Proverbs 16:1-18:24
The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, they will not go unpunished.
By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
When the ways of people please the Lord,
he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.
Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgement.
Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves those who speak what is right.
A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and whoever is wise will appease it.
In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favour is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their way preserve their lives.
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
and happy are those who trust in the Lord.
The wise of heart is called perceptive,
and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.
The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious,
and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
but in the end it is the way to death.
The appetite of workers works for them;
their hunger urges them on.
Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.
A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.
The violent entice their neighbours,
and lead them in a way that is not good.
One who winks the eyes plans perverse things;
one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
Grey hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
The lot is cast into the lap,
but the decision is the Lord’s alone.
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, they will not go unpunished.
By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
When the ways of people please the Lord,
he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.
Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgement.
Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves those who speak what is right.
A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and whoever is wise will appease it.
In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favour is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their way preserve their lives.
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
and happy are those who trust in the Lord.
The wise of heart is called perceptive,
and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.
The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious,
and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
but in the end it is the way to death.
The appetite of workers works for them;
their hunger urges them on.
Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.
A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.
The violent entice their neighbours,
and lead them in a way that is not good.
One who winks the eyes plans perverse things;
one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
Grey hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
The lot is cast into the lap,
but the decision is the Lord’s alone.
Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.
A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their parents.
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a ruler.
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
wherever they turn they prosper.
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
than a hundred blows into a fool.
Evil people seek only rebellion,
but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.
Evil will not depart from the house
of one who returns evil for good.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water;
so stop before the quarrel breaks out.
One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Why should fools have a price in hand
to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn?
A friend loves at all times,
and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.
It is senseless to give a pledge,
to become surety for a neighbour.
One who loves transgression loves strife;
one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.
The crooked of mind do not prosper,
and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.
The one who begets a fool gets trouble;
the parent of a fool has no joy.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
The wicked accept a concealed bribe
to pervert the ways of justice.
The discerning person looks to wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.
Foolish children are a grief to their father
and bitterness to her who bore them.
To impose a fine on the innocent is not right,
or to flog the noble for their integrity.
One who spares words is knowledgeable;
one who is cool in spirit has understanding.
Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.
than a house full of feasting with strife.
A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their parents.
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a ruler.
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
wherever they turn they prosper.
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
than a hundred blows into a fool.
Evil people seek only rebellion,
but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.
Evil will not depart from the house
of one who returns evil for good.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water;
so stop before the quarrel breaks out.
One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Why should fools have a price in hand
to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn?
A friend loves at all times,
and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.
It is senseless to give a pledge,
to become surety for a neighbour.
One who loves transgression loves strife;
one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.
The crooked of mind do not prosper,
and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.
The one who begets a fool gets trouble;
the parent of a fool has no joy.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
The wicked accept a concealed bribe
to pervert the ways of justice.
The discerning person looks to wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.
Foolish children are a grief to their father
and bitterness to her who bore them.
To impose a fine on the innocent is not right,
or to flog the noble for their integrity.
One who spares words is knowledgeable;
one who is cool in spirit has understanding.
Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.
The one who lives alone is self-indulgent,
showing contempt for all who have sound judgement.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing personal opinion.
When wickedness comes, contempt comes also;
and with dishonour comes disgrace.
The words of the mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.
It is not right to be partial to the guilty,
or to subvert the innocent in judgement.
A fool’s lips bring strife,
and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.
The mouths of fools are their ruin,
and their lips a snare to themselves.
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
One who is slack in work
is close kin to a vandal.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.
The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
in their imagination it is like a high wall.
Before destruction one’s heart is haughty,
but humility goes before honour.
If one gives answer before hearing,
it is folly and shame.
The human spirit will endure sickness;
but a broken spirit—who can bear?
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A gift opens doors;
it gives access to the great.
The one who first states a case seems right,
until the other comes and cross-examines.
Casting the lot puts an end to disputes
and decides between powerful contenders.
An ally offended is stronger than a city;
such quarrelling is like the bars of a castle.
From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;
the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favour from the Lord.
The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.
Some friends play at friendship
but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.
showing contempt for all who have sound judgement.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing personal opinion.
When wickedness comes, contempt comes also;
and with dishonour comes disgrace.
The words of the mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.
It is not right to be partial to the guilty,
or to subvert the innocent in judgement.
A fool’s lips bring strife,
and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.
The mouths of fools are their ruin,
and their lips a snare to themselves.
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
One who is slack in work
is close kin to a vandal.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.
The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
in their imagination it is like a high wall.
Before destruction one’s heart is haughty,
but humility goes before honour.
If one gives answer before hearing,
it is folly and shame.
The human spirit will endure sickness;
but a broken spirit—who can bear?
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A gift opens doors;
it gives access to the great.
The one who first states a case seems right,
until the other comes and cross-examines.
Casting the lot puts an end to disputes
and decides between powerful contenders.
An ally offended is stronger than a city;
such quarrelling is like the bars of a castle.
From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;
the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favour from the Lord.
The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.
Some friends play at friendship
but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.
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A Treasure Chest of Wisdom
KEY THOUGHT
The Proverbs contain wisdom for living today.
OVERVIEW
In the Book of Proverbs, what seem like individual verses actually fit together into at least three bigger themes. Wisdom and folly. Using our words for positive ends is one of the most significant wise things we can do (17.27, 28; 18.14). Humility and pride. A humble, content life is far more satisfying than grabbing for all the gusto we can get (16.18).
God’s will and human action. God expects us to use our talents and abilities, but to trust the final results to him (16.1-4).
CHALLENGE
THE WISE PERSON TREASURES GOD’S WORD.
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