Proverbs 16:1–19

To humans belong the plans of the heart,

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

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

but motives are weighedv by the Lord.w

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and he will establish your plans.x

4 The Lord works out everything to its proper endy—

even the wicked for a day of disaster.z

5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart.a

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

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;

through the fear of the Lordc evil is avoided.d

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

he causes their enemies to make peacee with them.f

8 Better a little with righteousness

than much gaing with injustice.h

9 In their hearts humans plan their course,

but the Lord establishes their steps.i

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,

and his mouth does not betray justice.j

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;

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

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,

for a throne is established through righteousness.l

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;

they value the one who speaks what is right.m

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

but the wise will appease it.o

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

his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.q

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,

to get insightr rather than silver!s

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;

those who guard their ways preserve their lives.t

18 Prideu goes before destruction,

a haughty spiritv before a fall.w

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed

than to share plunder with the proud.