Proverbs 16:2-17:11

English Standard Version

^2 (A)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(B)weighs the spirit.^[a]
3 (C)Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
^4 (D)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even ^(E)the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵ Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ^(F)an abomination to the Lord;
    ^(G)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶ By ^(H)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by ^(I)the fear of the Lord one ^(J)turns away from evil.
⁷ When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(K)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
^8 (L)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
^9 (M)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(N)the Lord establishes his steps.
^10 (O)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
^11 (P)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹² It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for ^(Q)the throne is established by righteousness.
^13 (R)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
^14 (S)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(T)appease it.
^15 (U)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(V)favor is like ^(W)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
^16 (X)How much better to get wisdom than ^(Y)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(Z)silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright ^(AA)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
^18 (AB)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
^19 (AC)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(AD)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Whoever gives thought to the word^{[b] (AE)}will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(AF)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(AG)increases persuasiveness.
²² Good sense is ^(AH)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
^23 (AI)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (AJ)Gracious words are like ^(AK)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(AL)health to the body.
²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[c]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
    his ^(AM)mouth urges him on.
^27 (AN)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[d] is like ^(AO)a scorching fire.
^28 (AP)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(AQ)a whisperer ^(AR)separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(AS)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plans^{[e] (AT)}dishonest things;
    he who ^(AU)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (AV)Gray hair is ^(AW)a crown of glory;
    it ^(AX)is gained in a righteous life.
^32 (AY)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
^33 (AZ)The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is ^(BA)from the Lord.
17 ^(BB)Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting^[f] with strife.
² A servant who deals wisely will rule over ^(BC)a son who acts shamefully
    and ^(BD)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
^3 (BE)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    ^(BF)and the Lord tests hearts.
⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
⁵ Whoever mocks the poor ^(BG)insults his Maker;
    he who is ^(BH)glad at calamity will not go ^(BI)unpunished.
^6 (BJ)Grandchildren are ^(BK)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷ Fine speech is not ^(BL)becoming to a fool;
    still less is ^(BM)false speech to a prince.
^8 (BN)A bribe is like a magic^[g] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹ Whoever ^(BO)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter ^(BP)separates close friends.
¹⁰ A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and ^(BQ)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.