Proverbs 16

Christian Standard Bible

16 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.^(A)

² All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.^[a](B)

³ Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.^(C)

⁴ The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.^(D)

⁵ Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;^(E)
be assured,^[b] he will not go unpunished.^(F)

⁶ Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,^(G)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.^(H)

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

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.^(J)

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

¹⁰ God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;^[c](L)
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.^(M)

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

¹² Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,^(O)
since a throne is established through righteousness.^(P)

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.^(Q)

¹⁵ When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor 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.^(R)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright^(S) avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.^(T)

¹⁸ Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.^(U)

¹⁹ Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble^[d](V)
than to divide plunder with the proud.^(W)

²⁰ The one who understands a matter finds success,^(X)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.^(Y)

²¹ Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech^[e] increases learning.^(Z)

²² Insight is a fountain of life^(AA) 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.^[f](AB)

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb:^(AC)
sweet to the taste^[g] and health to the body.^[h](AD)

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

²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger^[i] urges him on.

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

²⁸ A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.^(AG)

²⁹ A violent person lures his neighbor,^(AH)
leading him on a path that is not good.^(AI)

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

³¹ Gray hair is a glorious crown;^(AK)
it is found in the ways of righteousness.^(AL)

³² Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions,^[j] than capturing a city.^(AM)

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