Proverbs 16:4-32

English Standard Version

^4 (A)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even ^(B)the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵ Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ^(C)an abomination to the Lord;
    ^(D)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶ By ^(E)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by ^(F)the fear of the Lord one ^(G)turns away from evil.
⁷ When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(H)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
^8 (I)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
^9 (J)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(K)the Lord establishes his steps.
^10 (L)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
^11 (M)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 ^(N)the throne is established by righteousness.
^13 (O)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
^14 (P)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(Q)appease it.
^15 (R)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(S)favor is like ^(T)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
^16 (U)How much better to get wisdom than ^(V)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(W)silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright ^(X)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
^18 (Y)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
^19 (Z)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(AA)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Whoever gives thought to the word^{[a] (AB)}will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(AC)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(AD)increases persuasiveness.
²² Good sense is ^(AE)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
^23 (AF)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (AG)Gracious words are like ^(AH)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(AI)health to the body.
²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[b]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
    his ^(AJ)mouth urges him on.
^27 (AK)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[c] is like ^(AL)a scorching fire.
^28 (AM)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(AN)a whisperer ^(AO)separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(AP)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plans^{[d] (AQ)}dishonest things;
    he who ^(AR)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (AS)Gray hair is ^(AT)a crown of glory;
    it ^(AU)is gained in a righteous life.
^32 (AV)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.