Proverbs 16
1It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
6By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
1The preparations of the heart in man, and 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 all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in 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 without right.
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 transgresseth not in judgment.
11A just weight and balance 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 of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14The wrath of a king is as messengers 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! and to get understanding 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 goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He that handleth a matter wisely 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 instruction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it 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.