Proverbs 16

1 To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
4 The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.
7 When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice.
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12 Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.
15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
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]and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.
21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.[b]
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.
23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.[c]
24 Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
26 The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on.
27 A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good.
30 Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; 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 into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Images for Proverbs 16

Cross References 50

  • 1. ver 9; Proverbs 19:21
  • 2. S Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 30:12
  • 3. S 1 Samuel 2:3
  • 4. S 2 Chronicles 6:30; Proverbs 20:27; Proverbs 21:2; Luke 16:15
  • 5. S 2 Chronicles 20:20; S Psalms 20:4; Psalms 37:5-6; S Proverbs 3:5-6
  • 6. Exodus 9:16; Isaiah 43:7
  • 7. S 2 Chronicles 34:24; S Psalms 18:18; Romans 9:22
  • 8. S Psalms 40:4; S Proverbs 6:16
  • 9. Proverbs 11:20-21
  • 10. S Genesis 20:11; S Exodus 1:17
  • 11. S Exodus 20:20; Proverbs 14:16
  • 12. S Genesis 39:21
  • 13. Psalms 105:15; Jeremiah 39:12; Jeremiah 40:1; Jeremiah 42:12; Daniel 1:9
  • 14. S Psalms 37:16
  • 15. S Proverbs 15:16; Proverbs 17:1; Ecclesiastes 4:6
  • 16. S ver 1; S Job 33:29; S Psalms 90:12; Jeremiah 10:23
  • 17. Proverbs 17:7
  • 18. S Proverbs 11:1; Ezekiel 45:10
  • 19. Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 25:5; Proverbs 29:14; Proverbs 31:5
  • 20. Proverbs 22:11; Proverbs 14:35
  • 21. S Genesis 40:2; S Job 29:24; Proverbs 20:2; Proverbs 19:12
  • 22. Proverbs 25:15; Proverbs 29:8; Ecclesiastes 10:4
  • 23. S Genesis 40:2; S Job 29:24
  • 24. Proverbs 19:12; Proverbs 25:2-7
  • 25. Psalms 49:20
  • 26. S Job 28:15; S Proverbs 3:13-14; Proverbs 8:10,19
  • 27. Proverbs 19:16
  • 28. S 1 Samuel 17:42
  • 29. Psalms 18:27; Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 48:29
  • 30. S Esther 5:12; Proverbs 11:2; S Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 18:12; Proverbs 29:23
  • 31. Proverbs 13:13
  • 32. S Psalms 32:10; Psalms 40:4; Psalms 2:12; Psalms 34:8; Proverbs 19:8; Proverbs 29:25; Jeremiah 17:7
  • 33. ver 23
  • 34. S Proverbs 10:11; Proverbs 13:14
  • 35. Job 15:5
  • 36. ver 21
  • 37. S 1 Samuel 14:27
  • 38. Proverbs 24:13-14
  • 39. S Proverbs 12:15
  • 40. Esther 3:6; Proverbs 14:12
  • 41. S Psalms 140:2
  • 42. James 3:6
  • 43. S Proverbs 14:17; Proverbs 15:18
  • 44. Proverbs 17:9
  • 45. S Proverbs 1:10; Proverbs 12:26
  • 46. S Proverbs 6:13
  • 47. Proverbs 20:29
  • 48. S Leviticus 16:8; S 1 Samuel 10:21; Ezekiel 21:21
  • 49. 1 Samuel 14:41
  • 50. Joshua 7:14; Proverbs 18:18; Proverbs 29:26; John 1:7

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or "whoever speaks prudently finds what is good"
  • [b]. Or "words make a person persuasive"
  • [c]. Or "prudent" / "and make their lips persuasive"

Proverbs 16 Commentaries

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