Historical
16 1 The [a]preparations of the heart are in man: but the answer of the tongue is of the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are [b]clean in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the spirits.
3 [c]Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 The Lord hath made all things for his own sake: yea, even the wicked for the day of [d]evil.
5 All that are proud in heart, are an abomination to the Lord: though (A)hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By [e]mercy and truth iniquity shall be forgiven, and by the fear of the Lord they depart from evil.
7 When the ways of a man please the Lord, he will make also his enemies at peace with him.
8 (B)Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without equity.
9 The heart of [f]man purposeth his way: but the Lord doth direct his steps.
10 A divine sentence shall be in the lips of the king: his mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
11 (C)A true weight and balance are of the Lord: and the weights of the bag are his [g]work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is stablished [h]by justice.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and the king loveth him that speaketh right things.
14 The wrath of a king is as [i]messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life: and his favor is [j]as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 (D)How much better is it to get wisdom than gold? and to get understanding, is more to be desired than silver.
17 The path of the righteous is to decline from evil, and he keepeth his soul that keepeth his way.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an high mind before the fall.
19 Better it is to be of humble mind with the lowly, than to divide the spoils with the proud.
20 He that is wise in his business, shall find good: and (E)he that trusteth in the Lord, he is blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent and [k]the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto them that have it: and the [l]instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise guideth his mouth wisely, and addeth doctrine to his lips.
24 Fair words are as an honey comb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 (F)There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the issue thereof are the ways of death.
26 The person that travaileth, travaileth for himself: for his mouth [m]craveth it of him.
27 A wicked man diggeth up evil, and in his lips is like [n]burning fire.
28 A froward person soweth strife: and a taleteller maketh division among princes.
29 A wicked man deceiveth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 [o]He shutteth his eyes to devise wickedness: he moveth his lips, and bringeth evil to pass.
31 Age is a crown of glory, when it is found in the way of [p]righteousness.
32 He that is slow unto anger, is better than the mighty man: and he that ruleth his own mind, is better than he that winneth a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposition thereof is [q]of the Lord.
17 1 Better is a dry morsel, if peace be with it, than an house full of [r]sacrifices with strife.
2 A discrete servant shall have rule over a lewd son, and he shall divide the [s]heritage among the brethren.
3 As is the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold, so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 The wicked giveth heed to false lips, and a liar hearkeneth to the naughty tongue.
5 (G)He that mocketh the poor, reproacheth him that made him: and he that rejoiceth at destruction, shall not be unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of the elders: and the glory of the children are their fathers.
7 [t]High talk becometh not a fool, much less a lying talk a prince.
8 A reward is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that have it: it prospereth, whithersoever it [u]turneth.
9 He that covereth a transgression, seeketh love: but he that repeateth a matter, separateth the [v]prince.
10 A reproof entereth more into him that hath understanding, than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 A seditious person seeketh only evil, and a cruel [w]messenger shall be sent against him.
12 It is better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than [x]a fool in his folly.
13 (H)He that rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore, or the contention be meddled with, leave off.
15 (I)He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.
16 Wherefore is there a [y]price in the hand of the fool to get wisdom, and he hath none heart?
17 A friend loveth at all times; and a [z]brother is born for adversity.
18 A man destitute of understanding, [aa]toucheth the hand, and becometh surety for his neighbor.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his [ab]gate, seeketh destruction.
20 The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughty tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 He that begetteth a fool, getteth himself sorrow, and the father of a fool can have no joy.
22 (J)A joyful heart causeth good health: but a sorrowful mind drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the [ac]bosom to wrest the ways of judgment.
24 (K)Wisdom is in the face of him that hath understanding: but the eyes of a fool are in the [ad]corners of the world.
25 A foolish son is a grief unto his father, and a (L)heaviness to her that bare him.
26 Surely it is not good to condemn the just, nor that the princes should smite such [ae]for equity.
27 He that hath knowledge, spareth his words, and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and he that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
18 1 For the desire thereof he will [af]separate himself to seek it, and occupy himself in all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding: but that his heart may be [ag]discovered.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh [ah]contempt, and with the vile man reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep [ai]waters, and the wellspring of wisdom is like a flowing river.
5 It is not good to [aj]accept the person of the wicked, to cause the righteous to fall in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips come with strife, and his mouth calleth for stripes.
7 A fool’s mouth is his own destruction, and his lips are a snare for his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as flatterings, and they go down into the [ak]bowels of the belly.
9 He also that is slothful in his work, is even the brother of him that is a great waster.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth [al]unto it, and is exalted.
11 (M)The rich man’s riches are his strong city: and as an high wall in his imagination.
12 (N)Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before glory goeth lowliness.
13 He that answereth a matter before he hear it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity: but [am]a wounded spirit, who can bear it?
15 A wise heart getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh learning.
16 A man’s gift [an]enlargeth him, and leadeth him before great men.
17 [ao]He that is first in his own cause, is just: then cometh his neighbor and maketh inquiry of him.
18 The lot [ap]causeth contentions to cease, and [aq]maketh a partition among the mighty.
19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and their contentions are like the [ar]bar of a palace.
20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied, and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that [as]love it, shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 He that findeth a [at]wife, findeth a good thing, and receiveth favor of the Lord.
23 The poor speaketh with prayers: but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man that hath friends, ought to show himself friendly: for a friend is nearer [au]than a brother.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.