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