Proverbs 16:9-33

New International Version

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.^(A)

¹⁰ The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.^(B)

¹¹ Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.^(C)

¹² Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.^(D)

¹³ Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.^(E)

¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,^(F)
    but the wise will appease it.^(G)

¹⁵ When a king’s face brightens, it means life;^(H)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.^(I)

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight^(J) rather than silver!^(K)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.^(L)

¹⁸ Pride^(M) goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit^(N) before a fall.^(O)

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](P)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.^(Q)

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.^[b](R)

²² Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,^(S)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^(T)
    and their lips promote instruction.^[c](U)

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,^(V)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.^(W)

²⁵ There is a way that appears to be right,^(X)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(Y)

²⁶ The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

²⁷ A scoundrel^(Z) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.^(AA)

²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict,^(AB)
    and a gossip separates close friends.^(AC)

²⁹ A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.^(AD)

³⁰ Whoever winks^(AE) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;^(AF)
    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.

³³ The lot is cast^(AG) into the lap,
    but its every decision^(AH) is from the Lord.^(AI)