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Proverbs 16
Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 16
Tree of Life Version
Commit Your Heart to Adonai
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the tongue’s answer is from Adonai.
2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes,
but Adonai weighs the motives.
3 Commit whatever you do to Adonai,
and your plans will succeed.
4 Adonai works everything out for his own purpose—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 Adonai abhors all the proud in heart.
Be assured, they will not go unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth is iniquity atoned,
and by the fear of Adonai one avoids evil.
7 When one’s ways are pleasing to Adonai,
he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than much income without justice.
9 The heart of man plans his course,
but Adonai directs his steps.
The Delights of a Just King
10 An oracle is on the lips of the king—
let his mouth never be treacherous in judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are Adonai’s.
All the weights in a bag are His handiwork.
12 Wrongdoing is an abomination to kings,
for a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings.
He loves those who speak honestly.
14 A king’s fury is like messengers of death,
but a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favor like a cloud of spring rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil.
He who guards his way protects his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted
than to share the spoil with the proud.
20 One prudent in a matter will find good
Blessed is the one who trusts in Adonai.
21 The wise in heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of lips increases persuasiveness.
22 Insight is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but folly leads to the discipline of fools.
23 A wise man’s heart teaches his mouth
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are honeycomb—sweet to the soul
and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
26 A laborer’s appetite works on his behalf,
for his hunger drives him on.
Slow to Anger
27 A wicked scoundrel digs up evil,
and on his lips is a scorching fire.[a]
28 A perverse person sows strife,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent person lures his neighbor,
leading him down a path that is no good.
30 One who winks his eyes schemes deceit,
one who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory,
found on the path of righteousness.
32 Better to be slow to anger than a mighty warrior.
One who controls his temper is better than one who conquers a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but their very decision is from Adonai.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:27 cf. Jacob 3:6.
Proverbs 16
New International Version
Proverbs 16
New International Version
16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.(E)
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord(J) evil is avoided.(K)
7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace(L) with them.(M)
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.(P)
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.(Q)
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.(R)
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.(S)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.(T)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(AA)
19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](AE)
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(AF)
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(AH)
but folly brings punishment to fools.
26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.(AS)
30 Whoever winks(AT) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(AU)
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
- Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
- Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
Proverbs 16
King James Version
Proverbs 16
King James Version
16 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Tree of Life Version (TLV)
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.