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Proverbs 16
New King James Version
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
Proverbs 16
1599 Geneva Bible
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.
Proverbios 16
Reina-Valera 1960
Proverbios 16
Reina-Valera 1960
Proverbios sobre la vida y la conducta
16 Del hombre son las disposiciones del corazón;
Mas de Jehová es la respuesta de la lengua.
2 Todos los caminos del hombre son limpios en su propia opinión;
Pero Jehová pesa los espíritus.
3 Encomienda a Jehová tus obras,
Y tus pensamientos serán afirmados.
4 Todas las cosas ha hecho Jehová para sí mismo,
Y aun al impío para el día malo.
5 Abominación es a Jehová todo altivo de corazón;
Ciertamente no quedará impune.
6 Con misericordia y verdad se corrige el pecado,
Y con el temor de Jehová los hombres se apartan del mal.
7 Cuando los caminos del hombre son agradables a Jehová,
Aun a sus enemigos hace estar en paz con él.
8 Mejor es lo poco con justicia
Que la muchedumbre de frutos sin derecho.
9 El corazón del hombre piensa su camino;
Mas Jehová endereza sus pasos.
10 Oráculo hay en los labios del rey;
En juicio no prevaricará su boca.
11 Peso y balanzas justas son de Jehová;
Obra suya son todas las pesas de la bolsa.
12 Abominación es a los reyes hacer impiedad,
Porque con justicia será afirmado el trono.
13 Los labios justos son el contentamiento de los reyes,
Y estos aman al que habla lo recto.
14 La ira del rey es mensajero de muerte;
Mas el hombre sabio la evitará.
15 En la alegría del rostro del rey está la vida,
Y su benevolencia es como nube de lluvia tardía.
16 Mejor es adquirir sabiduría que oro preciado;
Y adquirir inteligencia vale más que la plata.
17 El camino de los rectos se aparta del mal;
Su vida guarda el que guarda su camino.
18 Antes del quebrantamiento es la soberbia,
Y antes de la caída la altivez de espíritu.
19 Mejor es humillar el espíritu con los humildes
Que repartir despojos con los soberbios.
20 El entendido en la palabra hallará el bien,
Y el que confía en Jehová es bienaventurado.
21 El sabio de corazón es llamado prudente,
Y la dulzura de labios aumenta el saber.
22 Manantial de vida es el entendimiento al que lo posee;
Mas la erudición de los necios es necedad.
23 El corazón del sabio hace prudente su boca,
Y añade gracia a sus labios.
24 Panal de miel son los dichos suaves;
Suavidad al alma y medicina para los huesos.
25 Hay camino que parece derecho al hombre,
Pero su fin es camino de muerte.(A)
26 El alma del que trabaja, trabaja para sí,
Porque su boca le estimula.
27 El hombre perverso cava en busca del mal,
Y en sus labios hay como llama de fuego.
28 El hombre perverso levanta contienda,
Y el chismoso aparta a los mejores amigos.
29 El hombre malo lisonjea a su prójimo,
Y le hace andar por camino no bueno.
30 Cierra sus ojos para pensar perversidades;
Mueve sus labios, efectúa el mal.
31 Corona de honra es la vejez
Que se halla en el camino de justicia.
32 Mejor es el que tarda en airarse que el fuerte;
Y el que se enseñorea de su espíritu, que el que toma una ciudad.
33 La suerte se echa en el regazo;
Mas de Jehová es la decisión de ella.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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.
Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960) 
Reina-Valera 1960 ® © Sociedades Bíblicas en América Latina, 1960. Renovado © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1988. Utilizado con permiso. Si desea más información visite americanbible.org, unitedbiblesocieties.org, vivelabiblia.com, unitedbiblesocieties.org/es/casa/, www.rvr60.bible