Proverbs 16:25–33

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.

29 A violent person entices their neighbor

and leads them down a path that is not good.

30 Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;

whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;

it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,

one with self-control than one who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

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;

his mouth urges him on.

27 A worthless man plots evil,

and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A dishonest man spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor

and leads him in a way that is not good.

30 Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

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.

29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour,

And leadeth him into the way that is not good.

30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:

Moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory,

If it be found in the way of righteousness.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap;

But the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

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.

29 Violent people mislead their companions,

leading them down a harmful path.

30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;

with a smirk, they plan their mischief.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained by living a godly life.

32 Better to be patient than powerful;

better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

33 We may throw the dice,

but the Lord determines how they fall.

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.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor,

And leads him in a way that is not good.

30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;

He purses his lips and brings about evil.

31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,

If it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the Lord.

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.

29 Cruel people trick their neighbors

and lead them to do wrong.

30 Someone who winks is planning evil,

and the one who grins is planning something wrong.

31 Gray hair is like a crown of honor;

it is earned by living a good life.

32 Patience is better than strength.

Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.

33 People throw lots to make a decision,

but the answer comes from the Lord.

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.

29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbor,

And leadeth him in a way that is not good.

30 He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things:

He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory;

It shall be found in the way of righteousness.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap;

But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.

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.

29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into a way that is not good. 30 He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise froward things; biting his lips, he bringeth evil to pass.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole decision is of Jehovah.

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.

29 A violent man lures his neighbor,

leading him in a way that is not good.

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;

the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown;

it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 Patience is better than power,

and controlling one’s temper, than capturing a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

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.

29 The violent entice their neighbors

and lead them in a way that is not good.

30 One who winks the eyes plans perverse things;

one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but the decision is the Lord’s alone.

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.

29 A person of violence will entice his neighbor

and cause him to walk on a way that is not good.

30 He who winks his eyes does so in order to plan perverse things;

he who purses his lips will bring evil to pass.

31 A crown of glory is gray hair;

by a righteous life it is gained.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than him who is mighty,

and he who controls his spirit than him who captures a city.

33 The lot will be cast into the lap,

but all of its decisions are from Yahweh.

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.

29 A man who wants to hurt others tries to get them to sin.

He leads them down a path that isn’t good.

30 When he winks with his eyes, he is planning to do wrong.

When his lips are tightly closed, he is up to no good.

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown.

You get it by living the right way.

32 It is better to be patient than to fight.

It is better to control your temper than to take a city.

33 Lots are cast into the lap to make decisions.

But everything they decide comes from the Lord.

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.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor

And leads him in a way that is not good.

30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;

He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 A gray head is a crown of glory;

It is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the Lord.