Proverbs 2:6-8
Expanded Bible
6 Only the Lord gives wisdom;
·he gives [L from his mouth comes] knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up ·wisdom [resourcefulness] for those who ·are honest [have integrity].
Like a shield he protects the innocent.
8 He ·makes sure that justice is done [L guards the path of justice],
and he protects those who are loyal to him.
Proverbs 2:6-8
Amplified Bible
6
For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7
He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him];
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],
8
He guards the paths of justice;
And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).(A)
Proverbs 3:3-4
Expanded Bible
3 Don’t ·ever forget kindness and truth [L let loyalty and faithfulness abandon you].
·Wear [Bind] them ·like a necklace [L on your neck].
Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.
4 Then you will ·be respected [find favor]
and will please both God and people.
Proverbs 3:3-4
Amplified Bible
3
Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you];
Bind them [securely] around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.(A)
4
So find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.(B)
Proverbs 3:11
Expanded Bible
11 My ·child [L son], do not reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t ·get angry [loathe] when he corrects you.
Proverbs 3:11
Amplified Bible
11
My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the Lord [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline];
Nor despise His rebuke,(A)
Proverbs 5:21
Expanded Bible
21 The ·Lord sees everything you do [L eyes of the Lord are on the path of every person],
and he watches ·where you go [L all their ways].
Proverbs 5:21
Amplified Bible
21
For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the Lord,
And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].(A)
Proverbs 6:16-19
Expanded Bible
16 There are six things the Lord hates.
There are seven things ·he cannot stand [L that are an abomination to his soul]:
17 ·a proud look [haughty eyes],
a lying tongue,
hands that ·kill [L spill the blood of] innocent people,
18 a ·mind [heart] that thinks up evil plans,
feet that are quick to ·do [L run to] evil,
19 a witness who lies,
and someone who starts ·arguments [conflicts; fights] among·families [brothers; Ps. 133].
Proverbs 6:16-19
Amplified Bible
16
These six things the Lord hates;
Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:
17
A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,(A)
18
A heart that creates wicked plans,
Feet that run swiftly to evil,
19
A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths],
And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers.
Proverbs 15:3
Expanded Bible
3 The Lord’s eyes ·see everything [L are everywhere];
he watches both evil and good people.
Proverbs 15:3
Amplified Bible
3
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good [in all their endeavors].(A)
Proverbs 15:11
Expanded Bible
11 ·The Lord knows what is happening in the world of the dead [L Sheol and Abaddon/Destruction are before the Lord],
so he surely knows the ·thoughts of the living [L human heart].
Proverbs 15:11
Amplified Bible
11
Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the abyss, the place of eternal punishment) lie open before the Lord—
How much more the hearts and inner motives of the children of men.(A)
Proverbs 15:29
Expanded Bible
29 The Lord ·does not listen to [L is far from] the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of ·those who do right [the righteous].
Proverbs 15:29
Amplified Bible
29
The Lord is far from the wicked [and distances Himself from them],
But He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous [that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].
Proverbs 16:1-2
Expanded Bible
16 People may make plans in their ·minds [hearts],
but ·only the Lord can make them come true [L from the Lord comes a responding tongue].
2 ·You may believe you are doing right [L All paths of people are pure in their eyes],
but the Lord will ·judge your reasons [measure your motives; L weigh the spirits].
Proverbs 16:1-2
Amplified Bible
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
16 The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man,
But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2
All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions],
But the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].(A)
Proverbs 16:9
Expanded Bible
9 ·People may make plans in their minds [L Human hearts plan their path],
but the Lord ·decides what they will do [L establishes their step].
Proverbs 16:9
Amplified Bible
9
A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],
But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.(A)
Proverbs 16:11
Expanded Bible
11 The Lord wants honest balances and scales;
·all the weights are his work [L he concerns himself with the weights in the pouch].
Proverbs 16:11
Amplified Bible
11
A just balance and [honest] scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights of the bag are His concern [established by His eternal principles].
Proverbs 16:33
Expanded Bible
33 People throw lots ·to make a decision [L into the lap],
but the ·answer [decision] comes from the Lord.
Proverbs 16:33
Amplified Bible
33
The lot is cast into the lap,
[a]But its every decision is from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:33 This is the reason why the casting of lots was sanctioned in Israel for certain cases of decision-making (e.g. Lev 16:8; Josh 18:6, 8; 1 Chr 25:8, etc.). It was understood that the outcomes were controlled by God, and the seemingly random procedure eliminated human influence. The last time the ritual is mentioned in the Bible is in the choice of Matthias to replace Judas (Acts 1:26). Many believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2 officially put an end to the ritual because it was then replaced by the direct guidance of the Spirit. It was never sanctioned or recommended as a way to determine God’s will in personal decision-making.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
