Proverbs 16
Complete Jewish Bible
16 A person is responsible to prepare his heart,
but how the tongue speaks is from Adonai.
2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own view,
but Adonai weighs the spirit.
3 If you entrust all you do to Adonai,
your plans will achieve success.
4 Adonai made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 Adonai detests all those with proud hearts;
be assured that they will not go unpunished.
6 Grace and truth atone for iniquity,
and people turn from evil through fear of Adonai.
7 When a man’s ways please Adonai,
he makes even the man’s enemies be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than a huge income with injustice.
9 A person may plan his path,
but Adonai directs his steps.
10 Divine inspiration is on the lips of the king,
so his mouth must be faithful when he judges.
11 The balance and scales of justice have their origin in Adonai;
all the weights in the bag are his doing.
12 It is an abomination for a king to do evil,
for the throne is made secure by righteousness.
13 The king should delight in righteous lips,
and he should love someone who speaks what is right.
14 The king’s anger is a herald of death,
and one who is wise will appease it.
15 When the king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like the clouds that bring spring rain.
16 How much better than gold it is to gain wisdom!
Yes, rather than money, choose to gain understanding.
17 Avoiding evil is the highway of the upright;
he who watches his step preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and arrogance before failure.
19 Better to be humble among the poor
than share the spoil with the proud.
20 He who has skill in a matter will succeed;
he who trusts in Adonai will be happy.
21 A wise-hearted person is said to have discernment,
and sweetness of speech adds to learning.
22 Common sense is a fountain of life to one who has it,
whereas fools are punished by their own folly.
23 The wise man’s heart teaches his mouth,
and to his lips it adds learning.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweet to the taste and healing for the body.
25 There can be a way which seems right to a person,
but at its end are the ways of death.
26 A working man’s appetite acts on his behalf,
because his hunger presses him on.
27 A worthless person digs up evil [gossip] —
it is like scorching fire on his lips.
28 A deceitful person stirs up strife,
and a slanderer can separate even close friends.
29 A violent man lures his neighbor astray
and leads him into evil ways.
30 One who winks knowingly is planning deceit;
one who pinches his lips together has already done wrong.
31 White hair is a crown of honor
obtained by righteous living.
32 He who controls his temper is better than a war hero,
he who rules his spirit better than he who captures a city.
33 One can cast lots into one’s lap,
but the decision comes from Adonai.
Proverbs 16
Christian Standard Bible
16 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.(A)
3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(C)
4 The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.(D)
5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;(E)
be assured,[b] he will not go unpunished.(F)
6 Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(G)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(H)
7 When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.(I)
8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.(J)
9 A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(K)
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his concern.(N)
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,(O)
since a throne is established through righteousness.(P)
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.
14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise person appeases it.(Q)
15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
16 Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.(R)
18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.(U)
20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(X)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(Y)
22 Insight is a fountain of life(AA) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.
25 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.(AE)
26 A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger[i] urges him on.
27 A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(AF)
28 A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.(AG)
30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(AJ)
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.(AN)
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.