Proverbs 16
1 The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
3 Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
4 The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All of the works of the Lord [are done] with righteousness; and the ungodly [man] is kept for the evil day.
6 By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
9 A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
10 Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
[There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and 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.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
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 anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
15 In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favor with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen 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 paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and folly 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.
Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides 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.
[He who is] skillful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
[Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
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 will discern the [things which proceed] from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
24 Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
25 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. (questioned)
26 The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
A man who labors, labors for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
27 A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
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 spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
29 A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] 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.
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.
31 The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
Old age is a crown of honor, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
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.
A man slow to anger is better than a strong [man]; and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.
33 A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
