Proverbs 16 (New American Standard)

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 The ¹plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the ²LORD weighs the ^amotives. 3 ^b3Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established. 4 The LORD ⁴has made everything for ^cits own purpose, Even the ⁵wicked for the day of evil. 5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD ; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. 6 By ⁶lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the ^d7fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil. 7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He ⁸makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice . 9 The mind of ⁹man plans his way, But ¹⁰the LORD directs his steps. 10 A divine ¹¹decision is in the lips of the king ; His mouth should not ^eerr in judgment. 11 A ¹²just balance and scales belong to the LORD ; All the ^fweights of the bag are His ^gconcern. 12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a ¹³throne is established on righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And he who speaks right is loved. 14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it. 15 In the light of a king's face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the ^h14spring rain. 16 How much ¹⁵better it is to get wisdom than gold ! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. 17 The ¹⁶highway of the upright is to depart from evil ; He who watches his way preserves his ⁱlife. 18 ¹⁷Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. 19 It is better to be ¹⁸humble in spirit with the lowly Than to ¹⁹divide the spoil with the proud. 20 He who gives attention to the word will ²⁰find good, And ²¹blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. 21 The ²²wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of ^jspeech ²³increases ^kpersuasiveness. 22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly. 23 The ²⁴heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds ^lpersuasiveness to his lips. 24 ²⁵Pleasant words are a honeycomb , Sweet to the soul and ²⁶healing to the bones. 25 ²⁷There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 26 A worker's appetite works for him, For his ^mhunger urges him on. 27 A ²⁸worthless man digs up evil, While ⁿhis words are like ²⁹scorching fire. 28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends. 29 A man of violence ³⁰entices 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 ³¹gray head is a crown of glory ; It ³²is found in the way of righteousness. 32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. 33 The ³³lot is cast into the lap, But its every ³⁴decision is from the LORD.