Proverbs 16
Legacy Standard Bible
16 The [a](A)plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own sight,
But (B)Yahweh weighs the [b]motives.
3 [c](C)Commit your works to Yahweh
And your [d]plans will be established.
4 Yahweh (D)has made everything for [e]its own purpose,
Even the (E)wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By (F)lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the [f](G)fear of Yahweh one turns away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh,
He (H)makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great produce with injustice.
9 The heart of (I)man [g]plans his way,
But (J)Yahweh [h]directs his steps.
10 A divine (K)decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [i]err in judgment.
11 A (L)just balance and scales belong to Yahweh;
All the [j]weights of the bag are His [k]work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For in righteousness a (M)throne is established.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks uprightly is loved.
14 The wrath of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will atone for it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [l](N)late rain.
16 How much (O)better it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold!
And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The (P)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
He who guards his way keeps his [m]soul.
18 (Q)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be (R)humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to (S)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who considers the word will (T)find good,
And how (U)blessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
21 The (V)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [n]lips (W)increases learning.
22 Insight is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of ignorant fools is [o]folly.
23 The (X)heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth
And increases learning to his lips.
24 (Y)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (Z)healing to the bones.
25 (AA)There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his mouth urges him on.
27 A (AB)vile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like (AC)scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a whisperer separates close companions.
29 A man of violence (AD)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (AE)Gray hair is a crown of beauty;
It (AF)is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.
33 The (AG)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every (AH)judgment is from Yahweh.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:1 Lit preparations
- Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit Roll
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit thoughts
- Proverbs 16:4 Or His
- Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence
- Proverbs 16:9 Lit thinks upon
- Proverbs 16:9 Lit establishes
- Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
- Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
- Proverbs 16:11 Or concern
- Proverbs 16:15 Spring
- Proverbs 16:17 Or life
- Proverbs 16:21 Or speech
- Proverbs 16:22 A lack of wisdom due to negligence or carelessness; the activity of an ignorant fool
Proverbs 16
Expanded Bible
16 People may make plans in their ·minds [hearts],
but ·only the Lord can make them come true [L from the Lord comes a responding tongue].
2 ·You may believe you are doing right [L All paths of people are pure in their eyes],
but the Lord will ·judge your reasons [measure your motives; L weigh the spirits].
3 ·Depend on the Lord in whatever you do [Commit your acts/deeds to the Lord],
and your plans will ·succeed [be established].
4 The Lord makes everything ·go as he pleases [for a purpose].
He has even prepared a day of ·disaster [evil; harm; trouble] for evil people.
5 The Lord ·hates [detests] those who are proud.
They will surely be punished.
6 ·Love [Loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness] bring ·forgiveness of sin [atonement for guilt].
By ·respecting [fearing] the Lord you will avoid evil.
7 When ·people live so that they please the Lord [L people’s paths draw the Lord’s favor]
even their enemies will make peace with them.
8 It is better to ·be poor [have little] and ·right [righteousness]
than ·to be wealthy [much gain] and ·dishonest [injustice].
9 ·People may make plans in their minds [L Human hearts plan their path],
but the Lord ·decides what they will do [L establishes their step].
10 The words of a king are like a ·message from God [oracle],
so ·his decisions should be fair [L he should not betray justice with his mouth].
11 The Lord wants honest balances and scales;
·all the weights are his work [L he concerns himself with the weights in the pouch].
12 Kings ·hate [detest] those who do wrong,
because ·governments only continue if they are fair [L in righteousness the throne is established].
13 Kings ·like [favor] ·honest people [L righteous lips];
they ·value [love] ·someone who speaks the truth [L those who speak with integrity].
14 An angry king ·can put someone to [L is a messenger of] death,
so a wise person will ·try to make him happy [appease/calm him].
15 ·A smiling king can give people [L In the light of the face of the king there is] life;
his ·kindness [favor] is like a ·spring shower [L cloud that brings late rain].
16 It is better to get wisdom than gold,
and to choose understanding rather than silver!
17 ·Good people stay [L The highway of those with integrity turns] away from evil.
By ·watching what they do [protecting their path], they ·protect [guard] their lives.
18 Pride ·leads to destruction [comes before a disaster];
·a proud attitude brings ruin [T pride comes before a fall].
19 It is better to be humble and ·be with those who suffer [with the needy]
than ·to share stolen property [dividing plunder/spoil] with the proud.
20 Whoever ·listens to what is taught [has insight] will ·succeed [prosper],
and whoever trusts the Lord will be ·happy [blessed].
21 The wise of heart ·are known for their [L will be called] understanding.
Their ·pleasant [sweet] words ·make them better teachers [enhance their teaching].
22 ·Understanding is like a fountain which gives life to those who use it [L One who possesses insight is a fountain of life],
but ·foolishness brings punishment to fools [or the instruction of foolish people is folly].
23 Wise people’s ·minds [hearts] ·tell them what to say [L provide insight to their mouth],
and that ·helps them be better teachers [enhances their teaching].
24 Pleasant words are like ·a honeycomb [liquid honey],
·making people happy and healthy [L sweet to the taste and healing to the bones].
25 ·Some people think they are doing right [L There is a path that is straight before a person/T seems right to a man],
but in the end it ·leads [L is the path] to death.
26 The workers’ hunger ·helps [L works for] them,
·because their desire to eat makes them work [L and their mouths press/urge them on].
27 ·Useless [Worthless] people ·make evil plans [L dig up evil],
and their ·words [L lips] are like a burning fire.
28 A ·useless [perverse] person causes ·trouble [conflicts],
and a gossip ruins close friendships.
29 ·Cruel [Violent] people ·trick [entice] their neighbors
and ·lead them to do wrong [L make them walk on a path that is not good].
30 Someone who winks their eye is planning ·evil [perverse things],
and the one who ·grins [L purses/narrows their lips] is ·planning something wrong [concealing evil].
31 Gray hair is like a crown of honor;
it is ·earned by living a good life [L found on the path of righteousness].
32 Patience is better than strength [or A patient person is better than a warrior].
Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.
33 People throw lots ·to make a decision [L into the lap],
but the ·answer [decision] comes from the Lord.
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The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.