Proverbs 16
Names of God Bible
Wisdom’s Blessings Come from the Lord
16 The plans of the heart belong to humans,
but an answer on the tongue comes from Yahweh.
2 A person thinks all his ways are pure,
but Yahweh weighs motives.
3 Entrust your efforts to Yahweh,
and your plans will succeed.
4 Yahweh has made everything for his own purpose,
even wicked people for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to Yahweh.
Certainly, such a person will not go unpunished.
6 By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the Lord.
By the fear of Yahweh, evil is avoided.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a few possessions gained honestly
than many gained through injustice.
9 A person may plan his own journey,
but Yahweh directs his steps.
10 When a divine revelation is on a king’s lips,
he cannot voice a wrong judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales belong to Yahweh.
He made the entire set of weights.
12 Wrongdoing is disgusting to kings
because a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Kings are happy with honest words,
and whoever speaks what is right is loved.
14 A king’s anger announces death,
but a wise man makes peace with him.
15 When the king is cheerful, there is life,
and his favor is like a cloud bringing spring rain.
16 How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold,
and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.
17 The highway of decent people turns away from evil.
Whoever watches his way preserves his own life.
18 Pride precedes a disaster,
and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.
19 Better to be humble with lowly people
than to share stolen goods with arrogant people.
20 Whoever gives attention to the Lord’s word prospers,
and blessed is the person who trusts Yahweh.
21 The person who is truly wise is called understanding,
and speaking sweetly helps others learn.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it,
but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity.
23 A wise person’s heart controls his speech,
and what he says helps others learn.
24 Pleasant words are like honey from a honeycomb—
sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body.
Words of Advice to a Wise Son
25 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but eventually it ends in death.
26 A laborer’s appetite works to his advantage,
because his hunger drives him on.
27 A worthless person plots trouble,
and his speech is like a burning fire.
28 A devious person spreads quarrels.
A gossip separates the closest of friends.
29 A violent person misleads his neighbor
and leads him on a path that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eye is plotting something devious.
Whoever bites his lips has finished his evil work.
31 Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life.
32 Better to get angry slowly than to be a hero.
Better to be even-tempered than to capture a city.
33 The dice are thrown,
but Yahweh determines every outcome.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
