Proverbs 16

¹The preparations of the heart belong to man: but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. ²All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the spirits. ³Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. ⁴The LORD hath made every thing for its own end: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. ⁵Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: thoughhand joinin hand, he shall not be unpunished. ⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. ⁷When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. ⁹A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. ¹⁰A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth shall not transgress in judgment. ¹¹A just balance and scales are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work. ¹²It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. ¹³Righteous lips are the delight or kings; and they love him that speaketh right. ¹⁴The wrath of a king is asmessengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. ¹⁵In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. ¹⁶How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver. ¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. ¹⁸Pride goethbefore destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the spoil with the proud. ²⁰He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. ²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. ²²Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the correction of fools is theirfolly. ²³The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. ²⁴Pleasant words are asan honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. ²⁵There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. ²⁶The appetite of the labouring man laboureth for him; for his mouth craveth it of him. ²⁷A worthless man deviseth mischief: and in his lips there is as a scorching fire. ²⁸A froward man scattereth abroad strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. ²⁹A man of violence enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way that is not good. ³⁰He that shutteth his eyes, it isto devise froward things: he that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass. ³¹The hoary head is a crown of glory, it shall be found in the way of righteousness. ³²He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. ³³The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.