Proverbs 16
King James Version
16 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh 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 favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Proverbs 16
1599 Geneva Bible
16 1 The [a]preparations of the heart are in man: but the answer of the tongue is of the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are [b]clean in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the spirits.
3 [c]Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 The Lord hath made all things for his own sake: yea, even the wicked for the day of [d]evil.
5 All that are proud in heart, are an abomination to the Lord: though (A)hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By [e]mercy and truth iniquity shall be forgiven, and by the fear of the Lord they depart from evil.
7 When the ways of a man please the Lord, he will make also his enemies at peace with him.
8 (B)Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without equity.
9 The heart of [f]man purposeth his way: but the Lord doth direct his steps.
10 A divine sentence shall be in the lips of the king: his mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
11 (C)A true weight and balance are of the Lord: and the weights of the bag are his [g]work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is stablished [h]by justice.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and the king loveth him that speaketh right things.
14 The wrath of a king is as [i]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 [j]as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 (D)How much better is it to get wisdom than gold? and to get understanding, is more to be desired than silver.
17 The path of the righteous is to decline from evil, and he keepeth his soul that keepeth his way.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an high mind before the fall.
19 Better it is to be of humble mind with the lowly, than to divide the spoils with the proud.
20 He that is wise in his business, shall find good: and (E)he that trusteth in the Lord, he is blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent and [k]the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto them that have it: and the [l]instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise guideth his mouth wisely, and addeth doctrine to his lips.
24 Fair words are as an honey comb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 (F)There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the issue thereof are the ways of death.
26 The person that travaileth, travaileth for himself: for his mouth [m]craveth it of him.
27 A wicked man diggeth up evil, and in his lips is like [n]burning fire.
28 A froward person soweth strife: and a taleteller maketh division among princes.
29 A wicked man deceiveth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 [o]He shutteth his eyes to devise wickedness: he moveth his lips, and bringeth evil to pass.
31 Age is a crown of glory, when it is found in the way of [p]righteousness.
32 He that is slow unto anger, is better than the mighty man: and he that ruleth his own mind, is better than he that winneth a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposition thereof is [q]of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:1 He derideth the presumption of man, who dare attribute to himself any thing, as to prepare his heart or such like, seeing that he is not able to speak a word, except God give it him.
- Proverbs 16:2 He showeth hereby that man flattereth himself in his doings, calling that virtue, which God termeth vice.
- Proverbs 16:3 Hebrew, role.
- Proverbs 16:4 So that the justice of God shall appear to his glory, even in the destruction of the wicked.
- Proverbs 16:6 Their upright and repenting life shall be a token that their sins are forgiven.
- Proverbs 16:9 He showeth the folly of man, which thinketh that his ways are in his own hand, and yet it is able to remove one foot except God give force.
- Proverbs 16:11 If they be true and just, they are God’s work, and he delighteth therein, but otherwise if they be false, they are the work of the devil, and to their condemnation that use them.
- Proverbs 16:12 They are appointed by God to rule according to equity and justice.
- Proverbs 16:14 That is, he findeth out many means to execute his wrath.
- Proverbs 16:15 Which is most comfortable to the dry ground, Deut. 11:14.
- Proverbs 16:21 The sweet words of consolation, which come forth of a godly heart.
- Proverbs 16:22 Either that which the wicked teach others, or else it is folly to teach them that are malicious.
- Proverbs 16:26 Hebrew, boweth upon him.
- Proverbs 16:27 For he consumeth himself and others.
- Proverbs 16:30 With his whole endeavor he laboreth to bring his wickedness to pass.
- Proverbs 16:31 That is, when it is joined with virtue: or else the elder that the wicked are, the more they are to be abhorred.
- Proverbs 16:33 So that there is nothing that ought to be attributed to fortune: for all things are determined in the counsel of God which shall come to pass.
Proverbs 16
Wycliffe Bible
16 It pertaineth to man to make ready the soul; and it pertaineth to the Lord to govern the tongue. (Each person must prepare their own soul, or their own life; but it is God who governeth their tongue, or telleth them what to say.)
2 All the ways of men be open to the eyes of God (All the ways of people be before God); the Lord is a weigher of spirits, that is, of wills, yielding to man after his deservings.
3 Show thy works to the Lord; and thy thoughts shall be (ad)dressed. (Commit thy plans to the Lord; and they shall succeed.)
4 The Lord wrought all things for himself; and he made ready a wicked man to the evil day. (The Lord made everything for its own purpose; and he made the wicked for the day of evil.)
5 Abomination of the Lord is each proud man (Each proud person is an abomination to the Lord); yea, though the hand is to the hand, he shall not be innocent. The beginning of [the] good way is to do rightwiseness; forsooth it is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.
6 Wickedness is again-bought by mercy and truth; and men boweth away from evil by the dread of the Lord. (Wickedness is redeemed by love and faithfulness; and people can turn away from evil by the fear of the Lord/through reverence for the Lord.)
7 When the ways of (a) man please the Lord, he shall convert, yea, his enemies to peace.
8 Better is a little with rightfulness, than many fruits with wickedness.
9 The heart of a man shall dispose his way; but it pertaineth to the Lord to (ad)dress his steps. (A person’s heart shall ordain his way; but it pertaineth to the Lord to direct his steps.)
10 Divining is in the lips of a king; his mouth shall not err in doom. (The king speaketh with divine authority; his mouth shall not err in any judgement.)
11 The dooms of the Lord be weight and balance; and his works be all the stones of the world. (The Lord’s justice be equal weights and an honest balance; yea, each of the stones in the world is his own work.)
12 They that do wickedly be abominable to the king; for the throne of the realm is made steadfast by rightfulness.
13 The will of kings is just lips; he that speaketh rightful things, shall be (ad)dressed. (The desire of kings is just, or truthful, words; he who speaketh upright things shall be favoured.)
14 [The] Indignation of the king is (like) messengers of death; and a wise man shall please him (but a wise person shall please him).
15 Life is in gladness of the king’s cheer; and his mercy is as rain coming late. (Life is in the gladness of the king’s face; and his mercy is like the rain that cometh late.)
16 Wield thou wisdom, for it is better than gold; and get thou prudence, for it is preciouser than silver. (Possess thou wisdom, for it is better than gold; and get thou prudence, for it is more precious than silver.)
17 The path of just men boweth away (from) evils (The path of the righteous turneth away from evil); the keeper of his soul keepeth his way (safe).
18 Pride goeth before sorrow; and the spirit shall be enhanced before falling (and the spirit shall be raised up before a fall).
19 It is better to be made meek with mild men, than to part spoils with proud men. (It is better to be made poor with the humble, than to part spoils with the proud.)
20 A learned man in word shall find goods (A person learned in understanding shall obtain good things); and he that hopeth in the Lord is blessed.
21 He that is wise in heart, shall be called prudent; and he that is sweet in speech, shall find greater things. (He who is wise in heart, shall be called prudent; and he who useth sweet, or pleasant, speech, shall increase his knowledge/shall help others to learn.)
22 The well of life is the learning of him that wieldeth (it); the teaching of fools is folly.
23 The heart of a wise man shall teach his mouth; and shall increase grace to his lips. (The heart of a wise person shall teach his mouth; and his lips shall bring an increase of favour.)
24 Words well-set together is a comb of honey; health of bones is the sweetness of soul. (Kind words be like a honeycomb; sweet to the soul, and health for the bones.)
25 A way there is that seemeth rightful to a man (There is a way that seemeth right to someone); and the last things thereof lead to death.
26 The soul of a man travailing travaileth to himself; for his mouth compelled him. (A person labouring laboureth for himself; for his hunger compelled him.)
27 An unwise man diggeth evil; and fire burneth in his lips. (The unwise person diggeth up evil; and fire burneth on his lips.)
28 A wayward man raiseth strives; and a man full of words separateth princes. (A wayward person raiseth up strife, or arguments; and a person full of words separateth leaders.)
29 A wicked man flattereth his friend; and leadeth him by a way not good.
30 He that thinketh shrewd things with eyes astonied, biteth his lips, and performeth evil. (With astonished eyes, he thinketh depraved things, and biteth his lips, and performeth evil.)
31 A crown of dignity is eld (age), that shall be found in the ways of rightfulness.
32 A patient man is better than a strong man; and he that is lord of his soul, is better than an overcomer of cities. (A patient person is better than a strong person; and he who is lord over himself, or over his own nature, is better than an overcomer of cities.)
33 Lots be sent into the bosom; but they be tempered of the Lord. (Lots can be cast into the lap; but they shall be decided, or determined, by the Lord.)
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
2001 by Terence P. Noble