Proverbs 16; Proverbs 17; Proverbs 18

Proverbs 16

1 The reflections of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 All a man's ways seem right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the motives.

3 Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved.

4 The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose- even the wicked for the day of disaster.

5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6 Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.

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

8 Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

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

10 God's verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth should not err in judgment.

11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are His concern.

12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are a king's delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly.

14 A king's fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it.

15 When a king's face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

16 Acquire wisdom- how much better it is than gold! And acquire understanding- it is preferable to silver.

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.

18 Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.

20 The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning.

22 Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but folly is the instruction of fools.

23 A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.

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

26 A worker's appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on.

27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates friends.

29 A violent man lures his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good.

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 Patience is better than power, and controlling one's temper, than capturing a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers.

3 A crucible is for silver and a smelter for gold, but the Lord is a tester of hearts.

4 A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers.

7 Excessive speech is not appropriate on a fool's lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler.

8 A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.

10 A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness.

13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house.

14 To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just- both are detestable to the Lord.

16 Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.

18 One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend.

19 One who loves to offend loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.

21 A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man secretly takes a bribe to subvert the course of justice.

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes roam to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.

26 It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person, or to beat a noble for his honesty.

27 The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning, when he seals his lips.

Proverbs 18

1 One who isolates himself pursues [selfish] desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.

2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.

3 When a wicked man comes, shame does also, and along with dishonor, disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.

5 It is not good to show partiality to the guilty by perverting the justice due the innocent.

6 A fool's lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.

7 A fool's mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life.

8 A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being.

9 The one who is truly lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.

11 A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.

12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but before honor comes humility.

13 The one who gives an answer before he listens- this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

14 A man's spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?

15 The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it.

16 A gift opens doors for a man and brings him before the great.

17 The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

18 [Casting] the lot ends quarrels and separates powerful opponents.

19 An offended brother is [harder to reach] than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

20 From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips.

21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor man pleads, but the rich one answers roughly.

24 A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.