Proverbs 16–18

16The reflections of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. ^p

²All a man’s ways seem right to him,

but the Lord evaluates the motives. ^qr

³Commit your activities to the Lord,

and your plans will be achieved. ^s

⁴The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose—

even the wicked for the day of disaster. ^t

⁵Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; ^u

be assured, ^vhe will not go unpunished. ^w

⁶Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, ^x

and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord. ^y

⁷When a man’s ways please the Lord,

He ^zmakes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ^a

⁸Better a little with righteousness

than great income with injustice. ^b

⁹A man’s heart plans his way,

but the Lord determines his steps. ^c

¹⁰God’s verdict is on the lips of a king; ^de

his mouth should not give an unfair judgment. ^f

¹¹Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;

all the weights in the bag ^gare His concern. ^h

¹²Wicked behavior ⁱis detestable to kings, ^j

since a throne is established through righteousness. ^k

¹³Righteous lips are a king’s delight,

and he loves one who speaks honestly.

¹⁴A king’s fury is a messenger of death,

but a wise man appeases it. ^l

¹⁵When a king’s face lights up, there is life;

his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

¹⁶Get wisdom—

how much better it is than gold!

And get understanding—

it is preferable to silver. ^m

¹⁷The highway of the upright ⁿavoids evil;

the one who guards his way protects his life. ^o

¹⁸Pride comes before destruction,

and an arrogant spirit before a fall. ^p

¹⁹Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble ^qr

than to divide plunder with the proud. ^s

²⁰The one who understands a matter finds success, ^t

and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy. ^u

²¹Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,

and pleasant speech ^vincreases learning. ^w

²²Insight is a fountain of life ^xfor its possessor,

but the discipline of fools is folly.

²³A wise heart instructs its mouth

and increases learning with its speech. ^yz

²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb: ^a

sweet to the taste ^band health to the body. ^cd

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

but its end is the way to death. ^e

²⁶A worker’s appetite works for him

because his hunger ^furges him on.

²⁷A worthless man digs up evil,

and his speech is like a scorching fire. ^g

²⁸A contrary man spreads conflict,

and a gossip separates close friends. ^h

²⁹A violent man lures his neighbor, ⁱ

leading him in a way that is not good. ^j

³⁰The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;

the one who compresses his lips brings about evil. ^k

³¹Gray hair is a glorious crown; ^l

it is found in the way of righteousness. ^m

³²Patience is better than power,

and controlling one’s temper, ⁿthan capturing a city. ^o

³³The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord. ^p

17Better a dry crust with peace

than a house full of feasting with strife. ^q

²A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son

and share an inheritance among brothers.

³A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, ^r

and the Lord is the tester of hearts. ^s

⁴A wicked person listens to malicious talk; ^t

a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

⁵The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, ^u

and one who rejoices over calamity

will not go unpunished. ^v

⁶Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,

and the pride of sons is their fathers.

⁷Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;

how much worse are lies for a ruler.

⁸A bribe ^wseems like a magic stone to its owner;

wherever he turns, he succeeds. ^x

⁹Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, ^y

but whoever gossips about it separates friends. ^z

¹⁰A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person

more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion;

a cruel messenger ^abwill be sent against him.

¹²Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs ^c

than a fool in his foolishness.

¹³If anyone returns evil for good, ^d

evil will never depart from his house. ^e

¹⁴To start a conflict is to release a flood;

stop the dispute before it breaks out. ^f

¹⁵Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just ^g—

both are detestable to the Lord.

¹⁶Why does a fool have money in his hand

with no intention of buying wisdom? ^h

¹⁷A friend loves at all times, ⁱ

and a brother is born for a difficult time.

¹⁸One without sense enters an agreement ^j

and puts up security for his friend. ^k

¹⁹One who loves to offend loves strife; ^l

one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

²⁰One with a twisted mind will not succeed,

and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin. ^m

²¹A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow;

the father of a fool has no joy. ⁿ

²²A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit dries up the bones. ^o

²³A wicked man secretly takes a bribe ^p

to subvert the course of justice. ^q

²⁴Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,

but a fool’s eyes ^rroam to the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is grief to his father

and bitterness to the one who bore him. ^s

²⁶It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person

or to beat a noble for his honesty. ^tu

²⁷The intelligent person restrains his words, ^v

and one who keeps a cool head ^w

is a man of understanding.

²⁸Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,

discerning when he seals his lips. ^x

18One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;

he rebels against all sound judgment.

²A fool does not delight in understanding,

but only wants to show off his opinions. ^yz

³When a wicked man comes, contempt also does,

and along with dishonor, disgrace.

⁴The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, ^a

a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom. ^b

⁵It is not good to show partiality to the guilty ^c

by perverting the justice due the innocent. ^d

⁶A fool’s lips lead to strife,

and his mouth provokes a beating. ^e

⁷A fool’s mouth is his devastation,

and his lips are a trap for his life. ^f

⁸A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being. ^gh

⁹The one who is truly lazy in his work

is brother to a vandal. ^ij

¹⁰The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; ^k

the righteous run to it and are protected. ^lm

¹¹A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;

in his imagination it is like a high wall. ⁿ

¹²Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, ^o

but humility comes before honor. ^p

¹³The one who gives an answer before he listens—

this is foolishness and disgrace for him. ^q

¹⁴A man’s spirit can endure sickness,

but who can survive a broken spirit? ^r

¹⁵The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks it. ^s

¹⁶A gift opens doors ^tfor a man

and brings him before the great. ^u

¹⁷The first to state his case seems right

until another comes and cross-examines him. ^v

¹⁸Casting the lot ^wends quarrels

and separates powerful opponents.

¹⁹An offended brother is harder to reach ^x

than a fortified city,

and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

²⁰From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is satisfied;

he is filled with the product of his lips. ^y

²¹Life and death are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruit. ^z

²²A man who finds a wife finds a good thing ^a

and obtains favor from the Lord. ^b

²³The poor man pleads, ^c

but the rich one answers roughly. ^d

²⁴A man with many friends may be harmed, ^e

but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. ^f