16 1 The [a]preparations of the heart are in man: but the answer of the tongue is of the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are [b]clean in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the spirits.
3 [c]Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 The Lord hath made all things for his own sake: yea, even the wicked for the day of [d]evil.
5 All that are proud in heart, are an abomination to the Lord: though (A)hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By [e]mercy and truth iniquity shall be forgiven, and by the fear of the Lord they depart from evil.
7 When the ways of a man please the Lord, he will make also his enemies at peace with him.
8 (B)Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without equity.
9 The heart of [f]man purposeth his way: but the Lord doth direct his steps.
10 A divine sentence shall be in the lips of the king: his mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
11 (C)A true weight and balance are of the Lord: and the weights of the bag are his [g]work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is stablished [h]by justice.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and the king loveth him that speaketh right things.
14 The wrath of a king is as [i]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 [j]as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 (D)How much better is it to get wisdom than gold? and to get understanding, is more to be desired than silver.
17 The path of the righteous is to decline from evil, and he keepeth his soul that keepeth his way.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an high mind before the fall.
19 Better it is to be of humble mind with the lowly, than to divide the spoils with the proud.
20 He that is wise in his business, shall find good: and (E)he that trusteth in the Lord, he is blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent and [k]the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto them that have it: and the [l]instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise guideth his mouth wisely, and addeth doctrine to his lips.
24 Fair words are as an honey comb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 (F)There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the issue thereof are the ways of death.
26 The person that travaileth, travaileth for himself: for his mouth [m]craveth it of him.
27 A wicked man diggeth up evil, and in his lips is like [n]burning fire.
28 A froward person soweth strife: and a taleteller maketh division among princes.
29 A wicked man deceiveth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 [o]He shutteth his eyes to devise wickedness: he moveth his lips, and bringeth evil to pass.
31 Age is a crown of glory, when it is found in the way of [p]righteousness.
32 He that is slow unto anger, is better than the mighty man: and he that ruleth his own mind, is better than he that winneth a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposition thereof is [q]of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:1 He derideth the presumption of man, who dare attribute to himself any thing, as to prepare his heart or such like, seeing that he is not able to speak a word, except God give it him.
- Proverbs 16:2 He showeth hereby that man flattereth himself in his doings, calling that virtue, which God termeth vice.
- Proverbs 16:3 Hebrew, role.
- Proverbs 16:4 So that the justice of God shall appear to his glory, even in the destruction of the wicked.
- Proverbs 16:6 Their upright and repenting life shall be a token that their sins are forgiven.
- Proverbs 16:9 He showeth the folly of man, which thinketh that his ways are in his own hand, and yet it is able to remove one foot except God give force.
- Proverbs 16:11 If they be true and just, they are God’s work, and he delighteth therein, but otherwise if they be false, they are the work of the devil, and to their condemnation that use them.
- Proverbs 16:12 They are appointed by God to rule according to equity and justice.
- Proverbs 16:14 That is, he findeth out many means to execute his wrath.
- Proverbs 16:15 Which is most comfortable to the dry ground, Deut. 11:14.
- Proverbs 16:21 The sweet words of consolation, which come forth of a godly heart.
- Proverbs 16:22 Either that which the wicked teach others, or else it is folly to teach them that are malicious.
- Proverbs 16:26 Hebrew, boweth upon him.
- Proverbs 16:27 For he consumeth himself and others.
- Proverbs 16:30 With his whole endeavor he laboreth to bring his wickedness to pass.
- Proverbs 16:31 That is, when it is joined with virtue: or else the elder that the wicked are, the more they are to be abhorred.
- Proverbs 16:33 So that there is nothing that ought to be attributed to fortune: for all things are determined in the counsel of God which shall come to pass.