Proverbs 16

16To humans belong the plans of the heart,

but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.^t

²All a person’s ways seem pure to them,^u

but motives are weighed^v by the Lord.^w

³Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and he will establish your plans.^x

⁴The Lord works out everything to its proper end^y—

even the wicked for a day of disaster.^z

⁵The Lord detests all the proud of heart.^a

Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.^b

⁶Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;

through the fear of the Lord^c evil is avoided.^d

⁷When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,

he causes their enemies to make peace^e with them.^f

⁸Better a little with righteousness

than much gain^g with injustice.^h

⁹In their hearts humans plan their course,

but the Lord establishes their steps.ⁱ

¹⁰The lips of a king speak as an oracle,

and his mouth does not betray justice.^j

¹¹Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;

all the weights in the bag are of his making.^k

¹²Kings detest wrongdoing,

for a throne is established through righteousness.^l

¹³Kings take pleasure in honest lips;

they value the one who speaks what is right.^m

¹⁴A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,ⁿ

but the wise will appease it.^o

¹⁵When a king’s face brightens, it means life;^p

his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.^q

¹⁶How much better to get wisdom than gold,

to get insight^r rather than silver!^s

¹⁷The highway of the upright avoids evil;

those who guard their ways preserve their lives.^t

¹⁸Pride^u goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit^v before a fall.^w

¹⁹Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed

than to share plunder with the proud.

²⁰Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,^ax

and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.^y

²¹The wise in heart are called discerning,

and gracious words promote instruction.^bz

²²Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,^a

but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^b

and their lips promote instruction.^cc

²⁴Gracious words are a honeycomb,^d

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.^e

²⁵There is a way that appears to be right,^f

but in the end it leads to death.^g

²⁶The appetite of laborers works for them;

their hunger drives them on.

²⁷A scoundrel^h plots evil,

and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.ⁱ

²⁸A perverse person stirs up conflict,^j

and a gossip separates close friends.^k

²⁹A violent person entices their neighbor

and leads them down a path that is not good.^l

³⁰Whoever winks^m with their eye is plotting perversity;

whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

³¹Gray hair is a crown of splendor;ⁿ

it is attained in the way of righteousness.

³²Better a patient person than a warrior,

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

³³The lot is cast^o into the lap,

but its every decision^p is from the Lord.^q