Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but from the Lord cometh the expression of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the motives.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 The LORD has made everything for its own end—yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: they shall certainly not be unpunished.
An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart: the hand [of God] being against [his] hand, he shall not go unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; and by the fear of the Lord [men] depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When the Lord receiveth in favor a man's ways, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great incomes through injustice.
9 A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth firmly his steps.
10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king: his mouth should never commit a trespass in judging.
11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his work.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 The king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of the king's face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
In the light of the king's countenance there is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
How much better is it to obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the word finds prosperity, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man, but its end are the ways unto death.
26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife, and a gossip separates close friends.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, and maketh him go on a way which is not good.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is found in the path of righteousness.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
