Proverbs 16 - Easy To Read Version

¹ People make their plans. But it is the Lord who makes those things happen.

² A person thinks everything he does is right. But the Lord judges the real reasons people do things.

³ Always turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.

⁴ The Lord has a plan for everything. And in the Lord’s plan, evil people will be destroyed.

⁵ The Lord hates every person who thinks that he is better than other people. The Lord will surely punish all those proud people.

⁶ True love and loyalty will make you pure. {\cf2\super [21]} Respect the Lord, and you will stay far away from evil.

⁷ If a person is living a good life, pleasing to the Lord, then even that person’s enemies will be at peace with him.

⁸ It is better to gain only a little the right way than to gain much through cheating.

⁹ A person can make plans about the things that he wants to do. But it is the Lord who decides what will happen.

¹⁰ When a king speaks, his words are law. His decisions should always be fair.

¹¹ The Lord wants all scales and balances to be honest. He wants all business agreements to be fair.

¹² Kings hate people who do evil. Goodness will make his kingdom stronger.

¹³ Kings want to hear the truth. Kings like people who don’t lie.

¹⁴ When a king is angry, he can kill someone. And a wise person will try to keep the king happy.

¹⁵ When the king is happy, life will be better for everyone. If the king is pleased with you, then it will be like spring rain falling from a cloud.

¹⁶ Wisdom is worth much more than gold. Understanding is worth much more than silver.

¹⁷ Good people live their lives trying to stay away from evil. The person who is careful with his life, is guarding his soul.

¹⁸ If a person is proud, then he is in danger of destruction. If a person thinks he is better than other people, then he is in danger of defeat.

¹⁹ It is better to be humble and live with poor people than to share wealth with people who think they are better than other people.

²⁰ The person who listens when people try to teach him will profit. And the person who trusts in the Lord will be blessed.

²¹ People will know if a person is wise. And a person that carefully chooses his words can be very persuasive.

²² Wisdom brings true life to people who have it. But fools only learn to be more foolish.

²³ A wise man always thinks before he speaks. And the words he says are good and worth hearing.

²⁴ Kind words are like honey. They are easy to accept and good for your health.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to people. But that way leads only to death.

²⁶ A worker’s appetite keeps him working. His hunger makes him work so that he can eat.

²⁷ A worthless person plans bad things to do. His advice destroys like fire.

²⁸ A troublemaker is always causing problems. That person spreads gossip and causes trouble between close friends.

²⁹ A troublemaker causes a lot of trouble for his friends. He will lead them in a way that is not good.

³⁰ That person winks his eye while planning something destructive. He smiles while he is planning to hurt his neighbor.

³¹ Gray hair is the crown of glory on people who have lived good lives.

³² It is better to be patient than to be a strong soldier. It is better to control your anger than to take control over a whole city.

³³ The person who respects the Lord is learning to be wise. A person must be humble before he can truly respect the Lord.