Proverbs 16

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

3 Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.

4 The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.

6 By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.

8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.

9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

10 A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.

11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.

12 Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.

14 The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

15 When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

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

26 A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.

27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.

30 He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

1 ¶ The preparations of the heart in man, and 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 weigheth the spirits.

3 ¶ Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

4 ¶ The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 ¶ Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall 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 maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 ¶ Better [is] a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

9 ¶ A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

10 ¶ A divine sentence [is] in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

11 ¶ A just weight and balance [are] the LORD'S: 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 that speaketh 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 favour [is] as a cloud of the latter rain.

16 ¶ How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

17 ¶ The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18 ¶ Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

19 ¶ Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 ¶ He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he.

21 ¶ The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 ¶ Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.

23 ¶ The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

24 ¶ Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 ¶ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

26 ¶ He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

27 ¶ An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.

28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

29 ¶ A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good.

30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

31 ¶ The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it be found in the way of righteousness.

32 ¶ [He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

33 ¶ The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.

1 Man setteth it before him in his heart; but from the LORD cometh that which the tongue shall speak.

2 Every man's ways seem pure unto him: but the LORD only maketh the heart sure.

3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thine ordinances shall continue.

4 The LORD maketh all things for his own sake, even the wicked for an evil day.

5 A proud heart is an abomination unto the LORD, and shall not go unpunished, though they all cleave one to another.

6 By goodness and faithfulness iniquity is reconciled; and by the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

7 If a man's ways please the LORD, he will also please his enemies with him.

8 it is better to have little with justice than much income with injustice.

9 The heart of man beateth in his way, but the LORD only giveth to go his way.

10 Divination is in the mouth of the king: his mouth shall not fail in judgment.

11 Right scales and weights are of the LORD; and all the pounds in the sack are his works.

12 To do wrong in the sight of kings is an abomination: for by righteousness the throne is established.

13 Right counsel pleaseth kings: and he that counteth rightly is loved.

14 The king's wrath is a messenger of death: but a wise man shall make reconciliation for him.

15 If the king's face be gracious, it is life: and his mercy is as the evening rain.

16 Receive wisdom; for it is better than gold, and to have understanding is more precious than silver.

17 The way of the upright avoideth evil: and he that keepeth his way keepeth his life.

18 He that shall perish shall first be proud: and proud courage goeth before a fall.

19 It is better to be lowly in heart with the wretched, than to deal plunder with the proud.

20 He that leadeth a matter wisely findeth happiness: and good is he that trusteth in the LORD.

21 A man of understanding is praised for a wise man; and pleasant speeches teach well.

22 Prudence is a living fountain to him that hath it: but the discipline of fools is folly.

23 A wise heart speaketh wisely, and teacheth well.

24 The speeches of the kind are honeycomb, they comfort the soul, and refresh the bones.

25 Many a way pleaseth well; but his last reacheth unto death.

26 Many a man cometh to great misfortune by his own mouth. 27: A loose man digs for mischief, and fire burns in his mouth.

28 A perverse man causeth strife, and a slanderer maketh princes divided.

29 A wicked man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him not into a good way.

30 He that beckoneth with his eyes thinketh not good: and he that signifieth with his lips doeth evil.

31 Gray hairs are a crown of honors found in the way of righteousness.

32 A patient man is better than a strong man, and he that is master of his own strength than he that triumpheth over cities.

33 The lot is cast into the bosom; but it falleth according to the will of the LORD.