Proverbs 16–18

16TH CHAPTER

Wisdom’s Blessings Come from the Lord

¹The plans of the heart belong to humans, 

but an answer on the tongue comes from the Lord. 

²A person thinks all his ways are pure, 

but the Lord weighs motives. 

³Entrust your efforts to the Lord, 

and your plans will succeed. 

⁴The Lord has made everything for his own purpose, 

even wicked people for the day of trouble. 

⁵Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to the Lord. 

Certainly, ⸤such a person⸥ will not go unpunished. 

⁶By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the Lord. 

By the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided. 

⁷When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, 

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 

⁸Better a few ⸤possessions⸥ gained honestly 

than many gained through injustice. 

⁹A person may plan his own journey, 

but the Lord directs his steps. 

¹⁰When a divine revelation is on a king’s lips, 

he cannot voice a wrong judgment. 

¹¹Honest balances and scales belong to the Lord. 

He made the entire set of weights. 

¹²Wrongdoing is disgusting to kings 

because a throne is established through righteousness. 

¹³Kings are happy with honest words, 

and whoever speaks what is right is loved. 

¹⁴A king’s anger announces death, 

but a wise man makes peace with him. 

¹⁵When the king is cheerful, there is life, 

and his favor is like a cloud bringing spring rain. 

¹⁶How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold, 

and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver. 

¹⁷The highway of decent people turns away from evil. 

Whoever watches his way preserves his own life. 

¹⁸Pride precedes a disaster, 

and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall. 

¹⁹Better to be humble with lowly people 

than to share stolen goods with arrogant people. 

²⁰Whoever gives attention to the Lord’s word prospers, 

and blessed is the person who trusts the Lord. 

²¹The person who is truly wise is called understanding, 

and speaking sweetly helps others learn. 

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

but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity. 

²³A wise person’s heart controls his speech, 

and what he says helps others learn. 

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

sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body. 

Words of Advice to a Wise Son

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

but eventually it ends in death. 

²⁶A laborer’s appetite works to his advantage, 

because his hunger drives him on. 

²⁷A worthless person plots trouble, 

and his speech is like a burning fire. 

²⁸A devious person spreads quarrels. 

A gossip separates the closest of friends. 

²⁹A violent person misleads his neighbor 

and leads him on a path that is not good. 

³⁰Whoever winks his eye is plotting something devious. 

Whoever bites his lips has finished his evil work. 

³¹Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life. 

³²Better to get angry slowly than to be a hero. 

Better to be even-tempered than to capture a city. 

³³The dice are thrown, 

but the Lord determines every outcome. 

17TH CHAPTER

¹Better a bite of dry bread ⸤eaten⸥ in peace 

than a family feast filled with strife. 

²A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully, 

and he will share the inheritance with the brothers. 

³The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, 

but the one who purifies hearts ⸤by fire⸥ is the Lord. 

⁴An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips. 

A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue. 

⁵Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker. 

Whoever is happy ⸤to see someone’s⸥ distress will not escape punishment. 

⁶Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents, 

and parents are the glory of their children. 

The Consequences of Being a Fool

⁷Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool. 

How much less does lying fit a noble person! 

⁸A bribe seems ⸤like⸥ a jewel to the one who gives it.^a

Wherever he turns, he prospers. 

⁹Whoever forgives an offense seeks love, 

but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends. 

¹⁰A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding 

more than a hundred lashes impress a fool. 

¹¹A rebel looks for nothing but evil. 

Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent ⸤to punish⸥ him. 

¹²Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs 

than a fool ⸤carried away⸥ with his stupidity. 

¹³Whoever pays back evil for good— 

evil will never leave his home. 

¹⁴Starting a quarrel is ⸤like⸥ opening a floodgate, 

so stop before the argument gets out of control. 

¹⁵Whoever approves of wicked people and whoever condemns righteous people 

is disgusting to the Lord. 

¹⁶Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom 

when he doesn’t have a mind to grasp anything? 

¹⁷A friend always loves, 

and a brother is born to share trouble. 

¹⁸A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake. 

He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend. 

¹⁹Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel. 

Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction. 

²⁰A twisted mind never finds happiness, 

and one with a devious tongue ⸤repeatedly⸥ gets into trouble. 

²¹The parent of a fool has grief, 

and the father of a godless fool has no joy. 

²²A joyful heart is good medicine, 

but depression drains one’s strength. 

²³A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe to corrupt the ways of justice. 

²⁴Wisdom is directly in front of an understanding person, 

but the eyes of a fool ⸤are looking around⸥ all over the world. 

How Fools Live

²⁵A foolish son is a heartache to his father 

and bitter grief to his mother. 

²⁶To punish an innocent person is not good. 

To strike down noble people is not right. 

²⁷Whoever has knowledge controls his words, 

and a person who has understanding is even-tempered. 

²⁸Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. 

He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed. 

18TH CHAPTER

¹A loner is out to get what he wants for himself. 

He opposes all sound reasoning. 

²A fool does not find joy in understanding 

but only in expressing his own opinion. 

³When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, 

and insult comes along with disgrace. 

⁴The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters. 

The fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream. 

⁵It is not good to be partial toward a wicked person, 

thereby depriving an innocent person of justice. 

⁶By talking, a fool gets into an argument, 

and his mouth invites a beating. 

⁷A fool’s mouth is his ruin. 

His lips are a trap to his soul. 

⁸The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily, 

and they go down into a person’s innermost being. 

How to Avoid Fools and Foolishness

⁹Whoever is lazy in his work is related to a vandal. 

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower. 

A righteous person runs to it and is safe. 

¹¹A rich person’s wealth is his strong city 

and is like a high wall in his imagination. 

¹²Before destruction a person’s heart is arrogant, 

but humility comes before honor. 

¹³Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful. 

¹⁴A person’s spirit can endure sickness, 

but who can bear a broken spirit? 

¹⁵The mind of a person who has understanding acquires knowledge. 

The ears of wise people seek knowledge. 

¹⁶A gift opens doors for the one who gives it 

and brings him into the presence of great people. 

¹⁷The first to state his case seems right 

⸤until⸥ his neighbor comes to cross-examine him. 

¹⁸Flipping a coin ends quarrels 

and settles ⸤issues⸥ between powerful people. 

¹⁹An offended brother is more ⸤resistant⸥ than a strong city, 

and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower. 

²⁰A person’s speaking ability provides for his stomach. 

His talking provides him a living. 

²¹The tongue has the power of life and death, 

and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words. 

²²Whoever finds a wife finds something good 

and has obtained favor from the Lord. 

²³A poor person is timid when begging, 

but a rich person is blunt when replying. 

²⁴Friends can destroy one another,^a

but a loving friend can stick closer than family.