Proverbs 16:1-24

English Standard Version

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but ^(A)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
²^(B)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(C)weighs the spirit.^[a]
³^(D)Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
⁴^(E)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even ^(F)the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ^(G)an abomination to the Lord;
    ^(H)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶By ^(I)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by ^(J)the fear of the Lord one ^(K)turns away from evil.
⁷When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(L)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸^(M)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
⁹^(N)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(O)the Lord establishes his steps.
¹⁰^(P)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
¹¹^(Q)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹²It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for ^(R)the throne is established by righteousness.
¹³^(S)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
¹⁴^(T)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(U)appease it.
¹⁵^(V)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(W)favor is like ^(X)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
¹⁶^(Y)How much better to get wisdom than ^(Z)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(AA)silver.
¹⁷The highway of the upright ^(AB)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
¹⁸^(AC)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹^(AD)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(AE)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰Whoever gives thought to the word^[b] ^(AF)will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(AG)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(AH)increases persuasiveness.
²²Good sense is ^(AI)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
²³^(AJ)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
²⁴^(AK)Gracious words are like ^(AL)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(AM)health to the body.