| 1 | The plans of the mind
and
orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue. |
| 2 | All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). |
| 3 | Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established
and
succeed. |
| 4 | The Lord has made everything [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end
and
His own purpose—even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity
and
evil. |
| 5 | Everyone proud
and
arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful,
and
exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured [I pledge it] they will not go unpunished. |
| 6 | By mercy
and
love, truth
and
fidelity [to God and man—not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from
and
avoid evil. |
| 7 | When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. |
| 8 | Better is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice. |
| 9 | A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps
and
makes them sure. |
| 10 | Divinely directed decisions are on the lips of the king; his mouth should not transgress in judgment. |
| 11 | A just balance
and
scales are the Lord’s; all the weights of the bag are His work [established on His eternal principles]. |
| 12 | It is an abomination [to God and men] for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established
and
made secure by righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation). |
| 13 | Right
and
just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. |
| 14 | The wrath of a king is as messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it. |
| 15 | In the light of the king’s countenance is life, and his favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain. |
| 16 | How much better it is to get skillful
and
godly Wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. |
| 17 | The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; he who guards his way preserves his life. |
| 18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. |
| 19 | Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the meek
and
poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. |
| 20 | He who deals wisely
and
heeds [God’s] word
and
counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in,
and
is confident in the Lord—happy, blessed,
and
fortunate is he. |
| 21 | The wise in heart are called prudent, understanding,
and
knowing, and winsome speech increases learning [in both speaker and listener]. |
| 22 | Understanding is a wellspring of life to those who have it, but to give instruction to fools is folly. |
| 23 | The mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning
and
persuasiveness to his lips. |
| 24 | Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body. |
| 25 | There is a way that seems right to a man
and
appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death. |
| 26 | The appetite of the laborer works for him, for [the need of] his mouth urges him on. |
| 27 | A worthless man devises
and
digs up mischief, and in his lips there is as a scorching fire. |
| 28 | A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. |
| 29 | The exceedingly grasping, covetous,
and
violent man entices his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good. |
| 30 | He who shuts his eyes to devise perverse things and who compresses his lips [as if in concealment] brings evil to pass. |
| 31 | The hoary head is a crown of beauty
and
glory if it is found in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation). |
| 32 | He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city. |
| 33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him]. |
Cross references:
-
Proverbs 16:2 : I Sam. 16:7; Heb. 4:12.
-
Proverbs 16:5 : Prov. 8:13; 11:20-21.
-
Proverbs 16:8 : Ps. 37:16; Prov. 15:16.
-
Proverbs 16:9 : Ps. 37:23; Prov. 20:24; Jer. 10:23.
-
Proverbs 16:16 : Prov. 8:10, 19.
-
Proverbs 16:28 : Prov. 17:9.
-
Proverbs 16:31 : Prov. 20:29.
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