Proverbs 16–19

1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.

2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the motives.

3Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.

4Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; they shall certainly not be unpunished.

6By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.

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

8Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.

9A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

10Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

11Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

12It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

13Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

14The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

15In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.

16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, 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 an arrogant spirit before a fall.

19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

20He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.

21The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

22Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

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

25There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

26The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.

27A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

28A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

29A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

30One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

31Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.

1Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.

4An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

6Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.

7Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

8A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

9He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

10A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

11An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

13Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

16Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?

17A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

18A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

19He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

20One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

21He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

22A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.

24Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

26Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

27He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

1A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

2A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

3When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.

4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

5To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

6A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.

9One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

10Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.

11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

12Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

13He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

14A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

15The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

17He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.

18The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.

19A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

20A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.

23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.

24A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

1Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

2It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.

3The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.

4Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

5A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

6Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

7All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.

9A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.

10Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.

14House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

15Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.

17He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.

18Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.

19A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.

20Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

21There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.

22That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

23The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.

24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

26He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.

29Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.