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Proverbs 16

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¹ To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.

² All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

³ Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

⁴ The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.

⁵ The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

⁷ When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

⁸ Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

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

¹¹ Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

¹² Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.

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

¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.

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

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!

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

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

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,[31] and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.[32]

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

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.[33]

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

²⁵ There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

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

²⁷ A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

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

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

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor; 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 into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

#	NIV 11
1	To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2	All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3	Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
4	The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5	The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6	Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.
7	When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
8	Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
9	In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
10	The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice.
11	Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12	Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13	Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.
14	A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.
15	When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16	How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!
17	The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
18	Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
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,[31] and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.
21	The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.[32]
22	Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.
23	The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.[33]
24	Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25	There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
26	The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on.
27	A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.
28	A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
29	A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good.
30	Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31	Gray hair is a crown of splendor; 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 into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

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Proverbs 16

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