Proverbs 16

¹We can make our own plans,

but the Lord gives the right answer.

²People may be pure in their own eyes,

but the Lord examines their motives.

³Commit your actions to the Lord,

and your plans will succeed.

⁴The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,

even the wicked for a day of disaster.

⁵The Lord detests the proud;

they will surely be punished.

⁶Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.

By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.

⁷When people’s lives please the Lord,

even their enemies are at peace with them.

⁸Better to have little, with godliness,

than to be rich and dishonest.

⁹We can make our plans,

but the Lord determines our steps.

¹⁰The king speaks with divine wisdom;

he must never judge unfairly.

¹¹The Lord demands accurate scales and balances;

he sets the standards for fairness.

¹²A king detests wrongdoing,

for his rule is built on justice.

¹³The king is pleased with words from righteous lips;

he loves those who speak honestly.

¹⁴The anger of the king is a deadly threat;

the wise will try to appease it.

¹⁵When the king smiles, there is life;

his favor refreshes like a spring rain.

¹⁶How much better to get wisdom than gold,

and good judgment than silver!

¹⁷The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;

whoever follows that path is safe.

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction,

and haughtiness before a fall.

¹⁹Better to live humbly with the poor

than to share plunder with the proud.

²⁰Those who listen to instruction will prosper;

those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

²¹The wise are known for their understanding,

and pleasant words are persuasive.

²²Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,

but discipline is wasted on fools.

²³From a wise mind comes wise speech;

the words of the wise are persuasive.

²⁴Kind words are like honey—

sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

²⁵There is a path before each person that seems right,

but it ends in death.

²⁶It is good for workers to have an appetite;

an empty stomach drives them on.

²⁷Scoundrels create trouble;

their words are a destructive blaze.

²⁸A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;

gossip separates the best of friends.

²⁹Violent people mislead their companions,

leading them down a harmful path.

³⁰With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;

with a smirk, they plan their mischief.

³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained by living a godly life.

³²Better to be patient than powerful;

better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

³³We may throw the dice,^a

but the Lord determines how they fall.