Proverbs 16
1 The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
3 Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice; and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.
6 By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.
9 A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
19 Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.
20 He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
23 The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
24 Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
31 The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
33 A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
