Proverbs Monthly
16 The intentions of the heart[a] belong to a man,
but the answer of the tongue[b] comes from[c] the Lord.[d]
2 All a person’s ways[e] seem right[f] in his own opinion,[g]
but the Lord evaluates[h] the motives.[i]
3 Commit[j] your works[k] to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.[l]
4 The Lord has worked[m] everything for his own ends[n]—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.[o]
5 The Lord abhors[p] every arrogant person;[q]
rest assured[r] that they will not go unpunished.[s]
6 Through loyal love and truth[t] iniquity is appeased;[u]
through fearing the Lord[v] one avoids[w] evil.[x]
7 When a person’s[y] ways are pleasing to the Lord,[z]
he[aa] even reconciles his enemies to himself.[ab]
8 Better to have a little with righteousness[ac]
than to have abundant income without justice.[ad]
9 A person[ae] plans his course,[af]
but the Lord directs[ag] his steps.[ah]
10 The divine verdict[ai] is in the words[aj] of the king,
his pronouncements[ak] must not act treacherously[al] against justice.
11 Honest scales and balances[am] are from the Lord;
all the weights[an] in the bag are his handiwork.
12 Doing wickedness[ao] is an abomination to kings,
because a throne[ap] is established in righteousness.
13 The delight of a king[aq] is righteous counsel,[ar]
and he will love the one who speaks[as] uprightly.[at]
14 A king’s wrath[au] is like[av] a messenger of death,[aw]
but a wise person appeases it.[ax]
15 In the light of the king’s face[ay] there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds[az] of the spring rain.[ba]
16 How much better it is to acquire[bb] wisdom than gold;
to acquire understanding is more desirable[bc] than silver.
17 The highway[bd] of the upright is to turn away[be] from evil;
the one who guards[bf] his way safeguards his life.[bg]
18 Pride[bh] goes[bi] before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.[bj]
19 It is better to be lowly in spirit[bk] with the afflicted
than to share the spoils[bl] with the proud.
20 The one who deals wisely[bm] in a matter[bn] will find success,[bo]
and blessed[bp] is the one who trusts in the Lord.[bq]
21 The one who is wise in heart[br] is called[bs] discerning,
and kind speech[bt] increases persuasiveness.[bu]
22 Insight[bv] is like[bw] a life-giving fountain[bx] to the one who possesses it,
but folly leads to the discipline of fools.[by]
23 A wise person’s heart[bz] makes his speech wise[ca]
and it adds persuasiveness[cb] to his words.[cc]
24 Pleasant words are like[cd] a honeycomb,[ce]
sweet to the soul and healing[cf] to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a person,[cg]
but its end is the way that leads to death.[ch]
26 A laborer’s[ci] appetite[cj] has labored for him,
for his hunger[ck] has pressed[cl] him to work.[cm]
27 A wicked scoundrel[cn] digs up[co] evil,
and his slander[cp] is like a scorching fire.[cq]
28 A perverse person[cr] spreads dissension,
and a gossip separates the closest friends.[cs]
29 A violent person[ct] entices[cu] his neighbor,
and then leads him down a path that is terrible.[cv]
30 The one who winks[cw] his eyes[cx] devises[cy] perverse things,
and[cz] one who compresses his lips[da] has accomplished[db] evil.
31 Gray hair is like[dc] a crown of glory;[dd]
it is attained[de] in the path of righteousness.[df]
32 Better to be slow to anger[dg] than to be a mighty warrior,
and one who controls his temper[dh] is better than[di] one who captures a city.[dj]
33 The dice are thrown into the lap,[dk]
but their every decision[dl] is from the Lord.[dm]
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