Proverbs 16:21–28

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,

and gracious words promote instruction.

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,

but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,

and their lips promote instruction.

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that appears to be right,

but in the end it leads to death.

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;

their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel plots evil,

and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,

and a gossip separates close friends.

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.

21 The wise are known for their understanding,

and pleasant words are persuasive.

22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,

but discipline is wasted on fools.

23 From a wise mind comes wise speech;

the words of the wise are persuasive.

24 Kind words are like honey—

sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

25 There is a path before each person that seems right,

but it ends in death.

26 It is good for workers to have an appetite;

an empty stomach drives them on.

27 Scoundrels create trouble;

their words are a destructive blaze.

28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;

gossip separates the best of friends.

21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,

And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.

But the correction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,

And adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

26 The person who labors, labors for himself,

For his hungry mouth drives him on.

27 An ungodly man digs up evil,

And it is on his lips like a burning fire.

28 A perverse man sows strife,

And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

21 The wise are known for their understanding.

Their pleasant words make them better teachers.

22 Understanding is like a fountain which gives life to those who use it,

but foolishness brings punishment to fools.

23 Wise people’s minds tell them what to say,

and that helps them be better teachers.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

making people happy and healthy.

25 Some people think they are doing right,

but in the end it leads to death.

26 The workers’ hunger helps them,

because their desire to eat makes them work.

27 Useless people make evil plans,

and their words are like a burning fire.

28 A useless person causes trouble,

and a gossip ruins friendships.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent;

And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it;

But the correction of fools is their folly.

23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth,

And addeth learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,

But the end thereof are the ways of death.

26 The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him;

For his mouth urgeth him thereto.

27 A worthless man deviseth mischief;

And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.

28 A perverse man scattereth abroad strife;

And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

21 The wise in heart is called intelligent, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 Wisdom is a fountain of life for him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips increaseth learning.

24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health for the bones.

25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.

26 The appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on.

27 A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching fire. 28 A false man soweth contention; and a talebearer separateth very friends.

21 The person who is truly wise is called understanding, 

and speaking sweetly helps others learn. 

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, 

but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity. 

23 A wise person’s heart controls his speech, 

and what he says helps others learn. 

24 Pleasant words are ⸤like⸥ honey from a honeycomb— 

sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body. 

25 There is a way that seems right to a person, 

but eventually it ends in death. 

26 A laborer’s appetite works to his advantage, 

because his hunger drives him on. 

27 A worthless person plots trouble, 

and his speech is like a burning fire. 

28 A devious person spreads quarrels. 

A gossip separates the closest of friends. 

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,

and pleasant speech increases learning.

22 Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor,

but the discipline of fools is folly.

23 A wise heart instructs its mouth

and increases learning with its speech.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:

sweet to the taste and health to the body.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

26 A worker’s appetite works for him

because his hunger urges him on.

27 A worthless man digs up evil,

and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A contrary man spreads conflict,

and a gossip separates close friends.

21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,

and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.

22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,

but folly is the punishment of fools.

23 The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to their lips.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

25 Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,

but in the end it is the way to death.

26 The appetite of workers works for them;

their hunger urges them on.

27 Scoundrels concoct evil,

and their speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A perverse person spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,

but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness.

22 A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise will make his mouth judicious,

and upon his lips, it will add persuasiveness.

24 Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems upright to a man,

but its end is the way of death.

26 The life of a worker works for him,

for his hunger urges him.

27 A man of wickedness concocts evil,

and his lips are like a scorching fire.

28 A person of perversity will spread dissent,

and he who whispers separates a close friend.

21 Wise hearts are known for understanding what is right.

Pleasant words make people want to learn more.

22 Understanding is like a fountain of life to those who have it.

But foolish people are punished for the foolish things they do.

23 The hearts of wise people guide their mouths.

Their words make people want to learn more.

24 Pleasant words are like honey.

They are sweet to the spirit and bring healing to the body.

25 There is a way that may seem right to a man.

But in the end it leads to death.

26 The hunger of a worker makes him work.

His hunger drives him on.

27 A worthless man plans to do evil things.

His words are like a burning fire.

28 A twisted person stirs up fights.

Anyone who talks about others comes between close friends.

21 The wise in heart will be called understanding,

And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,

But the discipline of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth

And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way which seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

26 A worker’s appetite works for him,

For his hunger urges him on.

27 A worthless man digs up evil,

While his words are like scorching fire.

28 A perverse man spreads strife,

And a slanderer separates intimate friends.