makes one slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
¹² A king's wrath is like ^(DZ)the growling of a lion,
    but his ^(EA)favor is like ^(EB)dew on the grass.
^13 (EC)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and ^(ED)a wife's quarreling is ^(EE)a continual dripping of rain.
^14 (EF)House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is ^(EG)from the Lord.
^15 (EH)Slothfulness casts into ^(EI)a deep sleep,
    and ^(EJ)an idle person will suffer hunger.
¹⁶ Whoever ^(EK)keeps the commandment keeps his life;
    he who despises his ways will die.
^17 (EL)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he ^(EM)will repay him for his ^(EN)deed.
^18 (EO)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    do not set your heart on ^(EP)putting him to death.
¹⁹ A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
    for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in ^(EQ)the future.
^21 (ER)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but ^(ES)it is the purpose of the Lord ^(ET)that will stand.
²² What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
    and a poor man is better than a liar.
²³ The fear of the Lord ^(EU)leads to life,
    and whoever has it rests ^(EV)satisfied;
    he will ^(EW)not be visited by harm.
^24 (EX)The sluggard buries his hand in ^(EY)the dish
    and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
^25 (EZ)Strike ^(FA)a scoffer, and the simple will ^(FB)learn prudence;
    ^(FC)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
²⁶ He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is ^(FD)a son who brings shame and reproach.
²⁷ Cease to hear instruction, my son,
    ^(FE)and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
²⁸ A worthless witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked ^(FF)devours iniquity.
²⁹ Condemnation is ready for ^(FG)scoffers,
    and ^(FH)beating for the backs of fools.
20 ^(FI)Wine is a mocker, ^(FJ)strong drink a brawler,
    and whoever ^(FK)is led astray by it is not wise.^[l]
2 The terror of a king is like ^(FL)the growling of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger ^(FM)forfeits his life.
³ It is an honor for a man to ^(FN)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
^4 (FO)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
    ^(FP)he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
⁵ The purpose in a man's heart is like ^(FQ)deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
⁶ Many a man ^(FR)proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but ^(FS)a faithful man who can find?
⁷ The righteous who ^(FT)walks in his integrity—
    ^(FU)blessed are his children after him!
^8 (FV)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    ^(FW)winnows all evil with his eyes.
^9 (FX)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
    I am clean from my sin”?
^10 (FY)Unequal^[m] weights and unequal measures
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹¹ Even a child ^(FZ)makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright.^[n]
12 (GA)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    ^(GB)the Lord has made them both.
^13 (GC)Love not sleep, lest you ^(GD)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have ^(GE)plenty of bread.
¹⁴ “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
¹⁵ There is gold and abundance of ^(GF)costly stones,
    ^(GG)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
^16 (GH)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and ^(GI)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.^[o]
17 (GJ)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of ^(GK)gravel.
^18 (GL)Plans are established by counsel;
    by ^(GM)wise guidance ^(GN)wage war.
¹⁹ Whoever ^(GO)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with ^(GP)a simple babbler.^[p]
20 (GQ)If one curses his father or his mother,
    ^(GR)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
^21 (GS)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
²² Do not say, ^(GT)“I will repay evil”;
    ^(GU)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
^23 (GV)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
    and ^(GW)false scales are not good.
²⁴ A man's ^(GX)steps are from the Lord;
    how then can man understand his way?
²⁵ It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
    and to reflect only ^(GY)after making vows.
²⁶ A wise king ^(GZ)winnows the wicked
    and drives ^(HA)the wheel over them.
^27 (HB)The spirit^[q] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
    ^(HC)searching all ^(HD)his innermost parts.
^28 (HE)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his ^(HF)throne is upheld.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
    but ^(HG)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
^30 (HH)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean ^(HI)the innermost parts.
21 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he ^(HJ)turns it wherever he will.
^2 (HK)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(HL)weighs the heart.
^3 (HM)To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
^4 (HN)Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
    ^(HO)the lamp^[r] of the wicked, are sin.
⁵ The plans of ^(HP)the diligent lead surely to abundance,
    but everyone who is ^(HQ)hasty comes ^(HR)only to poverty.
^6 (HS)The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
    is a ^(HT)fleeting ^(HU)vapor and a ^(HV)snare of death.^[s]
7 The violence of the wicked will ^(HW)sweep them away,
    because they refuse to do what is just.
⁸ The way of the guilty ^(HX)is crooked,
    but the conduct of the pure is upright.
⁹ It is ^(HY)better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
¹¹ When ^(HZ)a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
    when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
¹² The Righteous One ^(IA)observes the house of the wicked;
    he throws the wicked down to ruin.
^13 (IB)Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
    will himself call out and not be answered.
^14 (IC)A gift in secret averts anger,
    and a concealed bribe,^[t] strong wrath.
¹⁵ When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    ^(ID)but terror to evildoers.
¹⁶ One who wanders from the way of good sense
    ^(IE)will rest in the assembly of the dead.
¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
^18 (IF)The wicked is a ^(IG)ransom for the righteous,
    and the traitor for the upright.
¹⁹ It is ^(IH)better to live in a desert land
    than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
^20 (II)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man ^(IJ)devours it.
²¹ Whoever ^(IK)pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find ^(IL)life, righteousness, and honor.
^22 (IM)A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
^23 (IN)Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    ^(IO)keeps himself out of ^(IP)trouble.
^24 (IQ)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.
²⁵ The desire of ^(IR)the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
²⁶ All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous ^(IS)gives and does not hold back.
^27 (IT)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more ^(IU)when he brings it with evil intent.
^28 (IV)A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.
²⁹ A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright ^(IW)gives thought to^[u] his ways.
^30 (IX)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the Lord.
^31 (IY)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but ^(IZ)the victory belongs to the Lord.
22 ^(JA)A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
^2 (JB)The rich and the poor meet together;
    the Lord is ^(JC)the Maker of them all.
^3 (JD)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
⁴ The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
    is ^(JE)riches and honor and life.^[v]
5 (JF)Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
    whoever ^(JG)guards his soul will keep far from them.
^6 (JH)Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.
^7 (JI)The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
⁸ Whoever ^(JJ)sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and ^(JK)the rod of his fury will fail.
^9 (JL)Whoever has a bountiful^[w] eye will be blessed,
    for he ^(JM)shares his bread with the poor.
^10 (JN)Drive out a scoffer, ^(JO)and strife will go out,
    and ^(JP)quarreling and abuse will cease.
¹¹ He who ^(JQ)loves purity of heart,
    and whose ^(JR)speech is gracious, ^(JS)will have the king as his friend.
¹² The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he ^(JT)overthrows the words of the traitor.
^13 (JU)The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”
¹⁴ The mouth of ^(JV)forbidden^[x] women is ^(JW)a deep pit;
    ^(JX)he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but ^(JY)the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
¹⁶ Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, ^(JZ)will only come to poverty.