Proverbs 16 - New International Version (NIV)

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)

2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(B)
but motives are weighed(C) by the Lord.(D)

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.(E)

4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end(F)—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.(G)

5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(H)
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(I)

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord(J) evil is avoided.(K)

7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace(L) with them.(M)

8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain(N) with injustice.(O)

9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.(P)

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.(Q)

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.(R)

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.(S)

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.(T)

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,(U)
but the wise will appease it.(V)

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;(W)
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.(X)

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to get insight(Y) rather than silver!(Z)

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(AA)

18 Pride(AB) goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit(AC) before a fall.(AD)

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](AE)
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(AF)

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and gracious words promote instruction.[b](AG)

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(AH)
but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(AI)
and their lips promote instruction.[c](AJ)

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,(AK)
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.(AL)

25 There is a way that appears to be right,(AM)
but in the end it leads to death.(AN)

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel(AO) plots evil,
and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(AP)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(AQ)
and a gossip separates close friends.(AR)

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.(AS)

30 Whoever winks(AT) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(AU)
it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.

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

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
  3. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 16:1 : ver 9; Pr 19:21
  2. Proverbs 16:2 : S Pr 12:15; 30:12
  3. Proverbs 16:2 : S 1Sa 2:3
  4. Proverbs 16:2 : S 2Ch 6:30; Pr 20:27; 21:2; Lk 16:15
  5. Proverbs 16:3 : S 2Ch 20:20; S Ps 20:4; 37:5-6; S Pr 3:5-6
  6. Proverbs 16:4 : Ex 9:16
  7. Proverbs 16:4 : S 2Ch 34:24; S Ps 18:18; Ro 9:22
  8. Proverbs 16:5 : S Ps 40:4; S Pr 6:16
  9. Proverbs 16:5 : Pr 11:20-21
  10. Proverbs 16:6 : S Ge 20:11; S Ex 1:17
  11. Proverbs 16:6 : S Ex 20:20
  12. Proverbs 16:7 : S Ge 39:21
  13. Proverbs 16:7 : Ps 105:15; Jer 39:12; 40:1; 42:12; Da 1:9
  14. Proverbs 16:8 : S Ps 37:16
  15. Proverbs 16:8 : S Pr 15:16; 17:1; Ecc 4:6
  16. Proverbs 16:9 : S ver 1; S Job 33:29; S Ps 90:12
  17. Proverbs 16:10 : Pr 17:7
  18. Proverbs 16:11 : S Pr 11:1; Eze 45:10
  19. Proverbs 16:12 : Pr 26:28; 25:5; 29:14; 31:5
  20. Proverbs 16:13 : Pr 22:11
  21. Proverbs 16:14 : S Ge 40:2; S Job 29:24; Pr 20:2
  22. Proverbs 16:14 : Pr 25:15; 29:8; Ecc 10:4
  23. Proverbs 16:15 : S Ge 40:2; S Job 29:24
  24. Proverbs 16:15 : Pr 19:12; 25:2-7
  25. Proverbs 16:16 : Ps 49:20
  26. Proverbs 16:16 : S Job 28:15; S Pr 3:13-14
  27. Proverbs 16:17 : Pr 19:16
  28. Proverbs 16:18 : S 1Sa 17:42
  29. Proverbs 16:18 : Ps 18:27; Isa 13:11; Jer 48:29
  30. Proverbs 16:18 : S Est 5:12; Pr 11:2; S 15:33; 18:12; 29:23
  31. Proverbs 16:20 : Pr 13:13
  32. Proverbs 16:20 : S Ps 32:10; 40:4; Pr 19:8; 29:25; Jer 17:7
  33. Proverbs 16:21 : ver 23
  34. Proverbs 16:22 : S Pr 10:11
  35. Proverbs 16:23 : Job 15:5
  36. Proverbs 16:23 : ver 21
  37. Proverbs 16:24 : S 1Sa 14:27
  38. Proverbs 16:24 : Pr 24:13-14
  39. Proverbs 16:25 : S Pr 12:15
  40. Proverbs 16:25 : Est 3:6; Pr 14:12
  41. Proverbs 16:27 : S Ps 140:2
  42. Proverbs 16:27 : Jas 3:6
  43. Proverbs 16:28 : S Pr 14:17
  44. Proverbs 16:28 : Pr 17:9
  45. Proverbs 16:29 : S Pr 1:10; 12:26
  46. Proverbs 16:30 : S Pr 6:13
  47. Proverbs 16:31 : Pr 20:29
  48. Proverbs 16:33 : S Lev 16:8; S 1Sa 10:21; Eze 21:21
  49. Proverbs 16:33 : 1Sa 14:41
  50. Proverbs 16:33 : Jos 7:14; Pr 18:18; 29:26; Jnh 1:7

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