Proverbs 16

¹The plans 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 weighs the motives.

³Commit your deeds to the LORD,

and your plans shall succeed.

⁴The LORD has made everything for its own end—

yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;

they shall certainly not be unpunished.

⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.

By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

⁷When a man’s ways please the LORD,

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸Better is a little with righteousness,

than great revenues with injustice.

⁹A man’s heart plans his course,

but the LORD directs his steps.

¹⁰Inspired judgements are on the lips of the king.

He shall not betray his mouth.

¹¹Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

¹²It is an abomination for kings to do wrong,

for the throne is established by righteousness.

¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings.

They value one who speaks the truth.

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

but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵In the light of the king’s face is life.

His favour is like a cloud of the spring rain.

¹⁶How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!

Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.

He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction,

and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

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

than to divide the plunder with the proud.

²⁰He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.

Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.

²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent.

Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

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

but the punishment of fools is their folly.

²³The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,

and adds learning to his lips.

²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

²⁵There is a way which seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death.

²⁶The appetite of the labouring man labours for him,

for his mouth urges him on.

²⁷A worthless man devises mischief.

His speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸A perverse man stirs up strife.

A whisperer separates close friends.

²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbour,

and leads him in a way that is not good.

³⁰One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,

one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

³¹Grey hair is a crown of glory.

It is attained by a life of righteousness.

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

one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

³³The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the LORD.