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 pure in his 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 .

⁵Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured , he will not go unpunished .

⁶By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for , and by the fear of the Lord one turns away 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 .

⁹The heart of man plans his way , but the Lord establishes his steps .

¹⁰An oracle is on the lips of a king ; his mouth does not sin in judgment .

¹¹A just balance 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 him who speaks what is right .

¹⁴A king’s wrath is a messenger of death , and a wise man 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 turns aside from evil ; whoever guards his way preserves his life .

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction , and a haughty spirit before a fall .

¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud .

²⁰Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good , and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

²¹The wise of heart is called discerning , and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness .

²²Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly .

²³The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips .

²⁴Gracious words are like a honeycomb , sweetness to the soul and health to the body .

²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man , but its end is the way to death .

²⁶A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on .

²⁷A worthless man plots evil , and his speech is like a scorching fire .

²⁸A dishonest man spreads strife , and a whisperer separates close friends .

²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good .

³⁰Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things ; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass .

³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory ; it is gained in a righteous life .

³²Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty , and he 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.