16 aThe ||preparations of the heart in man,

And bthe answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

2  cAll the ways of a man are dclean in his own eyes;

But cethe Lord weigheth the spirits.

3  f†Commit thy works unto the Lord,

And thy thoughts shall be established.

4  gThe Lord hath made all things for himself:

Yea, heven the wicked for the day of evil.

5  Every one that is iproud in heart is kan abomination to the Lord:

lThough hand join in hand, he shall not be †unpunished.

6  By mmercy and truth niniquity is purged:

And by the fear of the Lord men odepart from evil.

7  When a man’s ways please the Lord,

He pmaketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8  qBetter is a little with righteousness

Than great revenues rwithout right.

9  A sman’s heart deviseth his way:

But tthe Lord directeth his steps.

10  †uA divine sentence is in the lips of the king:

His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

11  A just wweight and xbalance are the Lord’s:

†All the xweights of the ybag are his work.

12  It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness:

For zthe throne is established by righteousness.

13  Righteous lips are athe delight of kings;

And they love him that speaketh right.

14  bThe wrath of a king is as messengers of death:

But a wise man will cpacify it.

15  dIn the light of the king’s countenance is life;

And ahis favour is as a cloud of ethe latter rain.

16  fHow much better is it to get wisdom than ggold!

And to get understanding hrather to be chosen than silver!

17  The ihighway of the upright is jto depart from evil:

He that kkeepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18  lPride goeth before destruction,

And an haughty spirit before a fall.

19  Better it is to be mof an humble spirit with the lowly,

Than nto divide the spoil with the proud.

20  ||He that handleth oa matter wisely ooshall find good:

And pwhoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

21  The wise in heart shall be called prudent:

And the sweetness of the lips qincreaseth learning.

22  Understanding is ra wellspring of life sunto him that hath it:

But the instruction of fools is folly.

23  tThe heart of the wise †teacheth his mouth,

And qaddeth learning to his lips.

24  uPleasant words are as an xhoneycomb,

xSweet to the soul, and yhealth to the bones.

25  zThere is a way that seemeth right unto a man,

But the end thereof are the ways of death.

26  †He that laboureth laboureth afor himself;

For bhis mouth †craveth it of him.

27  †An ungodly man diggeth up evil:

And in his lips there is as a cburning fire.

28  dA efroward man †soweth strife:

And fa whisperer gseparateth chief friends.

29  hA violent man ienticeth his neighbour,

And leadeth him into the way that is not good.

30  He shutteth his eyes to devise kfroward things:

lMoving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

31  mThe hoary head is na crown of glory,

If it be found in the way of righteousness.

32  oHe that is pslow to anger is better than the mighty;

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

33  qThe lot is cast into the rlap;

But the whole disposing thereof is sof the Lord.