But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
And your thoughts will be established.
4The Lord has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of 16:4 Lit. evildoom.
Though they join 16:5 Lit. hand to handforces, none will go unpunished.
6In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
7When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
9A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
10Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
All the weights in the bag are His 16:11 concernwork.
12It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For a throne is established by righteousness.
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will appease it.
15In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.
16How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before 16:18 stumblinga fall.
19Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the 16:19 plunderspoil with the proud.
20He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
21The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
25There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives him on.
2716:27 Lit. A man of BelialAn ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning fire.
28A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He 16:30 Lit. compressespurses his lips and brings about evil.
31The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
