Proverbs 16

1The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.

1The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

1It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.

2All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.

2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

2All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.

3Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.

3Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

3Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.

4The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.

4The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

4The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.

5Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.

5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

5Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice: and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.

6By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.

6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

6By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed; and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

7When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.

7When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

7When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.

8Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.

8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

8Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

9A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.

9A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

9The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.

10Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.

10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

10Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.

11True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

11A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.

11Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.

12Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.

12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

12They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.

13Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.

13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

13Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.

14The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.

14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.

15In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.

15In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

15In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.

16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.

16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

16Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

17The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.

17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

17The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.

18Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.

18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

18Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.

19Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.

19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

19It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

20He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.

20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

20The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.

21The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.

21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words, shall attain to greater things.

22Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.

22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

22Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

23The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.

23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

23The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.

24Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.

24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

24Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.

25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

25There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.

26The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.

26He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

26The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.

27A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.

27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

27The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

28A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.

28A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

28A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.

29A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.

29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

29An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.

30He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.

30He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

30He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth evil to pass.

31The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.

31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

31Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

32He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.

32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

32The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh cities.

33A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.

33The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

33Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.