Proverbs 16

¹Of man are arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.

²All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.

³Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,

⁴All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked worketh for a day of evil.

⁵An abomination to Jehovah is every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.

⁶In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.

⁷When a man’s ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth to be at peace with him.

⁸Better is a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.

⁹The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.

¹⁰An oath is on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.

¹¹A just beam and balances are Jehovah’s, His work are all the stones of the bag.

¹²An abomination to kings is doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.

¹³The delight of kings are righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,

¹⁴The fury of a king is messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it. ¹⁵In the light of a king’s face is life, And his good-will is as a cloud of the latter rain.

¹⁶To get wisdom—how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!

¹⁷A highway of the upright is, ‘Turn from evil,’ Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.

¹⁸Before destruction is pride, And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.’

¹⁹Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.

²⁰The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.

²¹To the wise in heart is called, ‘Intelligent,’ And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.

²²A fountain of life is understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.

²³The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,

²⁴Sayings of pleasantness are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.

²⁵There is a way right before a man, And its latter end—ways of death.

²⁶A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused him to bend over it.

²⁷A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips—as a burning fire. ²⁸A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.

²⁹A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good. ³⁰Consulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.

³¹A crown of beauty are grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.

³²Better is the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.

³³Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah is all its judgment!

Chapter 17