Proverbs 16:19-33

New American Standard Bible

¹⁹ It is better to be ^(A)humble in spirit with the needy
Than to ^(B)divide the spoils with the proud.
²⁰ One who pays attention to the word will ^(C)find good,
And ^(D)blessed is one who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The ^(E)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of ^[a]speech ^(F)increases ^[b]persuasiveness.
²² Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
²³ The ^(G)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds ^[c]persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (H)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and ^(I)healing to the bones.
^25 (J)There is a way which seems right to a person,
But its end is the way of death.
²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his ^[d]hunger urges him on.
²⁷ A ^(K)worthless person digs up evil,
While ^[e]his words are like ^(L)scorching fire.
²⁸ A perverse person spreads strife,
And a ^[f]slanderer separates close friends.
²⁹ A person of violence ^(M)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
³¹ A ^(N)gray head is a crown of glory;
It ^(O)is found in the way of righteousness.
³² One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
³³ The ^(P)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every ^(Q)decision is from the Lord.