Proverbs 16

¹The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh. ²All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives. ³Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. ⁴Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. ⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished. ⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil. ⁷When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice. ⁹A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps. ¹⁰Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth. ¹¹Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. ¹²It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness. ¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth. ¹⁴The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it. ¹⁵In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain. ¹⁶How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. ¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul. ¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud. ²⁰He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed. ²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction. ²²Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly. ²³The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. ²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. ²⁵There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. ²⁶The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on. ²⁷A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire. ²⁸A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. ²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good. ³⁰One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil. ³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness. ³²One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city. ³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.

World English Bible (public domain)