Proverbs 16

Man plans, the Lord answers

To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.a ²All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.b ³Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.c

⁴The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.d ⁵The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.e ⁶Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.f

⁷When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.g ⁸Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.h ⁹In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.i

¹⁰The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice. ¹¹Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making. ¹²Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.j

¹³Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right. ¹⁴A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it. ¹⁵When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

¹⁶How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!k ¹⁷The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.l ¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.m

¹⁹Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. ²⁰Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.n ²¹The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.o

²²Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools. ²³The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. ²⁴Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.p

²⁵There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.q ²⁶The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on. ²⁷A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

²⁸A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. ²⁹A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. ³⁰Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

³¹Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.r ³²Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.s ³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.t