Proverbs 16
English Standard Version
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but (A)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 (B)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord (C)weighs the spirit.[a]
3 (D)Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 (E)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even (F)the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is (G)an abomination to the Lord;
(H)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By (I)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by (J)the fear of the Lord one (K)turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,
(L)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 (M)Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 (N)The heart of man plans his way,
but (O)the Lord establishes his steps.
10 (P)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 (Q)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 (R)the throne is established by righteousness.
13 (S)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 (T)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will (U)appease it.
15 (V)In the light of a king's face there is life,
and his (W)favor is like (X)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 (Y)How much better to get wisdom than (Z)gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than (AA)silver.
17 The highway of the upright (AB)turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 (AC)Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 (AD)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to (AE)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[b] (AF)will discover good,
and blessed is he (AG)who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech (AH)increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is (AI)a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 (AJ)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (AK)Gracious words are like (AL)a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and (AM)health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[c]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
his (AN)mouth urges him on.
27 (AO)A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech[d] is like (AP)a scorching fire.
28 (AQ)A dishonest man spreads strife,
and (AR)a whisperer (AS)separates close friends.
29 A man of violence (AT)entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans[e] (AU)dishonest things;
he who (AV)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (AW)Gray hair is (AX)a crown of glory;
it (AY)is gained in a righteous life.
32 (AZ)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 (BA)The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is (BB)from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits
- Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter
- Proverbs 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
- Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
- Proverbs 16:30 Hebrew to plan
箴言 16
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
16 心中的策劃在於人，
應對之言來自耶和華。
2 人看自己的行為都純全，
但是耶和華卻衡量人心。
3 把你的事交托耶和華，
你的計劃必實現。
4 耶和華所造的萬物各有其用，
連惡人也是為災難之日所造。
5 耶和華厭惡心驕氣傲者，
他們必逃不過祂的責罰。
6 慈愛和忠信可讓罪惡得贖，
敬畏耶和華使人遠離罪惡。
7 人所行的若蒙耶和華喜悅，
耶和華必使仇敵與他和好。
8 財物雖少但行事公義，
勝過家財萬貫卻不公義。
9 人心中籌畫自己的道路，
但耶和華決定他的腳步。
10 王口中有上帝的話，
斷案時必無差錯。
11 公道的秤與天平屬於耶和華，
袋中一切的法碼由祂制定。
12 君王憎恨惡行，
因王位靠公義而立。
13 王喜愛公義的言詞，
器重說話正直的人。
14 王的烈怒如死亡使者，
然而智者能平息王怒。
15 王的笑容帶給人生命，
他的恩惠像春雨之雲。
16 得智慧勝過得黃金，
獲悟性勝過獲白銀。
17 正直人的大道遠離罪惡，
堅守正道的保全性命。
18 驕橫是淪亡的前奏，
狂傲是敗落的預兆。
19 寧可謙卑地與貧寒人相處，
也不跟狂傲人共享戰利品。
20 聽從訓言的人受益匪淺，
信靠耶和華的人蒙祝福。
21 智者以明辨著稱，
甜言能說服人心。
22 智慧是智者的生命泉，
愚昧為愚人帶來懲罰。
23 智者三思而後言，
其言使人長見識。
24 良言如蜜，
使人心靈甘甜、身體康健。
25 有一條路看似正確，
最終卻通向死亡。
26 工人的胃口促他工作，
口腹之需是他的動力。
27 不務正業的人圖謀惡事，
他的口舌如烈焰般危險。
28 邪僻的人散播紛爭，
造謠的人破壞友情。
29 殘暴之徒引誘鄰舍走入歧途。
30 惡人眯起眼睛圖謀不軌，
歹徒咬著嘴唇策劃惡事。
31 白髮是榮耀的冠冕，
行為公義方能得到。
32 不輕易發怒者勝過勇士，
能自我控制勝過攻陷城池。
33 人可以搖籤求問，
但耶和華決定一切。
Proverbs 16
New King James Version
Wisdom Is Better Than Gold
16 The (A)preparations[a] of the heart belong to man,
(B)But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own (C)eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
5 (G)Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join [d]forces, none will go unpunished.
6 (H)In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And (I)by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 (J)Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
10 Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11 (M)Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights in the bag are His [e]work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For (N)a throne is established by righteousness.
13 (O)Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14 As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will (P)appease it.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a (Q)cloud of the latter rain.
16 (R)How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before [f]a fall.
19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the [g]spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever (S)trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of (T)death.
26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives (U)him on.
27 [h]An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning (V)fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And (W)a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He [i]purses his lips and brings about evil.
31 (X)The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 (Y)He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:1 plans
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit. Roll
- Proverbs 16:4 Lit. evil
- Proverbs 16:5 Lit. hand to hand
- Proverbs 16:11 concern
- Proverbs 16:18 stumbling
- Proverbs 16:19 plunder
- Proverbs 16:27 Lit. A man of Belial
- Proverbs 16:30 Lit. compresses
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
