Proverbs 16 - Christian Standard Bible Anglicised Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Proverbs 16

¹ The reflections of the heart belong to mankind, but the answer of the tongue is from the  Lord.

² All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs motives.  ,

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

⁴ The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose – even the wicked for the day of disaster.

⁵ Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the  Lord; be assured,  he will not go unpunished.

⁶ Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the  Lord.

⁷ When a person’s ways please the  Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

⁹ A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

¹⁰ God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;  , his mouth should not give an unfair judgement.

¹¹ Honest balances and scales are the  Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his concern.

¹² Wicked behaviour is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.

¹³ Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly.

¹⁴ A king’s fury is a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.

¹⁵ When a king’s face lights up, there is life; his favour is like a cloud with spring rain.

¹⁶ Get wisdom – how much better it is than gold! And get understanding – it is preferable to silver.

¹⁷ The road of the upright  avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.

¹⁸ Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble  , than to divide plunder with the proud.

²⁰ The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the  Lord will be happy.

²¹ Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech  increases learning.

²² Insight is a fountain of life  for its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

²³ The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth; it adds learning to his speech.  ,

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste  and health to the body.  ,

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

²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger  urges him on.

²⁷ A worthless person digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸ A contrary person spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

²⁹ A violent person lures his neighbour, leading him on a path that is not good.

³⁰ The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.

³¹ Grey hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the ways of righteousness.

³² Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions,  than capturing a city.

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