Proverbs 16

¹The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.

³ Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.

⁴ The 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.

⁸ Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.

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

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

¹¹ A 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.

¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.

¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will appease it.

¹⁵ In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

¹⁶ How 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.

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

¹⁹ It 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.

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

²⁴ Gracious 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.

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

²⁸ A 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.

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

³² Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.

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