Proverbs 16
Modern English Version
16 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
but 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 weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
and your thoughts will be established.
4 The Lord has made all things for Himself,
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will 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 makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 A man’s heart devises his way,
but the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king;
his mouth does not transgress in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance belong to the Lord;
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 who speaks 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 favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 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 a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who handles a matter wisely will find good,
and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,
sweet 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 death.
26 He who labors, labors for himself,
for his mouth craves it of him.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil,
and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
and a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
and leads him into the way that is not good.
30 He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things;
moving his lips he brings evil to pass.
31 The gray-haired head is a crown of glory,
if it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 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 the whole outcome is of the Lord.
Proverbs 16
New International Version
16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.(E)
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord(J) evil is avoided.(K)
7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace(L) with them.(M)
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.(P)
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.(Q)
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.(R)
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.(S)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.(T)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(AA)
19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](AE)
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(AF)
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(AH)
but folly brings punishment to fools.
26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.(AS)
30 Whoever winks(AT) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(AU)
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
- Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
- Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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