Proverbs 16 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
[2] All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes,
but Yahweh weighs the motives.
[3] Commit your deeds to Yahweh,
and your plans shall succeed.
[4] Yahweh has made everything for its own end—
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
[5] Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;
they shall certainly not be unpunished.
[6] By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.
By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
[7] When a man’s ways please Yahweh,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
[8] Better is a little with righteousness,
than great revenues with injustice.
[9] A man’s heart plans his course,
but Yahweh directs his steps.
[10] Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king.
He shall not betray his mouth.
[11] Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
[12] It is an abomination for kings to do wrong,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
[13] Righteous lips are the delight of kings.
They value one who speaks the truth.
[14] The king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will pacify it.
[15] In the light of the king’s face is life.
His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
[16] How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
[17] The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
[18] Pride goes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
[19] It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,
than to divide the plunder with the proud.
[20] He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.
Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
[21] The wise in heart shall be called prudent.
Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
[22] Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but the punishment of fools is their folly.
[23] The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
[24] Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
[25] There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
[26] The appetite of the laboring man labors for him,
for his mouth urges him on.
[27] A worthless man devises mischief.
His speech is like a scorching fire.
[28] A perverse man stirs up strife.
A whisperer separates close friends.
[29] A man of violence entices his neighbor,
and leads him in a way that is not good.
[30] One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,
one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
[31] Gray hair is a crown of glory.
It is attained by a life of righteousness.
[32] One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
[33] The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from Yahweh.
but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
[2] All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes,
but Yahweh weighs the motives.
[3] Commit your deeds to Yahweh,
and your plans shall succeed.
[4] Yahweh has made everything for its own end—
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
[5] Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;
they shall certainly not be unpunished.
[6] By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.
By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
[7] When a man’s ways please Yahweh,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
[8] Better is a little with righteousness,
than great revenues with injustice.
[9] A man’s heart plans his course,
but Yahweh directs his steps.
[10] Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king.
He shall not betray his mouth.
[11] Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
[12] It is an abomination for kings to do wrong,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
[13] Righteous lips are the delight of kings.
They value one who speaks the truth.
[14] The king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will pacify it.
[15] In the light of the king’s face is life.
His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
[16] How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
[17] The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
[18] Pride goes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
[19] It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,
than to divide the plunder with the proud.
[20] He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.
Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
[21] The wise in heart shall be called prudent.
Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
[22] Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but the punishment of fools is their folly.
[23] The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
[24] Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
[25] There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
[26] The appetite of the laboring man labors for him,
for his mouth urges him on.
[27] A worthless man devises mischief.
His speech is like a scorching fire.
[28] A perverse man stirs up strife.
A whisperer separates close friends.
[29] A man of violence entices his neighbor,
and leads him in a way that is not good.
[30] One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,
one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
[31] Gray hair is a crown of glory.
It is attained by a life of righteousness.
[32] One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
[33] The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from Yahweh.
King James Version
[1] The preparations H4633§ of the heart H3820 in man, H120
And the answer H4617 of the tongue, H3956 is from the Lord. H3068
[2] All the ways H1870 of a man H376 are clean H2134 in his own eyes; H5869
But the Lord H3068 weigheth H8505 (QalActPtc) the spirits. H7307
[3] Commit H1556 (QalImpv)§ thy works H4639 unto the Lord, H3068
And thy thoughts H4284 shall be established. H3559 (NiphImpf)
[4] The Lord H3068 hath made H6466 (QalPerf) all things for himself: H4617
Yea, even the wicked H7563 for the day H3117 of evil. H7451
[5] Every one that is proud H1362 in heart H3820 is an abomination H8441 to the Lord: H3068
Though hand H3027 join in hand, H3027 he shall not be unpunished. H5352 (NiphImpf)§
[6] By mercy H2617 and truth H571 iniquity H5771 is purged: H3722 (PualImpf)
And by the fear H3374 of the Lord H3068 men depart H5493 (QalInf) from evil. H7451
[7] When a man’s H376 ways H1870 please H7521 (QalInf) the Lord, H3068
He maketh even his enemies H341 (QalActPtc) to be at peace H7999 (HiphImpf) with him.
[8] Better H2896 is a little H4592 with righteousness H6666
Than great H7230 revenues H8393 without right. H4941
[9] A man’s H120 heart H3820 deviseth H2803 (PielImpf) his way: H1870
But the Lord H3068 directeth H3559 (HiphImpf) his steps. H6806
[10] A divine§ sentence H7081 is in the lips H8193 of the king: H4428
His mouth H6310 transgresseth H4603 (QalImpf) not in judgment. H4941
[11] A just H4941 weight H6425 and balance H3976 are the Lord’s: H3068
All the weights H68§ of the bag H3599 are his work. H4639
[12] It is an abomination H8441 to kings H4428 to commit H6213 (QalInf) wickedness: H7562
For the throne H3678 is established H3559 (NiphImpf) by righteousness. H6666
[13] Righteous H6664 lips H8193 are the delight H7522 of kings; H4428
And they love H157 (QalImpf) him that speaketh H1696 (QalActPtc) right. H3477
[14] The wrath H2534 of a king H4428 is as messengers H4397 of death: H4194
But a wise H2450 man H376 will pacify H3722 (PielImpf) it.
[15] In the light H216 of the king’s H4428 countenance H6440 is life; H2416
And his favour H7522 is as a cloud H5645 of the latter rain. H4456
[16] How much better H2896 is it to get H7069 (QalInf) wisdom H2451 than gold! H2742
And to get H7069 (QalInf) understanding H998 rather to be chosen H977 (NiphPtc) than silver! H3701
[17] The highway H4546 of the upright H3477 is to depart H5493 (QalInf) from evil: H7451
He that keepeth H5341 (QalActPtc) his way H1870 preserveth H8104 (QalActPtc) his soul. H5315
[18] Pride H1347 goeth before H6440 destruction, H7667
And an haughty H1363 spirit H7307 before H6440 a fall. H3783
[19] Better H2896 it is to be of an humble H8217 spirit H7307 with the lowly, H6035 (Qere)
Than to divide H2505 (PielInf) the spoil H7998 with the proud. H1343
[20] He that handleth a matter H1697§ wisely H7919 (HiphPtc) shall find H4672 (QalImpf) good: H2896
And whoso trusteth H982 (QalActPtc) in the Lord, H3068 happy H835 is he.
[21] The wise H2450 in heart H3820 shall be called H7121 (NiphImpf) prudent: H995 (NiphPtc)
And the sweetness H4986 of the lips H8193 increaseth H3254 (HiphImpf) learning. H3948
[22] Understanding H7922 is a wellspring H4726 of life H2416 unto him that hath H1167 it:
But the instruction H4148 of fools H191 is folly. H200
[23] The heart H3820 of the wise H2450 teacheth H7919 (HiphImpf)§ his mouth, H6310
And addeth H3254 (HiphImpf) learning H3948 to his lips. H8193
[24] Pleasant H5278 words H561 are as an honeycomb, H6688
Sweet H4966 to the soul, H5315 and health H4832 to the bones. H6106
[25] There is H3426 a way H1870 that seemeth right H3477 unto H6440 a man, H376
But the end H319 thereof are the ways H1870 of death. H4194
[26] He H5315 that laboureth H6001§ laboureth H5998 (QalPerf) for himself;
For his mouth H6310 craveth H404 (QalPerf) it of him.§
[27] An ungodly H1100 man H376§ diggeth up H3738 (QalActPtc) evil: H7451
And in his lips H8193 there is as a burning H6867 fire. H784
[28] A froward H8419 man H376 soweth H7971 (PielImpf)§ strife: H4066
And a whisperer H5372 separateth H6504 (HiphPtc) chief friends. H441
[29] A violent H2555 man H376 enticeth H6601 (PielImpf) his neighbour, H7453
And leadeth H3212 (HiphPerf) him into the way H1870 that is not good. H2896
[30] He shutteth H6095 (QalActPtc) his eyes H5869 to devise H2803 (QalInf) froward things: H8419
Moving H7169 (QalActPtc) his lips H8193 he bringeth H3615 evil H7451 to pass. H3615 (PielPerf)
[31] The hoary head H7872 is a crown H5850 of glory, H8597
If it be found H4672 (NiphImpf) in the way H1870 of righteousness. H6666
[32] He that is slow H750 to anger H639 is better H2896 than the mighty; H1368
And he that ruleth H4910 (QalActPtc) his spirit H7307 than he that taketh H3920 (QalActPtc) a city. H5892
[33] The lot H1486 is cast H2904 (HophImpf) into the lap; H2436
But the whole disposing H4941 thereof is of the Lord. H3068
And the answer H4617 of the tongue, H3956 is from the Lord. H3068
[2] All the ways H1870 of a man H376 are clean H2134 in his own eyes; H5869
But the Lord H3068 weigheth H8505 (QalActPtc) the spirits. H7307
[3] Commit H1556 (QalImpv)§ thy works H4639 unto the Lord, H3068
And thy thoughts H4284 shall be established. H3559 (NiphImpf)
[4] The Lord H3068 hath made H6466 (QalPerf) all things for himself: H4617
Yea, even the wicked H7563 for the day H3117 of evil. H7451
[5] Every one that is proud H1362 in heart H3820 is an abomination H8441 to the Lord: H3068
Though hand H3027 join in hand, H3027 he shall not be unpunished. H5352 (NiphImpf)§
[6] By mercy H2617 and truth H571 iniquity H5771 is purged: H3722 (PualImpf)
And by the fear H3374 of the Lord H3068 men depart H5493 (QalInf) from evil. H7451
[7] When a man’s H376 ways H1870 please H7521 (QalInf) the Lord, H3068
He maketh even his enemies H341 (QalActPtc) to be at peace H7999 (HiphImpf) with him.
[8] Better H2896 is a little H4592 with righteousness H6666
Than great H7230 revenues H8393 without right. H4941
[9] A man’s H120 heart H3820 deviseth H2803 (PielImpf) his way: H1870
But the Lord H3068 directeth H3559 (HiphImpf) his steps. H6806
[10] A divine§ sentence H7081 is in the lips H8193 of the king: H4428
His mouth H6310 transgresseth H4603 (QalImpf) not in judgment. H4941
[11] A just H4941 weight H6425 and balance H3976 are the Lord’s: H3068
All the weights H68§ of the bag H3599 are his work. H4639
[12] It is an abomination H8441 to kings H4428 to commit H6213 (QalInf) wickedness: H7562
For the throne H3678 is established H3559 (NiphImpf) by righteousness. H6666
[13] Righteous H6664 lips H8193 are the delight H7522 of kings; H4428
And they love H157 (QalImpf) him that speaketh H1696 (QalActPtc) right. H3477
[14] The wrath H2534 of a king H4428 is as messengers H4397 of death: H4194
But a wise H2450 man H376 will pacify H3722 (PielImpf) it.
[15] In the light H216 of the king’s H4428 countenance H6440 is life; H2416
And his favour H7522 is as a cloud H5645 of the latter rain. H4456
[16] How much better H2896 is it to get H7069 (QalInf) wisdom H2451 than gold! H2742
And to get H7069 (QalInf) understanding H998 rather to be chosen H977 (NiphPtc) than silver! H3701
[17] The highway H4546 of the upright H3477 is to depart H5493 (QalInf) from evil: H7451
He that keepeth H5341 (QalActPtc) his way H1870 preserveth H8104 (QalActPtc) his soul. H5315
[18] Pride H1347 goeth before H6440 destruction, H7667
And an haughty H1363 spirit H7307 before H6440 a fall. H3783
[19] Better H2896 it is to be of an humble H8217 spirit H7307 with the lowly, H6035 (Qere)
Than to divide H2505 (PielInf) the spoil H7998 with the proud. H1343
[20] He that handleth a matter H1697§ wisely H7919 (HiphPtc) shall find H4672 (QalImpf) good: H2896
And whoso trusteth H982 (QalActPtc) in the Lord, H3068 happy H835 is he.
[21] The wise H2450 in heart H3820 shall be called H7121 (NiphImpf) prudent: H995 (NiphPtc)
And the sweetness H4986 of the lips H8193 increaseth H3254 (HiphImpf) learning. H3948
[22] Understanding H7922 is a wellspring H4726 of life H2416 unto him that hath H1167 it:
But the instruction H4148 of fools H191 is folly. H200
[23] The heart H3820 of the wise H2450 teacheth H7919 (HiphImpf)§ his mouth, H6310
And addeth H3254 (HiphImpf) learning H3948 to his lips. H8193
[24] Pleasant H5278 words H561 are as an honeycomb, H6688
Sweet H4966 to the soul, H5315 and health H4832 to the bones. H6106
[25] There is H3426 a way H1870 that seemeth right H3477 unto H6440 a man, H376
But the end H319 thereof are the ways H1870 of death. H4194
[26] He H5315 that laboureth H6001§ laboureth H5998 (QalPerf) for himself;
For his mouth H6310 craveth H404 (QalPerf) it of him.§
[27] An ungodly H1100 man H376§ diggeth up H3738 (QalActPtc) evil: H7451
And in his lips H8193 there is as a burning H6867 fire. H784
[28] A froward H8419 man H376 soweth H7971 (PielImpf)§ strife: H4066
And a whisperer H5372 separateth H6504 (HiphPtc) chief friends. H441
[29] A violent H2555 man H376 enticeth H6601 (PielImpf) his neighbour, H7453
And leadeth H3212 (HiphPerf) him into the way H1870 that is not good. H2896
[30] He shutteth H6095 (QalActPtc) his eyes H5869 to devise H2803 (QalInf) froward things: H8419
Moving H7169 (QalActPtc) his lips H8193 he bringeth H3615 evil H7451 to pass. H3615 (PielPerf)
[31] The hoary head H7872 is a crown H5850 of glory, H8597
If it be found H4672 (NiphImpf) in the way H1870 of righteousness. H6666
[32] He that is slow H750 to anger H639 is better H2896 than the mighty; H1368
And he that ruleth H4910 (QalActPtc) his spirit H7307 than he that taketh H3920 (QalActPtc) a city. H5892
[33] The lot H1486 is cast H2904 (HophImpf) into the lap; H2436
But the whole disposing H4941 thereof is of the Lord. H3068
Footnotes
- § 16:1 Or, disposings
- § 16:3 Heb. roll
- § 16:5 Heb. held innocent
- § 16:10 Heb. divination
- § 16:11 Heb. all the stones
- § 16:20 Or, he that understandeth a matter
- § 16:23 Heb. maketh wise
- § 16:26a Heb. The soul of him that laboureth
- § 16:26b Heb. boweth unto him
- § 16:27 Heb. a man of Belial
- § 16:28 Heb. sendeth forth
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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