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Proverbs 16-18
Contemporary English Version
Proverbs 16-18
Contemporary English Version
The Lord Has the Final Word
16 We humans make plans,
but the Lord
has the final word.
2 We may think we know
what is right,
but the Lord is the judge
of our motives.
3 Share your plans with the Lord,
and you will succeed.
4 The Lord has a reason
for everything he does,
and he lets evil people live
only to be punished.
5 The Lord doesn't like
anyone who is conceited—
you can be sure
they will be punished.
6 (A) If we truly love God,
our sins will be forgiven;
if we show him respect,
we will keep away from sin.
7 When we please the Lord,
even our enemies
make friends with us.
8 (B) It's better to be honest
and poor
than to be dishonest
and rich.
9 We make our own plans,
but the Lord decides
where we will go.
10 Rulers speak with authority
and are never wrong.
11 The Lord watches to see
if we are fair
or if we cheat others.
12 Justice makes rulers powerful.
They should hate evil
13 and like honesty and truth.
14 An angry ruler
can put you to death.
So be wise!
Don't make one angry.
15 When a ruler is happy
and pleased with you,
it's like refreshing rain,
and you will live.
16 It's much better to be wise
and sensible
than to be rich.
17 God's people avoid evil ways,
and they protect themselves
by watching where they go.
18 Too much pride
will destroy you.
19 You are better off
to be humble and poor
than to get rich
from what you take by force.
20 If you know what you're doing,[a]
you will prosper.
God blesses everyone
who trusts him.
21 Good judgment proves
that you are wise,
and if you speak kindly,
you can teach others.
22 Good sense is a fountain
that gives life,
but fools are punished
by their foolishness.
23 You can persuade others
if you are wise
and speak sensibly.
24 Kind words are like honey—
they cheer you up
and make you feel strong.
25 (C) Sometimes what seems right
is really a road to death.
26 The hungrier you are,
the harder you work.
27 Worthless people plan trouble.
Even their words burn
like a flaming fire.
28 (D) Gossip is no good!
It causes hard feelings
and comes between friends.
29 Don't trust violent people.
They will mislead you
to do the wrong thing.
30 When someone winks
or grins behind your back,
trouble is on the way.
31 Gray hair is a glorious crown
worn by those
who have lived right.
32 Controlling your temper
is better than being a hero
who captures a city.
33 We make our own decisions,
but the Lord alone
determines what happens.
Our Thoughts Are Tested by the Lord
17 A dry crust of bread eaten
in peace and quiet
is better than a feast eaten
where everyone argues.
2 A wise slave
will be placed in charge
of a no-good child,
and that slave will be given
the same inheritance
that each child receives.
3 Silver and gold are tested
by flames of fire;
our thoughts are tested
by the Lord.
4 Troublemakers listen
to troublemakers,
and liars listen to liars.
5 By insulting the poor,
you insult your Creator.
You will be punished
if you make fun
of someone in trouble.
6 Grandparents are proud
of their grandchildren,
and children should be proud
of their parents.
7 It sounds strange for a fool
to talk sensibly,
but it's even worse
for a ruler to tell lies.
8 A bribe works miracles
like a magic charm
that brings good luck.
9 You will keep your friends
if you forgive them,
but you will lose your friends
if you keep talking about
what they did wrong.
10 A sensible person
accepts correction,
but you can't beat sense
into a fool.
11 Cruel people want to rebel,
and so vicious attackers
will be sent against them.
12 A bear robbed of her cubs
is far less dangerous
than a stubborn fool.
13 You will always have trouble
if you are mean to those
who are good to you.
14 The start of an argument
is like a water leak—
so stop it before
real trouble breaks out.
15 The Lord doesn't like those
who defend the guilty
or condemn the innocent.
16 Why should fools have money
for an education
when they refuse to learn?
17 (E) A friend is there to help,
in any situation,
and relatives are born
to share our troubles.
18 It's stupid to guarantee
someone else's loan.
19 The wicked and the proud
love trouble and keep begging
to be hurt.
20 Dishonesty does you no good,
and telling lies
will get you in trouble.
21 It's never pleasant
to be the parent of a fool
and have nothing but pain.
22 If you are cheerful,
you feel good;
if you are sad,
you hurt all over.
23 Crooks accept secret bribes
to keep justice
from being done.
24 Anyone with wisdom knows
what makes good sense,
but fools can never
make up their minds.
25 Foolish children bring sorrow
and pain to their parents.
26 It isn't fair
to punish the innocent
and those who do right.
27 It makes a lot of sense
to be a person of few words
and to stay calm.
28 (F) Even fools seem smart
when they are quiet.
It's Wrong To Favor the Guilty
18 It's selfish and stupid
to think only of yourself
and to sneer at people
who have sense.[b]
2 Fools have no desire to learn,
instead they would rather
give their own opinion.
3 Wrongdoing leads to shame
and disgrace.
4 Words of wisdom
are a stream that flows
from a deep fountain.
5 It's wrong to favor the guilty
and keep the innocent
from getting justice.
6 Foolish talk will get you
into a lot of trouble.
7 Saying foolish things
is like setting a trap
to destroy yourself.
8 There's nothing so delicious
as the taste of gossip!
It melts in your mouth.
9 Being lazy is no different
from being a troublemaker.
10 The Lord is a mighty tower
where his people can run
for safety—
11 the rich think their money
is a wall of protection.
12 Pride leads to destruction;
humility leads to honor.
13 (G) It's stupid and embarrassing
to give an answer
before you listen.
14 Being cheerful helps
when you are sick,
but nothing helps
when you give up.
15 Everyone with good sense
wants to learn.
16 A gift will get you in
to see anyone.
17 You may think you have won
your case in court,
until your opponent speaks.
18 Drawing straws is one way
to settle a difficult case.
19 Making up with a friend
you have offended[c]
is harder than breaking
through a city wall.
20 Make your words good—
you will be glad you did.
21 Words can bring death or life!
Talk too much, and you will eat
everything you say.
22 (H) A man's greatest treasure
is his wife—
she is a gift from the Lord.
23 The poor must beg for help,
but the rich can give
a harsh reply.
24 Some friends don't help,[d]
but a true friend is closer
than your own family.
Proverbs 16-18
New International Version
Proverbs 16-18
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.
17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.(AY)
2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor(BB) shows contempt for their Maker;(BC)
whoever gloats over disaster(BD) will not go unpunished.(BE)
6 Children’s children(BF) are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(BG)
8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.(BH)
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(BI)
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(BJ)
10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.(BK)
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(BN)
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?(BQ)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(BR)
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.(BS)
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(BT)
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes(BY) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(BZ)
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(CA)
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(CB)
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(CC)
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.(CD)
18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.(CE)
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,(CF)
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.(CI)
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.(CL)
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.(CM)
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(CP)
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.(CQ)
13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.(CR)
14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?(CS)
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,(CT)
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift(CU) opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes(CV)
and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother wronged(CW) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.(CX)
23 The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.(DC)
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
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.