Proverbs 16; Proverbs 17; Proverbs 18

Proverbs 16

1 To people belong the plans of the heart, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.

2 All the ways of people are pure in their eyes, but the LORD tests the motives.

3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.

4 The LORD made everything for a purpose, even the wicked for an evil day.

5 The LORD detests all who are arrogant; they surely won't go unpunished.

6 Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt; the fear of the LORD turns away evil.

7 When people draw favor from the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.

8 Better a little with righteousness than great profits without justice.

9 People plan their path, but the LORD secures their steps.

10 A king's speech is like an oracle; in a judgment, one can't go against his words.

11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his doing.

12 Kings detest wicked deeds, for their thrones are founded on righteousness.

13 Kings favor those with righteous lips; they love words of integrity.

14 The king's anger is a messenger of death; the wise will calm him.

15 There's life in the light of the king's face. His favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.

16 Acquiring wisdom is much better than gold, and acquiring understanding is better than silver.

17 The road of those who do right turns away from evil; those who protect their path guard their lives.

18 Pride comes before disaster, and arrogance before a fall.

19 Better to be humble with the needy than to divide plunder with the proud.

20 Those with insight find prosperity; those who trust the LORD are blessed.

21 The skilled mind is called discerning, and pleasant speech enhances teaching.

22 One who has insight is a fountain of life, but the instruction of the foolish is folly.

23 The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful and enhances the teaching of their lips.

24 Pleasant words are flowing honey, sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.

25 There is a path that may seem straight to someone, but in the end it is the path of death.

26 The appetite of workers labors for them, for their hunger presses them on.

27 Worthless people dig up trouble; their lips are like a scorching fire.

28 Destructive people produce conflict; gossips alienate close friends.

29 Violent people entice their neighbors and walk them down a path that isn't good.

30 Those who wink their eye plot destruction; those who purse their lips plan evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is found on the path of righteousness.

32 Better to be patient than a warrior, and better to have self-control than to capture a city.

33 The dice are cast into the lap; all decisions are from the LORD.

Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry crust with quiet than a house full of feasting with quarrels.

2 An insightful servant rules over a disgraceful son and will divide an inheritance with the brothers.

3 A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.

4 An evildoer pays attention to guilty lips; a liar listens to a destructive tongue.

5 Those who mock the poor insult their maker; those who rejoice in disaster won't go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.

7 Too much talking isn't right for a fool; even less so false speech for an honorable person.

8 A bribe seems magical in the eyes of those who give it, granting success to all who use it.

9 One who seeks love conceals an offense, but one who repeats it divides friends.

10 A rebuke goes deeper to an understanding person than a hundred lashes to a fool.

11 Evil people seek only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against them.

12 Safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than fools in their folly.

13 Evil will never depart from the house of those who return evil for good.

14 The start of a quarrel is like letting out water, so drop the dispute before it breaks out.

15 Judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous— the LORD detests both of these.

16 Why should a fool have money to pay for wisdom? He has no mind.

17 Friends love all the time, and kinsfolk are born for times of trouble.

18 One with no sense shakes hands on a deal, securing a loan for a friend.

19 Those who love an offense love a quarrel; those who build a high doorway invite a collapse.

20 Those with crooked hearts won't prosper, and those with twisted tongues will fall into trouble.

21 Having a fool for a son brings grief; there's no joy for a scoundrel's father.

22 A joyful heart helps healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked take secret bribes to twist the way of justice.

24 Wisdom is right in front of those with understanding, but the eyes of fools are off to the edges of the earth.

25 A foolish son is irritating to his father and bitter to her who gave birth to him.

26 It isn't good to punish the righteous, to strike the honorable for their integrity.

27 Wise are those who restrain their talking; people with understanding are coolheaded.

28 Fools who keep quiet are deemed wise; those who shut their lips are smart.

Proverbs 18

1 Unfriendly people look out for themselves; they bicker with sensible people.

2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing their opinion.

3 When the wicked arrive, so does contempt; with shame comes insult.

4 The words of a person's mouth are deep waters, a bubbling stream, a fountain of wisdom.

5 Favoring the wicked isn't good; it denies justice to the righteous.

6 The lips of fools make accusations; their mouths elicit beatings.

7 The mouth of fools is their ruin; their lips are a trap for their lives.

8 The words of gossips are like choice snacks; they go down to the inmost parts.

9 Those who are lazy in their work are brothers to thugs.

10 The LORD's name is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and find refuge.

11 The riches of the wealthy are a strong city and like a high wall in their imagination.

12 Pride comes before a disaster, but humility comes before respect.

13 Those who answer before they listen are foolish and disgraceful.

14 The human spirit sustains a sick person, but who can bear a broken spirit?

15 An understanding mind gains knowledge; the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A gift opens the way for access to important people.

17 The first person to testify seems innocent, until the other comes and cross-examines him.

18 The dice settle conflicts and keep strong opponents apart.

19 An offended ally is more formidable than a city; such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

20 The stomach is satisfied by the fruit of the mouth; one's lips can earn a satisfying income.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good, gaining favor from the LORD.

23 The poor plead for help, but the wealthy answer harshly.

24 There are persons for companionship, but then there are friends who are more loyal than family.