Proverbs Chapter Sixteen

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.