Proverbs 16

International Standard Version

² Everything a person does seems pure in his own opinion,
    but the Lord weighs intentions.

³ Entrust your work to the Lord,
    and your planning will succeed.

⁴ The Lord made everything answerable to him,
    including the wicked at the time of trouble.^[c]
5 The Lord detests those who are proud;
    truly they will not go unpunished.

⁶ Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth,
    and through fear of the Lord people^[d] turn from evil.

⁷ When a person’s ways please the Lord,
    even his enemies will be at peace with him.

⁸ A little gain^[e] with righteousness is better
    than great income without justice.

⁹ A person plans his way,
    but the Lord directs his steps.

¹⁰ When a king is ready to speak officially,^[f]
    what he says should not err with respect to justice.
¹¹ Honest scales and balances are from the Lord;
    he made all the weights in the bag.
¹² Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for through righteousness the throne is established.
¹³ Kings take pleasure in righteous speech;
    they treasure a person who speaks what is upright.
¹⁴ The king’s wrath results in a death sentence,
    but whoever is wise will appease him.
¹⁵ When a king is pleased,^[g] there is life,
    and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.

¹⁶ How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom,
    the attainment of wisdom better than silver!

¹⁷ The road of the upright circumvents evil,
    and whoever watches how he lives^[h] preserves his life.

¹⁸ Pride precedes destruction;
    an arrogant spirit appears before a fall.
¹⁹ Better to be humble among the poor,
    than to share what is stolen with the proud.

²⁰ Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers,
    and anyone who trusts in the Lord is blessed.

²¹ The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning,
    and that pleasant speech promotes instruction.
²² Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life,
    but foolishness brings punishment to fools.

²³ A wise person’s thoughts^[i] control his words,
    and his speech promotes instruction.
²⁴ Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb—
    sweet to the soul and healing for the body.^[j]

²⁶ The appetite of the laborer motivates him;
    indeed, his hunger drives him on.

²⁷ A worthless person concocts evil gossip^[l]—
    his lips are like a burning fire.

²⁸ A deceitful man stirs dissension,
    and anyone who gossips separates friends.
²⁹ A violent man entices his companion
    and leads him on a path that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks knowingly^[m] is plotting^[n] deceit;
    anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is obtained by following^[o] a righteous path.

³² Whoever controls his temper is better than a warrior,
    and anyone who has control of his spirit is better
        than someone who captures a city.

³³ The dice is cast into someone’s lap,
    but the outcome is from the Lord.