Proverbs 16

The Proverbs of Solomon

1 The a preparations 1 of the heart belong to man,
b But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own c eyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits.
3 d Commit 2 your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.
4 The e LORD has made all for Himself,
f Yes, even the wicked for the day of 3 doom.
5 g Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Though they join 4 forces, none will go unpunished.
6 h In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And i by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 j Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
9 k A man's heart plans his way,
l But the LORD directs his steps.
10 Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11 m Honest weights and scales are the LORD's;
All the weights in the bag are His 5 work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For n a throne is established by righteousness.
13 o Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14 As messengers of death is the king's wrath,
But a wise man will p appease it.
15 In the light of the king's face is life,
And his favor is like a q cloud of the latter rain.
16 r How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before 6 a fall.
19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the 7 spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever s trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of t death.
26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives u him on.
27 8 An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning v fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And w a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He 9 purses his lips and brings about evil.
31 x The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 y He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.

  1. Cross References
    Jeremiah 10:23
    O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 10:19
    But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:2
    Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 37:5
    Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
    Proverbs 3:6
    In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
    1 Peter 5:7
    Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:7
    Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.
    Romans 11:36
    For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
  6. Cross References
    Job 21:30
    For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought out on the day of wrath.
    Romans 9:22
    What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:17
    A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood.
    Proverbs 8:13
    The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
  8. Cross References
    Daniel 4:27
    Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.
    Luke 11:41
    But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.
  9. Cross References
    Proverbs 8:13
    The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
    Proverbs 14:16
    A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 37:16
    A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
    Proverbs 15:16
    Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
  11. Cross References
    Proverbs 19:21
    There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD's counsel - that will stand.
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 37:23
    The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
    Proverbs 20:24
    A man's steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?
    Jeremiah 10:23
    O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
  13. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:36
    You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
  14. Cross References
    Proverbs 25:5
    Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.
  15. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:35
    The king's favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
  16. Cross References
    Proverbs 25:15
    By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.
  17. Cross References
    Zechariah 10:1
    Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.
  18. Cross References
    Proverbs 8:10
    Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.
    Proverbs 8:11
    For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
    Proverbs 8:19
    My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 34:8
    Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
    Jeremiah 17:7
    Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
  20. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:12
    There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
  21. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 6:7
    All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied.
    John 6:35
    And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
  22. Cross References
    James 3:6
    And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
  23. Cross References
    Proverbs 17:9
    He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
  24. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:29
    The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.
  25. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:29
    He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.
    Proverbs 19:11
    The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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