Proverbs 16:2-25

2All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives.

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

4The Lord works everything for its own ends – even the wicked for the day of disaster.

5The Lord abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished.

6Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the Lord one avoids evil.

7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he even reconciles his enemies to himself.

8Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.

9A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.

10The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice.

11Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.

12Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.

13The delight of kings is righteous counsel, and they love the one who speaks uprightly.

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

15In the light of the king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain.

16How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.

17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life.

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

19It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud.

20The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

21The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.

22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

23A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.

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

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