Proverbs 16 - Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)

More Advice for a Wise Son

16 A person may have thought things through in his heart,
but an apt answer from his tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All of a person’s ways are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs motives.
3 Commit what you do to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for his[a] own purpose,
even a wicked person for a day of trouble.
5 Anyone with an arrogant attitude is disgusting to the Lord.
Be sure of this: That person will not go unpunished.
6 Through mercy and truth, guilt is atoned for,
and through the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 When the Lord is pleased with a man’s ways,
he causes even his enemies to live at peace with him.

Wisdom for a King and His Subjects

8 Better a little with righteousness
than a large income without justice.
9 A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord makes his steps secure.
10 The king’s lips speak for God,
so his mouth should not betray justice.
11 An accurate balance and scales belong to the Lord.
He has made all the weights in the bag.
12 It is disgusting for kings to commit wickedness,
because a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Kings approve of righteous lips.
They love a person who speaks upright things.
14 The king’s anger is a messenger of death,
but a wise person can appease it.
15 There is life in the light from a king’s face,
and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.
16 How much better to acquire wisdom rather than gold,
and to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 The highway followed by upright people turns away from evil.
The person who guards his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit precedes a fall.
19 Better to share a humble spirit with the oppressed
than to share stolen goods with the haughty.
20 Whoever gives careful consideration to a matter[b] will succeed,
and the person who trusts the Lord will be blessed.
21 A wise heart will be called discerning,
and appealing speech increases learning.
22 Good sense is a fountain of life for the person who possesses it,
but the instruction given by stubborn fools is stupidity.
23 A wise heart produces edifying speech.
It makes a person’s lips more persuasive.
24 Pleasant speech is honey from a honeycomb,
sweet to the spirit and healing for the bones.

Advice for a Wise Son

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but it ends up being the road to death.
26 A laborer’s appetite labors for him,
because the hunger of his mouth drives him on.
27 A worthless scoundrel constantly plots evil,
and from his lips comes a scorching fire.
28 A perverse[c] man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates intimate friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor.
He leads him on a way that is not good.
30 A person who squints his eyes is plotting something perverse.
One who purses his lips has completed some evil plot.
31 Gray hair is a beautiful crown.
It is found on the way to righteousness.
32 Better to be patient than to be a hero,
better to control your temper than to capture a city.
33 Lots are cast into the pouch,[d]
but the Lord determines all their decisions.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:4 Or its
  2. Proverbs 16:20 Or to a word or to God’s word
  3. Proverbs 16:28 Or twisted
  4. Proverbs 16:33 Or lap. It is not clear what this line means. It may allude to the pouch containing the Urim and Thummim, which the high priest wore on his chest.

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Proverbs 16 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

16 Of man [are] arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits. 3 Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes, 4 All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wi...
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Proverbs 16 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

16 It pertaineth to man to make ready the soul; and it pertaineth to the Lord to govern the tongue. (Each person must prepare their own soul, or their own life; but it is God who governeth their tongue, or telleth them what to say.) 2 All the ways of men be open to the eyes of God (All the ways of p...
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Proverbs 16 - World English Bible (WEB)

16 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.3 Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.4 Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the...
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Proverbs 16 - The Voice (VOICE)

16 People go about making their plans, but the Eternal has the final word.2 Even when you think you have good intentions, He knows your real motives.3 Whatever you do, do it as service to Him, and He will guarantee your success.4 The Eternal made everything for a reason. Even wrongdoers fit in His p...
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Proverbs 16 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Commit Your Heart to Adonai16 The plans of the heart belong to man,but the tongue’s answer is from Adonai.2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes,but Adonai weighs the motives.3 Commit whatever you do to Adonai,and your plans will succeed.4 Adonai works everything out for his own purpose—even th...
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Proverbs 16 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

16 The plans of the mind belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked fo...
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Proverbs 16 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

16 The plans of the mind belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked fo...
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Proverbs 16 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

16 The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked ...
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Proverbs 16 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

16 The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.(A)3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.(B)4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the w...
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Proverbs 16 - New Living Translation (NLT)

16 We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. 2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. 3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. 4 The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. ...
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Proverbs 16 - New Life Version (NLV)

16 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the thoughts of the heart. 3 Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well. 4 The Lord has made all things for His own plans,...
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Proverbs 16 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Wisdom Is Better Than Gold16 The (A)preparations[a] of the heart belong to man,(B)But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own (C)eyes,But the Lord weighs the spirits. 3 (D)Commit[b] your works to the Lord,And your thoughts will be established. 4 The (E)...
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Proverbs 16 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. 2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end...
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Proverbs 16 - New International Version (NIV)

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Proverbs 16 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

16 People make plans in their hearts. But the Lord puts the correct answer on their tongues. 2 Everything a person does might seem pure to them. But the Lord knows why they do what they do. 3 Commit to the Lord everything you do. Then he will make your plans succeed. 4 The Lord works everything out ...
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Proverbs 16 - New Century Version (NCV)

16 People may make plans in their minds, but only the Lord can make them come true. 2 You may believe you are doing right, but the Lord will judge your reasons. 3 Depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. 4 The Lord makes everything go as he pleases. He has even prepared a ...
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