Proverbs 16 ESV | WeDevote Bible

1The plans of the heart belong to man,

but 16:1 [Matt. 10:19, 20]the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

216:2 ch. 21:2; [ch. 12:15]; See ch. 30:12All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord16:2 ch. 24:12; See 1 Sam. 16:7weighs the spirit.16:2 Or spirits

316:3 See Ps. 37:5Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

416:4 Rom. 11:36The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even 16:4 Job 21:30; [Ex. 9:16]the wicked for the day of trouble.

5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is 16:5 ch. 6:16, 17; 8:13; Luke 16:15an abomination to the Lord;

16:5 ch. 11:21; [ch. 28:20]be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6By 16:6 Dan. 4:27steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by 16:6 ch. 14:16the fear of the Lord one 16:6 ver. 17; Job 28:28turns away from evil.

7When a man’s ways please the Lord,

16:7 [Gen. 26:28; 2 Chr. 17:10]he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

816:8 See ch. 15:16Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues with injustice.

916:9 [ver. 1; ch. 19:21] The heart of man plans his way,

but 16:9 ch. 20:24; [Ps. 37:23; Jer. 10:23]the Lord establishes his steps.

1016:10 [1 Kgs. 3:28]An oracle is on the lips of a king;

his mouth does not sin in judgment.

1116:11 See ch. 11:1A just balance and scales are the Lord’s;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

12It is an abomination to kings to do evil,

for 16:12 ch. 25:5; [ch. 20:28; 29:14; Isa. 16:5]the throne is established by righteousness.

1316:13 [ch. 14:35; 22:11]Righteous lips are the delight of a king,

and he loves him who speaks what is right.

1416:14 ch. 19:12; 20:2A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,

and a wise man will 16:14 [ch. 25:15]appease it.

1516:15 [Job 29:24] In the light of a king’s face there is life,

and his 16:15 [See ver. 13above] favor is like 16:15 [Ps. 72:6]; See Job 29:23the clouds that bring the spring rain.

1616:16 ch. 8:10, 11, 19How much better to get wisdom than 16:16 See ch. 3:14gold!

To get understanding is to be chosen rather than 16:16 ch. 10:20silver.

17The highway of the upright 16:17 ver. 6turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.

1816:18 See ch. 11:2Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

1916:19 ch. 29:23; Isa. 57:15It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor

than to 16:19 See Ex. 15:9divide the spoil with the proud.

20Whoever gives thought to the word16:20 Or to a matter16:20 ch. 19:8will discover good,

and blessed is he 16:20 See Ps. 2:12who trusts in the Lord.

21The wise of heart is called discerning,

and sweetness of speech 16:21 ver. 23increases persuasiveness.

22Good sense is 16:22 See ch. 10:11a fountain of life to him who has it,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

2316:23 [Ps. 37:30; Matt. 12:34]The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

2416:24 ch. 15:26Gracious words are like 16:24 Ps. 19:10a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and 16:24 See ch. 4:22health to the body.

25There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.16:25 Hebrew ways of death

26A worker’s appetite works for him;

his 16:26 [Eccles. 6:7]mouth urges him on.

2716:27 [ch. 6:12, 14, 19] A worthless man plots evil,

and his speech16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips is like 16:27 James 3:6a scorching fire.

2816:28 See ch. 15:18A dishonest man spreads strife,

and 16:28 [ch. 18:8; 26:20, 22] a whisperer 16:28 ch. 17:9separates close friends.

29A man of violence 16:29 ch. 1:10entices his neighbor

and leads him in a way that is not good.

30Whoever winks his eyes plans16:30 Hebrew to plan16:30 See ch. 2:12dishonest things;

he who 16:30 [ch. 6:13]purses his lips brings evil to pass.

3116:31 ch. 20:29Gray hair is 16:31 ch. 17:6a crown of glory;

it 16:31 See ch. 3:1, 2is gained in a righteous life.

3216:32 ch. 14:29; [ch. 19:11; 25:28]Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

3316:33 [Acts 1:26] The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is 16:33 ch. 29:26from the Lord.

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