Proverbs

The Proverbs, chapter 16, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 16 New English Translation

   1 The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.
   2 All a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives.
   3 Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
   4 The LORD works everything for its own ends - even the wicked for the day of disaster.
   5 The LORD abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished.
   6 Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the LORD one avoids evil.
   7 When a person's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
   8 Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.
   9 A person plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
   10 The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice.
   11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.
   12 Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.
   13 The delight of kings is righteous counsel, and they love the one who speaks uprightly.
   14 A king's wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.
   15 In the light of the king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain.
   16 How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
   17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life.
   18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
   19 It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud.
   20 The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.
   21 The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.
   22 Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.
   23 A wise person's heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.
   24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
   25 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.
   26 A laborer's appetite works on his behalf, for his hunger urges him to work.
   27 A wicked scoundrel digs up evil, and his slander is like a scorching fire.
   28 A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends.
   29 A violent person entices his neighbor, and leads him down a path that is terrible.
   30 The one who winks his eyes devises perverse things, and one who compresses his lips brings about evil.
   31 Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.
   32 Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.
   33 The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the LORD.

King James Version

   1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
   2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
   3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
   4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
   5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
   6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
   7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
   8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
   9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
   10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
   11 A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
   12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
   13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
   14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
   15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
   16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
   17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
   18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
   19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
   20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
   21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
   22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
   23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
   24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
   25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
   26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
   27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
   28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
   29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
   30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
   31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
   32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
   33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.