16:1 The plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
16:2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the LORD examines the ①motives.
▷ ①Lit spirits
16:3 ①Commit your works to the LORD,
And your plans will be established.
▷ ①Lit Roll
16:4 The LORD has made everything for ①its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
▷ ①Or His
16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
①Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
▷ ①Lit Hand to hand, he
16:6 By mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by ①the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.
▷ ①Or reverence for
16:7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,
He causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
16:8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
16:9 The mind of a person plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
16:10 A divine verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not ①err in judgment.
▷ ①Lit be unfaithful
16:11 A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;
All the ①weights of the bag are His ②concern.
▷ ①Lit stones ②Lit work
16:12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a throne is established on righteousness.
16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And one who speaks right is loved.
16:14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death;
But a wise person will appease it.
16:15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the ①spring rain.
▷ ①Lit latter
16:16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
16:17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
One who watches his way protects his ①life.
▷ ①Lit soul
16:18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
16:19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy
Than to divide the spoils with the proud.
16:20 One who pays attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is one who trusts in the LORD.
16:21 The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of ①speech increases ②persuasiveness.
▷ ①Lit lips ②Or learning
16:22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
16:23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds ①persuasiveness to his lips.
▷ ①Or learning
16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
16:25 There is a way which seems right to a person,
But its end is the way of death.
16:26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his ①hunger urges him on.
▷ ①Lit mouth
16:27 A worthless person digs up evil,
While ①his words are like scorching fire.
▷ ①Lit on his lips
16:28 A perverse person spreads strife,
And a ①slanderer separates close friends.
▷ ①Or gossip
16:29 A person of violence entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
16:30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
16:31 A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.
16:32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
16:33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.