16 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.(A)

All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.[a](B)

Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(C)

The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.(D)

Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;(E)
be assured,[b] he will not go unpunished.(F)

Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(G)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(H)

When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.(I)

Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.(J)

A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(K)

10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;[c](L)
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.(M)

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)

17 The highway of the upright(S) avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.(T)

18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.(U)

19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble[d](V)
than to divide plunder with the proud.(W)

20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(X)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(Y)

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[e] increases learning.(Z)

22 Insight is a fountain of life(AA) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

23 The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.[f](AB)

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:(AC)
sweet to the taste[g] and health to the body.[h](AD)

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)

29 A violent person lures his neighbor,(AH)
leading him on a path that is not good.(AI)

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(AJ)

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown;(AK)
it is found in the ways of righteousness.(AL)

32 Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions,[j] than capturing a city.(AM)

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. 16:2 Lit spirits
  2. 16:5 Lit hand to hand
  3. 16:10 Or A divination is on the lips of a king
  4. 16:19 Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted
  5. 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips
  6. 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips
  7. 16:24 Lit throat
  8. 16:24 Lit bones
  9. 16:26 Lit mouth
  10. 16:32 Lit and ruling over one’s spirit

16 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the thoughts of the heart.

Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well.

The Lord has made all things for His own plans, even the sinful for the day of trouble.

Everyone who is proud in heart is a shame to the Lord. For sure, that one will be punished.

Sin has been paid for by loving-kindness and truth. The fear of the Lord keeps one away from sin.

When the ways of a man are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even those who hate him to be at peace with him.

A little earned in a right way is better than much earned in a wrong way.

The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do.

10 The lips of the king should decide as God would. His mouth should not sin in deciding what is right or wrong.

11 What is fair in telling the weight of something belongs to the Lord. He cares about all the weights of the bag.

12 It is a hated thing for kings to do what is wrong. For a throne is built on what is right.

13 Lips that speak what is right and good are the joy of kings, and he who speaks the truth is loved.

14 The anger of a king carries death, but a wise man will quiet it.

15 Life is in the light of a king’s face, and his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.

16 To get wisdom is much better than getting gold. To get understanding should be chosen instead of silver.

17 The road of the faithful turns away from sin. He who watches his way keeps his life.

18 Pride comes before being destroyed and a proud spirit comes before a fall.

19 It is better to be poor in spirit among poor people, than to divide the riches that were taken with the proud.

20 He who listens to the Word will find good, and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.

21 The wise in heart will be called understanding. And to speak in a pleasing way helps people know what you say is right.

22 Understanding is a well of life to him who has it, but to speak strong words to fools is of no use.

23 The heart of the wise has power over his mouth and adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasing words are like honey. They are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

26 A workman’s hunger works for him. The need of his mouth pushes him on.

27 A man of no worth looks for wrong-doing. His words are like burning fire.

28 A bad man spreads trouble. One who hurts people with bad talk separates good friends.

29 A man who hurts people tempts his neighbor to do the same, and leads him in a way that is not good.

30 He who winks his eyes plans to do bad things. He who closes his lips allows sinful things to happen.

31 Hair that is turning white is like a crown of honor. It is found in the way of being right with God.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the powerful. And he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city.

33 Man decides by throwing an object into the lap, but it is the Lord only who decides.