Proverbs 16

¹The plans of the mind belong to mortals,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

²All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.

³Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

⁴The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.

⁵All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;

be assured, they will not go unpunished.

⁶By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.

⁷When the ways of people please the Lord,

he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.

⁸Better is a little with righteousness

than large income with injustice.

⁹The human mind plans the way,

but the Lord directs the steps.

¹⁰Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;

his mouth does not sin in judgment.

¹¹Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

¹²It is an abomination to kings to do evil,

for the throne is established by righteousness.

¹³Righteous lips are the delight of a king,

and he loves those who speak what is right.

¹⁴A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,

and whoever is wise will appease it.

¹⁵In the light of a king’s face there is life,

and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

¹⁶How much better to get wisdom than gold!

To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

¹⁷The highway of the upright avoids evil;

those who guard their way preserve their lives.

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor

than to divide the spoil with the proud.

²⁰Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,

and happy are those who trust in the Lord.

²¹The wise of heart is called perceptive,

and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.

²²Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,

but folly is the punishment of fools.

²³The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious,

and adds persuasiveness to their lips.

²⁴Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

²⁵Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,

but in the end it is the way to death.

²⁶The appetite of workers works for them;

their hunger urges them on.

²⁷Scoundrels concoct evil,

and their speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸A perverse person spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

²⁹The violent entice their neighbors,

and lead them in a way that is not good.

³⁰One who winks the eyes plans perverse things;

one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.

³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

³²One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.

³³The lot is cast into the lap,

but the decision is the Lord’s alone.