Proverbs 16

1   To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

2   All a person's ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.

3   Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

4   The Lord works out everything to its proper end -
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5   The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6   Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.

7   When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone's way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

8   Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain with injustice.

9   In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.

10  The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.

11  Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.

12  Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.

13  Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.

14  A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    but the wise will appease it.

15  When a king's face brightens, it means life;
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16  How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight rather than silver!

17  The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

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

19  Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

20  Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a]
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

21  The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[b]

22  Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23  The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
    and their lips promote instruction.[c]

24  Gracious words are a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25  There is a way that appears to be right,
    but in the end it leads to death.

26  The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

27  A scoundrel plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

28  A perverse person stirs up conflict,
    and a gossip separates close friends.

29  A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.

30  Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31  Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32  Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

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

Footnotes

Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive