16 The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue.

² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).^(A)

³ Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

⁴ The Lord has made everything [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end and His own purpose—even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity and evil.

⁵ Everyone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured [I pledge it] they will not go unpunished.^(B)

⁶ By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man—not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.

⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice.^(C)

⁹ A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.^(D)

¹⁰ Divinely directed decisions are on the lips of the king; his mouth should not transgress in judgment.

¹¹ A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights of the bag are His work [established on His eternal principles].

¹² It is an abomination [to God and men] for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established and made secure by righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).

¹³ Right and just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.

¹⁴ The wrath of a king is as messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵ In the light of the king’s countenance is life, and his favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain.

¹⁶ How much better it is to get skillful and godly Wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.^(E)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; he who guards his way preserves his life.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the meek and poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

²⁰ He who deals wisely and heeds [God’s] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord—happy, blessed, and fortunate is he.

²¹ The wise in heart are called prudent, understanding, and knowing, and winsome speech increases learning [in both speaker and listener].

²² Understanding is a wellspring of life to those who have it, but to give instruction to fools is folly.

²³ The mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips.

²⁴ Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

²⁶ The appetite of the laborer works for him, for [the need of] his mouth urges him on.

²⁷ A worthless man devises and digs up mischief, and in his lips there is as a scorching fire.

²⁸ A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.^(F)

²⁹ The exceedingly grasping, covetous, and violent man entices his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good.

³⁰ He who shuts his eyes to devise perverse things and who compresses his lips [as if in concealment] brings evil to pass.

³¹ The hoary head is a crown of beauty and glory if it is found in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).^(G)

³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him].