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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
- Proverbs 16:21 Or learning
- Proverbs 16:23 Or learning
- Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips
- Proverbs 16:28 Or gossip
Proverbs 16:19-33
New International Version
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](A)
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(B)
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(D)
but folly brings punishment to fools.
26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.(O)
30 Whoever winks(P) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(Q)
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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
- Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
- Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
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