Proverbs 16 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

16 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.(A)

2 All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.[a](B)

3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(C)

4 The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.(D)

5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;(E)
be assured,[b] he will not go unpunished.(F)

6 Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(G)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(H)

7 When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.(I)

8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.(J)

9 A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(K)

10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;[c](L)
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.(M)

11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his concern.(N)

12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,(O)
since a throne is established through righteousness.(P)

13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.

14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise person appeases it.(Q)

15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

16 Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.(R)

17 The highway of the upright(S) avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.(T)

18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.(U)

19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble[d](V)
than to divide plunder with the proud.(W)

20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(X)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(Y)

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[e] increases learning.(Z)

22 Insight is a fountain of life(AA) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

23 The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.[f](AB)

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:(AC)
sweet to the taste[g] and health to the body.[h](AD)

25 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.(AE)

26 A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger[i] urges him on.

27 A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(AF)

28 A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.(AG)

29 A violent person lures his neighbor,(AH)
leading him on a path that is not good.(AI)

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(AJ)

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown;(AK)
it is found in the ways of righteousness.(AL)

32 Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions,[j] than capturing a city.(AM)

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. 16:2 Lit spirits
  2. 16:5 Lit hand to hand
  3. 16:10 Or A divination is on the lips of a king
  4. 16:19 Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted
  5. 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips
  6. 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips
  7. 16:24 Lit throat
  8. 16:24 Lit bones
  9. 16:26 Lit mouth
  10. 16:32 Lit and ruling over one’s spirit

Cross references

  1. 16:1 : Pr 16:9; 19:21
  2. 16:2 : 1Sm 16:7; Pr 17:3; 19:21; 21:2
  3. 16:3 : Ps 37:4–5
  4. 16:4 : Ex 9:16; Rm 9:21–22
  5. 16:5 : 2Ch 32:25; Pr 6:16–17; 8:13
  6. 16:5 : Ps 101:5; Pr 11:21; 16:18
  7. 16:6 : Dn 4:27; Lk 11:41
  8. 16:6 : Jb 28:28; Pr 3:7; 14:16
  9. 16:7 : 2Ch 17:10
  10. 16:8 : Ps 37:16; Pr 15:16–17; 16:19; 28:6
  11. 16:9 : Ps 37:23; Pr 16:1; 19:21; 20:24; Jr 10:23
  12. 16:10 : 2Sm 14:17,20; 1Kg 3:28
  13. 16:10 : 2Sm 23:2–3; Pr 18:14–15
  14. 16:11 : Lv 19:36; Pr 11:1; Ezk 45:10; Mc 6:11
  15. 16:12 : Pr 31:3–5
  16. 16:12 : Ps 101; Pr 25:5
  17. 16:14 : Ec 10:4
  18. 16:16 : Pr 3:14; 8:10,19; 22:1
  19. 16:17 : Is 35:8
  20. 16:17 : Pr 2:11–13; 15:19
  21. 16:18 : Pr 11:2; 16:5; 18:12; 29:23; Dn 4:37; Ob 3–4
  22. 16:19 : Pr 29:23; Is 57:15
  23. 16:19 : Ex 15:9; Ps 37:16; Pr 1:13–14; 15:16–17; 16:8
  24. 16:20 : Pr 19:8
  25. 16:20 : Ps 2:12; 34:8; 40:4; 84:12; 146:5; Jr 17:7
  26. 16:21 : Pr 1:5; 9:9; 16:23
  27. 16:22 : Pr 10:11; 13:14; 14:27
  28. 16:23 : Ps 37:30; Pr 1:5; 9:9; Mt 12:34
  29. 16:24 : Ps 19:10; Pr 15:26
  30. 16:24 : Pr 4:22; 15:30; 25:13
  31. 16:25 : Pr 14:12; 24:20
  32. 16:27 : Pr 6:12; 19:28; 26:23; Jms 3:6
  33. 16:28 : Pr 6:14,19; 17:9; 26:20–21; 28:25
  34. 16:29 : Pr 1:10
  35. 16:29 : 1Sm 12:23; Ps 36:4; Pr 28:10
  36. 16:30 : Ps 35:19; Pr 6:12–14; 10:10
  37. 16:31 : Lv 19:32; Pr 4:9; 20:29
  38. 16:31 : Pr 3:1–2
  39. 16:32 : Pr 25:15,28; 29:11
  40. 16:33 : Pr 16:1; 19:21; 21:31

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