Proverbs of Solomon 16

 Proverbs of Solomon 16

1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the mouth is from the Lord.

2 All a man's ways are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.

3 Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.

4 The Lord has made all things for his own purposes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though he joins hand in hand, he will not go unpunished.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the Lord men turn from evil.

7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness than a plentiful harvest with injustice.

9 A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. 

10 Divination is found in the lips of a king; his mouth will not transgress in judgment.

11 Just weights and balances are the Lord's; all the scales of the bag are his work.

12 Kings detest wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they will love him who speaks righteousness.

14 A king's wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it.

15 In the light of a king's countenance is life, and his favor is like a cloud of spring rain.

16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And how much more to get understanding than silver!

17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; he who keeps his way preserves his soul. 

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 Whoever gives careful heed to words will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord will be blessed.

21 The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweet lips will increase instruction.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but the instruction of fools is their folly.

23 The heart of the wise instructs their mouth, and adds instruction to their lips.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the ways of death.

26 The laborer labors for himself, because his mouth entices him. 

27 A vain man devises mischief, and on his lips it is like a burning fire.

28 A perverse man stirs up strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.

30 He closes his eyes to devise wicked things; by biting his lips, he works evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of honor, when it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 A slow-tempered person is better than a mighty man, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its entire disposing is from the Lord.