Proverbs 16

21st Century King James Version

16 The preparation of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

² All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weigheth his spirit.

³ Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

⁴ The Lord hath made all things for Himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

⁵ Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though they join hands, they shall not go unpunished.

⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

⁷ When man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without righteousness.

⁹ A man’s heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps.

¹⁰ A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

¹¹ A just weight and balance are the Lord’S; all the weights of the bag are His work.

¹² It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.

¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaketh right.

¹⁴ The wrath of a king is as a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵ In the light of the king’s countenance there is life, and his favor is as a cloud of latter rain.

¹⁶ How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver!

¹⁷ The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

¹⁸ Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

²⁰ He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good, and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

²¹ The wise in heart shall be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

²² Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

²³ The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

²⁴ Pleasant words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

²⁵ There are ways which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

²⁶ He that laboreth, laboreth for himself, for his mouth craveth it of him.

²⁷ A froward man diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is a burning fire.

²⁸ A froward man soweth strife, and a whisperer separateth closest friends.

²⁹ A violent man enticeth his neighbor and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

³⁰ He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things; moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

³¹ The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

³² He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.