Proverbs 16

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

1The 1plans of the heart belong to a person, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.2All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight, But the 2Lord examines the 3motives.345Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established.4The Lord 6has made everything for 7its own purpose, Even the 8wicked for the day of evil.5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; 9Be assured, he will not go unpunished.6By 10mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing, And by 11the 12fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He 13causes even his enemies to make peace with him.8Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.9The mind of a 14person plans his way, But 15the Lord directs his steps.10A divine 16verdict is on the lips of the king; His mouth should not 17err in judgment.11A 18just balance and scales belong to the Lord; All the 19weights of the bag are His 20concern.12It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, Because a 21throne is established on righteousness.13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And one who speaks right is loved.14The fury of a king is like messengers of death; But a wise person will appease it.15In the light of a king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the 2223spring rain.16How much 24better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.17The 25highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; One who watches his way protects his 26life.1827Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.19It is better to be 28humble in spirit with the needy Than to 29divide the spoils with the proud.20One who pays attention to the word will 30find good, And 31blessed is one who trusts in the Lord.21The 32wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of 33speech 34increases 35persuasiveness.22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, But the discipline of fools is foolishness.23The 36heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds 37persuasiveness to his lips.2438Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and 39healing to the bones.2540There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.26A worker’s appetite works for him, For his 41hunger urges him on.27A 42worthless person digs up evil, While 43his words are like 44scorching fire.28A perverse person spreads strife, And a 45slanderer separates close friends.29A person of violence 46entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good.30He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.31A 47gray head is a crown of glory; It 48is found in the way of righteousness.32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.33The 49lot is cast into the lap, But its every 50decision is from the Lord.