Proverbs 16:1–9
The plans of the heart belong to man,
but lthe answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 mAll the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord nweighs the spirit. 1
3 oCommit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 pThe Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even qthe wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ran abomination to the Lord;
sbe assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By tsteadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by uthe fear of the Lord one vturns away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
whe makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 xBetter is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 yThe heart of man plans his way,
but zthe Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — The New International Version (NIV)
1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.
7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
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.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — New Living Translation (NLT)
1 We can make our own plans,
but the Lord gives the right answer.
2 People may be pure in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their motives.
3 Commit your actions to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The Lord detests the proud;
they will surely be punished.
6 Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.
By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.
7 When people’s lives please the Lord,
even their enemies are at peace with them.
8 Better to have little, with godliness,
than to be rich and dishonest.
9 We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.
4 The Lord has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
9 A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — New Century Version (NCV)
1 People may make plans in their minds,
but only the Lord can make them come true.
2 You may believe you are doing right,
but the Lord will judge your reasons.
3 Depend on the Lord in whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord makes everything go as he pleases.
He has even prepared a day of disaster for evil people.
5 The Lord hates those who are proud.
They will surely be punished.
6 Love and truth bring forgiveness of sin.
By respecting the Lord you will avoid evil.
7 When people live so that they please the Lord,
even their enemies will make peace with them.
8 It is better to be poor and right
than to be wealthy and dishonest.
9 People may make plans in their minds,
but the Lord decides what they will do.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — American Standard Version (ASV)
1 The plans of the heart belong to man;
But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah,
And thy purposes shall be established.
4 Jehovah hath made everything for its own end;
Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah:
Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for;
And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please Jehovah,
He maketh 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 deviseth his way;
But Jehovah directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
1 The purposes of the heart are of man, but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 Jehovah hath wrought everything on his own account, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every proud heart is an abomination to Jehovah: hand for hand, he shall not be held innocent.
6 By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for; and by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please Jehovah, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, but Jehovah directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
1 The plans of the heart belong to humans,
but an answer on the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 A person thinks all his ways are pure,
but the Lord weighs motives.
3 Entrust your efforts to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord has made everything for his own purpose,
even wicked people for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to the Lord.
Certainly, ⸤such a person⸥ will not go unpunished.
6 By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the Lord.
By the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a few ⸤possessions⸥ gained honestly
than many gained through injustice.
9 A person may plan his own journey,
but the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved.
4 The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.
9 A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, they will not go unpunished.
6 By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When the ways of people please the Lord,
he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
9 The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
1 To mortals belong the plans of the heart,
but from Yahweh comes the answer of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but Yahweh weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to Yahweh,
and your plans will be established.
4 All Yahweh has made is for his purpose,
and even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 An abomination of Yahweh are all who are arrogant of heart;
rest assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By loyalty and faithfulness, iniquity will be covered over,
and by fear of Yahweh one turns from evil.
7 When the ways of a man are pleasing to Yahweh,
even his enemies he will cause to make peace with him.
8 Better is little with righteousness
than great income with no justice.
9 The mind of a person will plan his ways,
and Yahweh will direct his steps.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
1 People make plans in their hearts.
But the Lord controls what they say.
2 Everything a man does might seem right to him.
But the Lord knows what that man is thinking.
3 Commit to the Lord everything you do.
Then your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord works everything out for his own purposes.
Even those who do wrong were made for a day of trouble.
5 The Lord hates all those who have proud hearts.
You can be sure that they will be punished.
6 Through love and truth sin is paid for.
People avoid evil when they have respect for the Lord.
7 When the way you live pleases the Lord,
he makes even your enemies live at peace with you.
8 It is better to have a little and do right
than to have a lot and be unfair.
9 In your heart you plan your life.
But the Lord decides where your steps will take you.
Proverbs 16:1–9 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord weighs the motives.
3 Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.