Proverbs 16 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

16 The (A)plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (B)Lord examines the [a]motives.
3 [b](C)Commit your works to the Lord,
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord (D)has made everything for [c]its own purpose,
Even the (E)wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
[d]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By (F)mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by [e]the (G)fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He (H)causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of a (I)person plans his way,
But (J)the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine (K)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [f]err in judgment.
11 A (L)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [g]weights of the bag are His [h]concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (M)throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And one who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death;
But a wise person will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [i](N)spring rain.
16 How much (O)better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The (P)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
One who watches his way protects his [j]life.
18 (Q)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be (R)humble in spirit with the needy
Than to (S)divide the spoils with the proud.
20 One who pays attention to the word will (T)find good,
And (U)blessed is one who trusts in the Lord.
21 The (V)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [k]speech (W)increases [l]persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
23 The (X)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [m]persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (Y)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (Z)healing to the bones.
25 (AA)There is a way which seems right to a person,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his [n]hunger urges him on.
27 A (AB)worthless person digs up evil,
While [o]his words are like (AC)scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
And a [p]slanderer separates close friends.
29 A person of violence (AD)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 A (AE)gray head is a crown of glory;
It (AF)is found in the way of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
33 The (AG)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every (AH)decision is from the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits
  2. Proverbs 16:3 Lit Roll
  3. Proverbs 16:4 Or His
  4. Proverbs 16:5 Lit Hand to hand, he
  5. Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence for
  6. Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
  7. Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
  8. Proverbs 16:11 Lit work
  9. Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter
  10. Proverbs 16:17 Lit soul
  11. Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
  12. Proverbs 16:21 Or learning
  13. Proverbs 16:23 Or learning
  14. Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth
  15. Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips
  16. Proverbs 16:28 Or gossip

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 16:1 : Prov 16:9; 19:21
  2. Proverbs 16:2 : 1 Sam 16:7; Dan 5:27
  3. Proverbs 16:3 : Ps 37:5; 55:22; Prov 3:6; 1 Pet 5:7
  4. Proverbs 16:4 : Gen 1:31; Eccl 3:11
  5. Proverbs 16:4 : Rom 9:22
  6. Proverbs 16:6 : Dan 4:27; Luke 11:41
  7. Proverbs 16:6 : Prov 8:13; 14:16
  8. Proverbs 16:7 : Gen 33:4; 2 Chr 17:10
  9. Proverbs 16:9 : Prov 16:1; 19:21
  10. Proverbs 16:9 : Ps 37:23; Prov 20:24; Jer 10:23
  11. Proverbs 16:10 : 1 Kin 3:28
  12. Proverbs 16:11 : Prov 11:1
  13. Proverbs 16:12 : Prov 25:5
  14. Proverbs 16:15 : Job 29:23
  15. Proverbs 16:16 : Prov 8:10, 19
  16. Proverbs 16:17 : Is 35:8
  17. Proverbs 16:18 : Prov 11:2; 18:12; Jer 49:16; Obad 3, 4
  18. Proverbs 16:19 : Prov 3:34; 29:23; Is 57:15
  19. Proverbs 16:19 : Ex 15:9; Judg 5:30; Prov 1:13, 14
  20. Proverbs 16:20 : Prov 19:8
  21. Proverbs 16:20 : Ps 2:12; 34:8; Jer 17:7
  22. Proverbs 16:21 : Hos 14:9
  23. Proverbs 16:21 : Prov 16:23
  24. Proverbs 16:23 : Ps 37:30; Prov 15:28; Matt 12:34
  25. Proverbs 16:24 : Ps 19:10; Prov 15:26; 24:13, 14
  26. Proverbs 16:24 : Prov 4:22; 17:22
  27. Proverbs 16:25 : Prov 12:15; 14:12
  28. Proverbs 16:27 : Prov 6:12, 14, 18
  29. Proverbs 16:27 : James 3:6
  30. Proverbs 16:29 : Prov 1:10; 12:26
  31. Proverbs 16:31 : Prov 20:29
  32. Proverbs 16:31 : Prov 3:1, 2
  33. Proverbs 16:33 : Prov 18:18
  34. Proverbs 16:33 : Prov 29:26

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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)

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Proverbs 16 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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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 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)

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